A sales engineer is a sales person who specializes in the sales of technological and scientific products and services, typically in a B2B setting. Sales engineers need to have detailed knowledge about the products and services they sell, as they need to answer questions about the technical and advanced mechanics of what they sell. They can work as sales representatives for different companies, or work for independent sales firms.
The complexity of the products they sell means that sales engineers need to be able to translate complex terms and industry-specific knowledge into terminology that an average person would be able to understand. In the same vein, they also need to be able to answer difficult questions and understand exactly how the products and services they sell work, so that customers understand the sales presentation and are aware of what the products or services do.
In addition, sales engineers also need to be good sales people. They have to be able to make a good pitch and presentation to clients, be responsive, and proactively look for new customers and business. They need to work with their sales team and know how to be a collaborative player within their company culture.
For a more detailed explanation, please see our blog post here.