Looking to boost your engineering career? Moving into a client-facing role is a smart way to level up.
With the growing focus on customer experience, companies are seeking engineers who can bridge the gap between complex technical systems and customer needs. Client-facing engineers are in demand for their blend of technical, communication, and sales skills. They conduct technical demos, troubleshoot complex implementations, and translate customer requirements into technical specifications. If you’re looking to expand your role and engage more with customers, here’s a guide on the different roles available for Client-Facing Engineers:
Client-facing Engineering Roles:
Pre-Sales Engineer / Sales Engineer
As a Pre-Sales or Sales Engineer, your role is to provide expert guidance on the technical aspects of your products before a customer makes a purchase. You participate in pre-sales meetings to oversee the technical process, deliver detailed specifications, and explain product aspects and implementation. This role is crucial for foreign companies entering new markets and is often one of the first hired positions.
- Hard skills: product knowledge, technical demos, technical writing
- Soft skills: research, storytelling, sales ability, presentations, leading meetings, continuous learning
- Daily tasks: Your tasks include researching companies, presenting products, and creating technical demos, presentations, and pre-sales documentation. You will also create a proof of concept to demonstrate successful product integration once a customer makes a purchase.
- Outlook: Sales Engineers are projected to grow by 6% from 2023 to 2033 with around 5,800 new job openings projected each year.
Project Manager
As a Project Manager, your main role is to deliver projects on time. You’ll lead both technical and non-technical team members, and motivate them by setting milestones and achieving short and long-term goals. This role may not always be client-facing, but if outside stakeholders are involved, your responsibility is to manage expectations, provide updates, and oversee project delivery.
- Hard skills: project management tools, data
- Soft skills: communication, agile methodology, negotiation, organization
- Daily tasks: You’ll spend 75-90% of your day communicating and in meetings. You’ll coordinate with product and engineering teams on strategy, provide status updates, and plan future actions. You’ll also liaise with Product Managers, Technical Product Managers, the C-Suite, Marketing, Sales, and external stakeholders.
- Outlook: According to BLS, Engineering Project Managers are expected to grow around 3% over the next decade.
Technical Account Manager (a.k.a. Customer Success Manager, Solutions Consultant, Client Solutions Manager, Customer Success Engineer)
As a Technical Account Manager, you will be the trusted product expert managing customer accounts during and after technical implementation. As the main point of contact, you will address integration issues, client requests, and technical problems, guide clients through updates and new features, and ensure their changes do not disrupt the solution.
Engineers working as Technical Account Managers (TAMs) engage with diverse clients and projects, building strong relationships with customers while working closely with development teams to provide feedback for product improvements. This role offers a high level of autonomy and influence, along with the opportunity to learn new skills and technologies.
- Hard skills: technical and product knowledge
- Soft skills: communication, client management, leadership, interpersonal, problem-solving
- Daily tasks: You will engage with clients and their technical teams to oversee the implementation and integration process. Additionally, you’ll collaborate with the development team on updates, bugs, and new launches while maintaining ongoing communication with the sales team. Part of your responsibilities will also include creating client onboarding programs and client training.
- Outlook: Technical Account Managers are expected to grow at 8% average from 2018 to 2028
Post-Sales Engineer / Implementation Engineer
(a.k.a. Technical Account Manager, Implementation Engineer, Post-Sales Engineer, Implementation Specialist, Post-Sales)
As a Post-Sales Engineer, you’ll assist customers with their needs after the sales deal is closed. You handle technology implementation and setups with your clients and you’ll serve as a trusted advisor for anything solution-related your company offers.
- Hard skills: technical knowledge, system installation and configuration, troubleshooting, diagnostics, project management, client-facing
- Soft skills: communication, customer service, problem-solving, collaboration
- Daily tasks: Your day will involve meeting clients, managing implementations, and configuring systems. You’ll ensure that your product configurations align with the technical requirements of your clients.
- Outlook: The job growth rate of Implementation Engineer is 6% from 2018 to 2028, with 3,400 new jobs projected over the next decade.
Field Application Engineer (a.k.a. Technical Sales Engineer)
As a Field Application Engineer, you’re the technical expert who bridges the gap between product development and customer implementation. You’ll understand your clients’ technical needs, provide solutions, and ensure successful product integration.
Mechanical Engineers in this role mostly focus on large-scale machinery, HVAC systems, or industrial equipment, ensuring mechanical systems are installed correctly, and meet performance standards. On the other hand, Electrical Engineers in this role would deal with power systems, electrical controls, or automation, providing expertise in areas such as wiring, electrical safety, and energy management.
- Hard skills: technical expertise, product knowledge, troubleshooting and diagnostics, installation and maintenance
- Soft skills: communication, customer service, problem-solving
- Daily tasks: You’ll assess your client’s technical requirements and guide product integration while diagnosing and resolving issues, often on-site. You’ll conduct training sessions, assist with system installations, ensure compliance with specifications, and gather feedback on product performance for engineering teams.
- Outlook: Application engineer jobs are projected to grow 6% from 2018 to 2028, expecting 3,400 new positions over the next decade.
As a Service Engineer, you’ll manage maintenance projects for large-scale industrial equipment, including power supplies, heavy machinery, and complex electrical systems. Your role involves servicing and troubleshooting these systems on-site at corporate facilities, to ensure optimal performance and minimize downtime for your clients’ operations.
- Hard skills: technical knowledge, safety regulations, tools and equipment
- Soft skills: communication, problem-solving, customer service, adaptability
- Daily tasks: Your daily tasks include diagnosing and resolving electrical issues for customers, providing on-call assistance, and installing equipment while adhering to safety regulations.
- Outlook: Service Engineer jobs are projected to grow by 2% from 2018 to 2028, with around 6,400 new positions over the next decade.
As a Product Development Engineer, you’ll focus on designing, prototyping, manufacturing, and testing a product, overseeing the product development process. You’ll work with cross-functional teams to make sure your product meets customer expectations and operates effectively throughout its lifecycle.
- Hard skills: research, engineering expertise, prototyping, testing, CAD software efficiency, compliance knowledge, project management
- Soft skills: attention to detail, creativity, strategic thinking, communication, problem-solving, teamwork
- Daily tasks: Your daily tasks include designing and developing product concepts using CAD software, building prototypes, and conducting performance and functionality tests. You’ll collaborate with teams, manage project timelines, track progress, and prepare technical documentation.
- Outlook: BLS projects a 7% job growth for product development engineers from 2020 to 2030, adding around 20,900 jobs by 2030.
Technical Trainer (a.k.a. Training and Development Specialists)
As a Technical Trainer, you’ll educate clients on the complex systems and processes of your products. You’ll design, develop, implement, and evaluate technical training programs to ensure your clients and their teams can operate your products safely and efficiently while following industry standards.
- Hard skills: technical expertise, training design, safety protocols
- Soft skills: communication, patience, problem-solving, interpersonal
- Daily tasks: You’ll design and update training programs, develop guides and presentations, create surveys, administer tests, and conduct hands-on sessions on equipment operation and safety. You’ll also work with engineering teams to ensure the courses are up to date.
- Outlook: The job outlook of Technical Training predicts a 12% growth from 2023 to 2033, with nearly 42,200 new job openings each year over the next ten years.
Expand your skills and find new opportunities with client-facing engineering roles. Connect with a SoloPoint Technical Recruiter today to help you find the right career fit: