Sales Engineers
Sell business goods or services, the selling of which requires a technical background equivalent to a baccalaureate degree in engineering.
How AI Impacts Each Task
25 tasks analyzed
Collaborate with sales teams to understand customer requirements, to promote the sale of company products, and to provide sales support.
Sell products requiring extensive technical expertise and support for installation and use, such as material handling equipment, numerical-control machinery, or computer systems.
Plan and modify product configurations to meet customer needs.
Confer with customers and engineers to assess equipment needs and to determine system requirements.
Prepare and deliver technical presentations that explain products or services to customers and prospective customers.
Arrange for demonstrations or trial installations of equipment.
Create sales or service contracts for products or services.
Secure and renew orders and arrange delivery.
Develop, present, or respond to proposals for specific customer requirements, including request for proposal responses and industry-specific solutions.
Visit prospective buyers at commercial, industrial, or other establishments to show samples or catalogs, and to inform them about product pricing, availability, and advantages.
Research and identify potential customers for products or services.
Provide technical and non-technical support and services to clients or other staff members regarding the use, operation, and maintenance of equipment.
Recommend improved materials or machinery to customers, documenting how such changes will lower costs or increase production.
Develop sales plans to introduce products in new markets.
Diagnose problems with installed equipment.
Provide information needed for the development of custom-made machinery.
Document account activities, generate reports, and keep records of business transactions with customers and suppliers.
Keep informed on industry news and trends, products, services, competitors, relevant information about legacy, existing, and emerging technologies, and the latest product-line developments.
Maintain sales forecasting reports.
Identify resale opportunities and support them to achieve sales plans.
Write technical documentation for products.
Attend company training seminars to become familiar with product lines.
Train team members in the customer applications of technologies.
Report to supervisors about prospective firms' credit ratings.
Attend trade shows and seminars to promote products or to learn about industry developments.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collaborate with sales teams to understand customer requirements, to promote the sale of company products, and to provide sales support. | 46.43Observed | 33.6% | 8% | |
| Sell products requiring extensive technical expertise and support for installation and use, such as material handling equipment, numerical-control machinery, or computer systems. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 8% | |
| Plan and modify product configurations to meet customer needs. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 6% | |
| Confer with customers and engineers to assess equipment needs and to determine system requirements. | 63.25Observed | 40.3% | 7% | |
| Prepare and deliver technical presentations that explain products or services to customers and prospective customers. | 49.25Observed | 34.7% | 6% | |
| Arrange for demonstrations or trial installations of equipment. | 72Estimated | 78.0% | 3% | |
| Create sales or service contracts for products or services. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 3% | |
| Secure and renew orders and arrange delivery. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 3% | |
| Develop, present, or respond to proposals for specific customer requirements, including request for proposal responses and industry-specific solutions. | 50.42Observed | 47.2% | 6% | |
| Visit prospective buyers at commercial, industrial, or other establishments to show samples or catalogs, and to inform them about product pricing, availability, and advantages. | 5Estimated | 17.0% | 5% | |
| Research and identify potential customers for products or services. | 46.55Observed | 45.6% | 4% | |
| Provide technical and non-technical support and services to clients or other staff members regarding the use, operation, and maintenance of equipment. | 44.45Observed | 32.8% | 5% | |
| Recommend improved materials or machinery to customers, documenting how such changes will lower costs or increase production. | 65Estimated | 53.0% | 4% | |
| Develop sales plans to introduce products in new markets. | 63.05Observed | 52.2% | 4% | |
| Diagnose problems with installed equipment. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 4% | |
| Provide information needed for the development of custom-made machinery. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 3% | |
| Document account activities, generate reports, and keep records of business transactions with customers and suppliers. | 40.12Observed | 65.3% | 4% | |
| Keep informed on industry news and trends, products, services, competitors, relevant information about legacy, existing, and emerging technologies, and the latest product-line developments. | 53.62Observed | 48.5% | 3% | |
| Maintain sales forecasting reports. | 59.3Observed | 72.9% | 2% | |
| Identify resale opportunities and support them to achieve sales plans. | 75Estimated | 57.0% | 2% | |
| Write technical documentation for products. | 59.38Observed | 50.8% | 2% | |
| Attend company training seminars to become familiar with product lines. | 97Estimated | 88.0% | 2% | |
| Train team members in the customer applications of technologies. | 40Estimated | 31.0% | 2% | |
| Report to supervisors about prospective firms' credit ratings. | 97Estimated | 88.0% | 2% | |
| Attend trade shows and seminars to promote products or to learn about industry developments. | 5Estimated | 17.0% | 2% |
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Sales Engineers skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
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Upskill to Reduce Risk
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SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
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Creative Writing Specialization
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Inspired Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence
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We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
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Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
Related News
Recent articles about AI affecting this occupation
Go-To-Market Engineering Roles Emerge to Drive AI Adoption
Companies are creating specialized technical sales roles to bridge the gap between AI capabilities and commercial deployment. This highlights a growing demand for professionals who blend engineering with sales.
Salesforce Executes Fresh Layoffs Amid AI Software Disruption Fears
The SaaS giant is trimming its workforce as customers reevaluate traditional software purchases in favor of AI solutions. The cuts highlight a growing vulnerability for workers in legacy enterprise tech roles.
Why AI Startups Are Aggressively Hiring Forward Deployed Engineers
AI companies are increasingly seeking hybrid engineers who can both write code and manage enterprise client relationships. This blend of technical and soft skills is becoming one of the most resilient roles in the automation era.
Salesforce outlook sparks fears that AI is disrupting the SaaS workforce
The enterprise software giant missed revenue estimates, validating investor concerns that AI tools are cannibalizing traditional SaaS seats. This signals a potential contraction in tech sales and software development roles.
Top engineers are avoiding 'forward-deployed' AI roles, says ex-CRO
Former Snowflake executive Chris Degnan warns that highly skilled developers view forward-deployed engineering roles as glorified customer service. Companies may struggle to fill these client-facing AI implementation positions with top-tier talent.
Last scored March 14, 2026 · Based on BLS employment data and O*NET task analysis