Sales Engineer?

NightShade03

I was wondering if anyone on the forums is a sales engineer? I recently was talking to someone about this type of job role and I was trying to get a better understand of how you would break into such a roll.

My current understanding is that IT Sales Engineers are usually part of a sales team as they are the "technical arm" that design solutions for customers.

cablegod

NightShade03 wrote: »

I was wondering if anyone on the forums is a sales engineer? I recently was talking to someone about this type of job role and I was trying to get a better understand of how you would break into such a roll.

My current understanding is that IT Sales Engineers are usually part of a sales team as they are the "technical arm" that design solutions for customers.

You are spot on with your understanding. You would provide technical backup to your sales people. You don't have to have a strong sales background for such a role, but a little helps. You do need the technical chops and acumen for the products that your sales team is selling though.

NightShade03

How exactly does one break into such a job role?

networker050184

The vast majority of the sales engineers I've worked with only had a slight grasp of the technical side of things. I have met a few that have a good grasp on what they are doing, but it is rare. They basically are slightly more technical salesman who can speak buzz words if the customer wants some tech speak.

I'm sure it all depends on the company of course, but thats my experience with them so far. The ones I know personally moved from low level technical positions into the sales side. I do know one guy that was an engineer prior to going over and knows his stuff pretty well.

NightShade03

Well I know more than a few keywords, and I don't think that even moving into such a role I'd even give up learning on the technical side (Cisco, Linux, etc). I just think it'd be a good change.

stuh84

networker050184 wrote: »

The vast majority of the sales engineers I've worked with only had a slight grasp of the technical side of things. I have met a few that have a good grasp on what they are doing, but it is rare. They basically are slightly more technical salesman who can speak buzz words if the customer wants some tech speak.

I'm sure it all depends on the company of course, but thats my experience with them so far. The ones I know personally moved from low level technical positions into the sales side. I do know one guy that was an engineer prior to going over and knows his stuff pretty well.

I've found quite the opposite. One of the Sales Engineers where I work could probably pass the CCIE R&S with his eyes closed.

We dont have many, but due to the nature of our company (providing a global backbone for transactions), anyone who knows nothing would get weeded out quite quick. The ones where I am are some of the most talented people in the company.