Sales / Business Development, Construction / Engineering / Architects

Sales Engineer

Related positions: Sales Engineer, Technical sales engineer, Sales application engineer, Sales solutions engineer, Sales support engineer, Sales consultant, Sales specialist, Sales account manager, Sales executive, Sales professional, Sales associate, Product sales engineer, Systems sales engineer, Field sales engineer, Applications engineer, Pre-sales engineer, Sales engineer consultant, Sales engineer advisor, Sales engineer specialist, Sales engineer representative

Overview

A sales engineer combines technical knowledge with sales skills to sell complex products and services. They demonstrate product features, develop sales strategies, and answer technical questions from customers. They work closely with the sales team to provide technical expertise and support throughout the sales process.

The responsibilities of a Sales Engineer include analyzing customer requirements, preparing technical proposals and presentations, demonstrating the features and benefits of products or services, providing technical support to sales teams, and identifying opportunities for product or service enhancements.

Common tasks 

    TaskRelated trait(s)
    Collaborating with sales and marketing teams to understand customer needs and develop technical sales strategies Empathetic Listening  Customer Insight Supportive Collaboration 
    Having a deep technical knowledge of the products and services offered Detail-Oriented Precision Technical Curiosity
    Conducting product training sessions for customers, sales teams, and other stakeholders Empathetic Listening   Social Confidence
    Providing technical support to customers Empathetic Listening  Innovative Problem Solving
    Collaborating with product development and engineering teams to provide customer feedback and inform product development Empathetic Listening  Supportive Collaboration 
    Respecting company guidelines Professional Integrity Trust-Building Mindset

    Soft skills measured by TraitForward

    TraitNo of QuestionsCronbach’s  alpha (α)
    Empathetic Listening80.71
    Can they genuinely understand customers’ technical needs and unstated concerns by listening attentively and recognizing emotional cues?
    Compelling Communication110.84
    Can they articulate technical concepts clearly while maintaining an engaging, persuasive conversation that influences customer decisions?
    Detail-Oriented Precision80.77
    Can they maintain meticulous attention to technical details and specifications while systematically organizing their work to ensure accuracy and reliability?
    Customer Insight60.70
    Can they accurately read customer signals and adapt their approach to address both stated and unstated client needs?
    Professional Integrity90.74
    Can they maintain ethical standards and honesty in their professional conduct, even when faced with pressure to compromise for a quick sale?
    Supportive Collaboration60.75
    Does this candidate genuinely care about helping others succeed and willingly provide support to both customers and team members?
    Collaborative Excellence90.72
    Can they foster productive teamwork across technical and sales functions while ensuring all stakeholders feel valued and included in the collaborative process?
    Innovative Problem Solving80.77
    Can they develop creative and effective solutions to technical challenges that others might not see?
    Social Poise40.72
    Can they maintain confidence and composure when presenting technical information to clients or when being the center of attention in professional settings?
    Social Confidence60.75
    Can they engage comfortably and effectively with new people across various professional settings, demonstrating confidence rather than hesitation in social interactions?
    Trust-Building Mindset80.71
    Does this person consistently demonstrate integrity and ethical behavior, prioritizing authentic relationship-building over personal gain or shortcuts?
    Technical Curiosity80.74
    Do they demonstrate a genuine interest in understanding how technical systems work and actively seek to deepen their knowledge of product mechanics and functionalities?
    *Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (α) determines the extent to which the questions consistently measure each trait and it is expressed as a number ranging between 0 and 1 . Higher values indicate higher agreement between questions.  A value of α equal to greater than .7 indicates acceptable reliability or internal consistency.  For more information on the psychometric properties of the solution, please click here.

    Find out the psychometric properties for the Sales Engineer Traitforward questionnaire

      Explore related job categories

      Explore related job positions