Occupation Details
Sales Engineers
Sell business goods or services, the selling of which requires a technical background equivalent to a baccalaureate degree in engineering.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Enterprising
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Work Values
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Working Conditions
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$75,410.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$110,670.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$157,370.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
2,620
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
3,080
+46 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
338
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.2%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Degree Needed - Four-year college
Experience Requirements
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education Requirements
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.
School Programs
School Programs information is not available for this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Persuasion
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Sales and Marketing
Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Leadership
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Desktop computers
- Laptop computers
- Mainframe computers
Technology
- Ab Initio
- Apache Pig
- Apache Struts
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- C
- C++
- Cisco Systems CiscoWorks
- Cisco Systems VPN Client
- Citrix cloud computing software
- Database management software
- Extensible hypertext markup language XHTML
- Extensible markup language XML
- Graphics software
- Hewlett Packard HP-UX
- Hyperion Solutions Hyperion System 9 Bi+
- IBM Cognos Impromptu
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- write product performance requirements
- arrange for trial installations of equipment
- maintain records, reports, or files
- edit written material
- prepare technical reports or related documentation
- evaluate product quality for sales activities
- conduct training for personnel
- calculate rates for organization's products or services
- explain complex mathematical information
- explain products to customer representatives
- advise clients regarding engineering problems
- conduct land surveys
- evaluate costs of engineering projects
- evaluate engineering data
- use intuitive judgment for engineering analyses
- resolve engineering or science problems
- use drafting or mechanical drawing techniques
- use interpersonal communication techniques
- use scientific research methodology
- use technical regulations for engineering problems
- use knowledge of sales contracts
- use sales techniques
- use knowledge of metric system
- use telephone communication techniques
- improve test devices or techniques in manufacturing, industrial or engineering setting
- bid engineering, construction or extraction projects
- estimate cost for engineering projects
- estimate time needed for project
- estimate time or cost for installation, repair, or construction projects
- use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
- understand engineering data or reports
- understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
- conduct sales presentations
- sell products or services
- read blueprints
- read schematics
- read technical drawings
- obtain information from individuals
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Sell products requiring extensive technical expertise and support for installation and use, such as material handling equipment, numerical-control machinery, or computer systems.
- Develop, present, or respond to proposals for specific customer requirements, including request for proposal responses and industry-specific solutions.
- Collaborate with sales teams to understand customer requirements, to promote the sale of company products, and to provide sales support.
- Create sales or service contracts for products or services.
- Visit prospective buyers at commercial, industrial, or other establishments to show samples or catalogs, and to inform them about product pricing, availability, and advantages.
- Keep informed on industry news and trends, products, services, competitors, relevant information about legacy, existing, and emerging technologies, and the latest product-line developments.
- Identify resale opportunities and support them to achieve sales plans.
- Confer with customers and engineers to assess equipment needs and to determine system requirements.
- Plan and modify product configurations to meet customer needs.
- Prepare and deliver technical presentations that explain products or services to customers and prospective customers.
- Recommend improved materials or machinery to customers, documenting how such changes will lower costs or increase production.
- Maintain sales forecasting reports.
- Document account activities, generate reports, and keep records of business transactions with customers and suppliers.
- Research and identify potential customers for products or services.
- Secure and renew orders and arrange delivery.
- Develop sales plans to introduce products in new markets.
- Provide information needed for the development of custom-made machinery.
- Provide technical and non-technical support and services to clients or other staff members regarding the use, operation, and maintenance of equipment.
- Attend trade shows and seminars to promote products or to learn about industry developments.
- Diagnose problems with installed equipment.
- Attend company training seminars to become familiar with product lines.
- Arrange for demonstrations or trial installations of equipment.
- Write technical documentation for products.
- Train team members in the customer applications of technologies.
- Report to supervisors about prospective firms' credit ratings.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Design and Discovery: Experience Engineering Through Design
A hands-on, inquiry-based experience in problem solving, Design and Discovery is a free curriculum that introduces youth, ages 11-15, to engineering through design, and helps students create an awareness of the role engineering plays in our society. In an extended sequence of hands-on sessions, students follow a design process and build working prototypes that solve problems in the engineered world.
Learn MoreGreatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century
How many of the 20th century's greatest engineering achievements will you use today? A car? Computer? Telephone? Explore the Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century list of the top 20 achievements and learn how engineering shaped a century and changed the world.
Learn MoreSales engineers
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn More