Sales engineers are subject-matter experts and sales talents with good communication skills. They market high-end technologies and convince customers with their technical know-how and their high level of empathy. As an interface between business partners and their own company, they offer practical solutions which are beneficial to both sides.
Even in non-English-speaking countries, jobs for sales engineers are often advertised using English titles such as “Sales Engineer” or “Technical Sales Manager”, which demonstrates the international orientation of this profession. Sales engineers have excellent career opportunities and the demand for their expertise grows with the further development of complex technologies. There are numerous fields of application for sales engineers in many different industries, such as medical engineering, telecommunications, electrical engineering, software development or mechanical engineering.
Sales engineers sell complex technologies or technical services. Especially new developments require explanation to potential business partners. A core competence in sales engineering is the presentation of the product's function and design in a comprehensible manner. Regardless of whether they talk to technicians or managing directors: they only arouse the interest of their respective contact person if their arguments are easily comprehensible.
Sales engineers need to have technical, business and sales expertise. An academic degree in industrial engineering or in an engineering-related field is required to start a career as a sales engineer. An additional qualification can be obtained if the fields of technology and sales are combined in the course of studies, as is the case in international sales & purchasing in engineering, sales engineering and product management or industrial engineering with focus on mechanical engineering and technical sales.
The average monthly starting salary of sales engineers amounts to between EUR 3,500 and EUR 4,000 gross and can rise up to EUR 5,380 with increasing professional experience. The salary consists of fixed monthly payments and a variable portion for contract conclusions. It depends on the age and experience of the sales engineers, the amount of the variable portion and the type and size of the company. In successful companies, sales engineers with long-term professional experience and a large customer base may receive a monthly gross salary of EUR 8,000.
