Technical Sales Engineer

ZEISS•Wixom, MI

About The Position

How many companies can say they’ve been in business for over 177 years?! Here at ZEISS, we certainly can! As the pioneers of science, ZEISS handles the everchanging environments in a fast-paced world, meeting it with cutting edge of technologies and continuous advancements. ZEISS believes that innovation and technology are the key to a sustainable future and solutions for global change. We have a diverse range of portfolios throughout the ZEISS family in segments like, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, Consumer Markets and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology. We are a global company with over 42,000 employees and have over 4,000 in the US and Canada alone! Make a difference, come join the team! What’s the role? The Technical Sales Engineer is responsible for conceptualizing, developing, and communicating automated solutions for ZEISS customers. This role partners closely with Regional Sales Managers, customers, internal engineering teams, and third-party suppliers to identify customer needs and translate them into feasible, value-driven technical solutions. The Technical Sales Engineer supports the full sales lifecycle—from early concept development and budgeting through solution planning and proposal creation—and ensures a smooth handoff to Project Management and Engineering once an order is received.

Requirements

Degree in an engineering discipline is preferred, equivalent automation engineering and management work related experience may be considered
Minimum 5 years of related industry experience
Ability to communicate effectively and present technical material
Ability to create design concepts using CAD
General Electrical and Mechanical Engineering knowledge
Material Flow and value stream mapping knowledge
Robotics and automation knowledge
Control Systems and software knowledge
Ability to work in a fast paced high pressure environment
Ability to interface effectively with customers at many levels in their organizations
Excellent organizational skills
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Excellent Microsoft Office skills
Excellent 3D modeling skills
Ability to travel up to 50% including international

Responsibilities

Sales Support Support the sales organization throughout the entire sales process, including frequent direct interaction with customers Act as the technical expert during customer meetings, site visits, and solution discussions
Sales Strategy Development Collaborate with sales teams to develop strategies for targeting key accounts Identify opportunities for upselling and cross-selling ZEISS solutions
Customer Needs Analysis Conduct customer consultations, site visits, and technical discussions to understand requirements Translate customer challenges into practical, automated technical solutions
Product Demonstrations Conduct live and virtual product demonstrations Clearly communicate product features, benefits, and value propositions Demonstrate how ZEISS solutions address specific customer pain points
Solution Design Develop customized solution concepts aligned with customer requirements Create design concepts using CAD Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure technical feasibility and alignment
Relationship Building Build and maintain strong customer relationships as a trusted technical advisor Support long-term customer satisfaction and loyalty through exceptional service Develop and maintain relationships with suppliers and third-party partners
Proposal and Quotation Preparation Prepare detailed technical proposals, including cost estimates and timelines Identify and coordinate with external partners to obtain third-party quotations Ensure proposals align with customer expectations and ZEISS business objectives
Market and Competitor Analysis Stay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitor offerings Leverage market insights to effectively position ZEISS solutions
Cross-Functional Collaboration Act as a liaison between Sales, Engineering, Project Management, and Product Development Provide customer and market feedback to support continuous product improvement