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What does a sales engineer do?

A sales engineer is a professional, who combines technical knowledge and sales skills to help sell complex and technical products or services. Their primary role is to bridge the gap between a company’s technical offerings and the customer’s needs.

Sales engineers are instrumental in helping to identify and qualify sales opportunities for a firm — by leveraging their technical knowledge to explain complex products or services in a clear and compelling manner. These professionals conduct product demonstrations, deliver presentations and provide technical expertise during negotiations, emphasising the product’s benefits and competitive advantages.

They collaborate closely with the sales team, acting as a trusted advisor to customers and aligning product offerings with their specific requirements. They also ensure that customers understand the technical aspects and benefits of a product or service.

By demonstrating the value proposition and addressing technical concerns, sales engineers play a crucial role in customer relationship management and closing sales. In the Indian market, where industries increasingly adopt innovative solutions, companies need to hire sales engineers to navigate complex sales cycles and differentiate their offerings from competitors.

Job Description: Template

We are currently looking for a dynamic and results-oriented sales engineer to join our team at [Company X].

As a sales engineer, you will drive business growth by understanding customer needs, providing technical solutions and effectively articulating the value of our products or services. Your role will be pivotal in effectively communicating technical information to customers and helping to develop and maintain relationships to build trust.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to our company’s success and be part of a high-performing sales team in a competitive market. If you’re passionate about sales and innovation, we invite you to apply.

We offer competitive compensation packages, health & medical benefits and a positive work culture that emphasises work-life balance and recognises the contributions of our employees. Being an equal opportunity employer, we invite candidates of all backgrounds to apply. 

Objectives of the role

  • Understanding customer needs and aligning product offerings with their requirements.
  • Providing technical expertise and guidance to customers throughout the sales process.
  • Conducting product demonstrations and delivering compelling presentations to showcase the value of our solutions.
  • Collaborating with the sales team to identify and qualify sales opportunities.
  • Developing and maintaining strong customer relationships to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Contributing to sales strategies, pricing decisions and contract negotiations based on technical considerations.

Your tasks

  • Understand our product/service’s technical features, functionalities and benefits.
  • Study customer needs, pain points and business challenges and create a customised sales proposal with the sales team.
  • Conduct product demonstrations to showcase key features and functionalities and address technical questions and concerns from customers.
  • Provide pre-sales support by answering technical inquiries and participating in sales meetings.
  • Liaise with the engineering or technical team to address technical concerns or requirements.
  • Develop and deliver technical documentation, including user manuals, technical specifications and product training sessions.
  • Collaborate with internal teams to gather technical requirements and ensure the successful implementation of solutions.
  • Provide post-sales support to customers, including technical troubleshooting and customer training, ensuring their satisfaction with the product or service.
  • Give active feedback and insights from the market to the product development and marketing team.
  • Participate in sales meetings, trade shows and industry events to promote our products or services.
  • Stay updated on industry trends, market dynamics and competitor offerings.  

Required skills and qualifications

  • BA bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science or a related field.
  • 2+ years of experience as a sales engineer or in a similar technical sales role.
  • Strong technical background and ability to understand complex technical concepts and effectively communicate them to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Demonstrable experience in presenting technical products and services to customers, providing expert advice and troubleshooting customer queries.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build rapport and establish strong relationships with customers and internal teams.
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to identify customer needs and propose innovative solutions.
  • Self-motivated and target-driven with a proven track record of meeting or exceeding sales targets and driving revenue growth.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
  • Willingness to travel as required.

Preferred skills and qualifications

  • Knowledge of the Indian market and customer preferences.
  • Familiarity with CRM and sales management tools.
  • Experience creating technical content, such as whitepapers or technical blog posts.
  • Strong negotiation and persuasion skills.
  • Language proficiency in multiple languages to cater to a diverse customer base.
  • Experience working with cross-functional teams, including product development and marketing.