Applications (Sales) Engineers
Education
| Fast Facts* | |
|---|---|
| Recommended Degree Level | Bachelor |
| Salary, Typical | $91,830 |
| Salary Range | |
| Number of Jobs, 2012 | 65,410 |
| Annual Job Growth Rate | 4.5% |
| Job Openings per Year (est.) | 3,210 |
What's Needed:
- Application engineers, also often referred to as sales engineers, usually need a Bachelor in Engineering degree or a degree in a related field.
- Some sales engineers don't have a bachelor's degree but have sales and technical experience and training.
- Bachelor of Engineering degree programs include math and physical sciences courses. Most engineering programs require students to select an area of specialization such as mechanical, electrical or civil engineering. Some of the programs provide additional majors including biomedical, chemical or computer hardware engineering.
What you study:
- Electronics
- Calculus
- Statistics
- Mechanics
- Circuits
- Physics
- Chemistry
A Day in the Life
Sales engineers play a vital role in technology companies. Sales engineers act as the sales' team technical encyclopedia during a sales presentation, explaining the technical aspects of how a company's product solves specific problems for a customer. As a sales engineer you'll likely spend a large portion of the day selling scientific and technical products or services to an array of companies.
As a sales engineer you'll spend time collaborating with engineers and customers evaluating equipment needs and determining systems requirements. You may also spend time proposing changes in process, equipment, materials or services to customers.
You'll spend a lot of time visiting companies explaining and demonstrating products. You may also spend time providing technical support to customers and helping customers solve problems with installed equipment.
Due to your technical expertise you'll spend time showing customers how to use, operate and maintain equipment. You may also arrange for trial installations of equipment.
Certifications and Licensing
Sales engineers are not required to have certifications or licenses.
Job Flexibility
Full-time versus part-time: Most sales engineers work full-time. Many sales engineers decide their own schedule. Some sales engineers have irregular hours, work on the weekends and have overnight travel.
Work location: Sales engineers work for software companies, hardware companies, telecommunications companies, professional services companies and other businesses. They spend a lot of time visiting customers.
Recommended Websites
- The Manufacturers' Agents National Association (MANA) offers an array of useful seminars and events. Members gain networking opportunities and obtain knowledge from experienced sales agents. The association also provides education opportunities.
- The Manufacturers' Representatives Educational Research Foundation provides professional education via sales training and continuing education programs. The foundation also provides certification to sales professionals. The foundation also creates useful educational materials and publishes resource materials.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Handbook provides an overview of the tasks performed by sales engineers. The BLS also offers educational requirements, salary information and an employment growth forecast.