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What does a solutions engineer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted expert
Andrea Welker Ph.D.
What does a solutions engineer do

A solutions engineer is an individual who assists customers in identifying their computer software needs and generates customized business software solutions for them. Solutions engineers collaborate with other department engineers to create practical demonstrations of proposed solutions and showcase them to the other members of the team. They are required to test the installed software and fix programming bugs that create errors with the system. Solutions engineers also maintain customer relations by providing post-installation follow-ups.

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Solutions engineer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real solutions engineer resumes:

  • Manage NDS tree for CSRS and all TCP/IP resolve via DHCP.
  • Subject matter expert in SAAS solution sets, manage services and manufacturing/logistics.
  • Develop tools to automate troubleshooting tasks such as DNS resolutions and log collection.
  • Manage a small team thereby training the team on data center and VPN technologies.
  • Manage a team of 20 resources providing functional and technical CRM support to global customers.
  • Utilize Google docs & JavaScript or VBA to develop solutions to automate data processing for operation.
  • Deliver python scripts to create the snapshots on AWS S3 buckets and apply the life cycle management rules.
  • Implement and support AVAYA CCCv5 software to clients, the Microsoft CRM database are based on Microsoft SQL.
  • Mentore junior engineering's and architects in multiple teams security, networking, Linux, windows, and developers.
  • Experience working with TCP/IP, DHCP, DNS, and FTP.
  • Used JavaScript for client-side validations.
  • SAP Pre-Sales and sales support.
  • Revise work instructions in HTML.
  • Direct the efforts of the pc technicians.
  • Involve in Java script with using HTML tags.

Solutions engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 8% of Solutions Engineers are proficient in Cloud, Pre Sales, and Java. They’re also known for soft skills such as Self-confidence, Technological skills, and Interpersonal skills.

We break down the percentage of Solutions Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Cloud, 8%

    Researched the latest information technology security trends and developed cloud security standard for the client.

  • Pre Sales, 8%

    Conducted sales and pre sales technical consultations, such as value proposition slide deck presentations to C-level executives.

  • Java, 7%

    Created a java utility jar to allow lotus notes developers to integrate with LiveLink Document Management software.

  • Architecture, 6%

    Included gathering key business and technical requirements, developing storage architecture and design, implementing and configuring Storage products.

  • Customer Satisfaction, 5%

    Spearheaded daily communications with clients and upper management to provide detailed reports on customer satisfaction trends.

  • Infrastructure, 4%

    Gathered requirements from internal customers on new deployments of their applications and determined if the existing infrastructure could support those deployments.

Common skills that a solutions engineer uses to do their job include "cloud," "pre sales," and "java." You can find details on the most important solutions engineer responsibilities below.

Self-confidence. The most essential soft skill for a solutions engineer to carry out their responsibilities is self-confidence. This skill is important for the role because "sales engineers should be confident and persuasive when making sales presentations." Additionally, a solutions engineer resume shows how their duties depend on self-confidence: "build customer confidence through consultative engagements and consistent end to end sales cycle support. "

Technological skills. Another essential skill to perform solutions engineer duties is technological skills. Solutions engineers responsibilities require that "sales engineers must have extensive knowledge of the technologically sophisticated products they sell in order to explain their advantages and answer questions." Solutions engineers also use technological skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "provide consulting services for customers assessing their current infrastructure and provide an implementation strategy based upon their requirements and technological necessity. "

Interpersonal skills. This is an important skill for solutions engineers to perform their duties. For an example of how solutions engineer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "strong interpersonal skills are a valuable characteristic for sales engineers, both for building relationships with clients and effectively communicating with other members of the sales team." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a solutions engineer: "promoted to technical support manager after demonstrated technical ability with company's product and interpersonal skills. ".

Problem-solving skills. solutions engineer responsibilities often require "problem-solving skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "sales engineers must be able to listen to the customer’s desires and concerns, and then recommend solutions, such as customizing a product for the customer." This resume example shows what solutions engineers do with problem-solving skills on a typical day: "resolved bugs from client operations, involved java, c#, powershell, sql. "

Most common solutions engineer skills

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Compare different solutions engineers

Solutions engineer vs. Technical services engineer

A technical services engineer is responsible for assisting customers on their systems and network issues, providing them the best technical solutions, and guiding them on step-by-step procedures for troubleshooting. Technical services engineers must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially on identifying customers' system failures by asking them a few questions. They also escalate high-level complaints to internal teams, ensuring that they present the client's issues for reference. A technical services engineer also handles systems configuration and recommending process improvement techniques to optimize network infrastructure.

If we compare the average solutions engineer annual salary with that of a technical services engineer, we find that technical services engineers typically earn a $14,278 lower salary than solutions engineers make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both solutions engineer and technical services engineer positions are skilled in pre sales, java, and customer satisfaction.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a solutions engineer are more likely to require skills like "cloud," "architecture," "infrastructure," and "sales process." On the other hand, a job as a technical services engineer requires skills like "technical service," "sql," "ul," and "fire protection." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Technical services engineers really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $86,876. Comparatively, solutions engineers tend to make the most money in the start-up industry with an average salary of $118,808.technical services engineers tend to reach similar levels of education than solutions engineers. In fact, technical services engineers are 3.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Solutions engineer vs. Management engineer

A management engineer specializes in designing and developing systems to optimize business or establishment procedures. Their duties typically revolve around coordinating with various departments to obtain necessary data, conducting observations and inspections to determine the strengths and weaknesses of existing processes, executing maintenance checks to ensure the efficiency of services, and performing research and analysis to come up with the ideal solutions. Furthermore, as a management engineer, it is essential to adhere to the company's policies and regulations when making decisions or recommending new systems.

Management engineer positions earn lower pay than solutions engineer roles. They earn a $4,911 lower salary than solutions engineers per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both solutions engineers and management engineers have skills such as "pre sales," "java," and "infrastructure. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that solutions engineer responsibilities requires skills like "cloud," "architecture," "customer satisfaction," and "sales process." But a management engineer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "ldap," "ip," "dod," and "management system."

On average, management engineers earn a lower salary than solutions engineers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, management engineers earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $102,884. Whereas solutions engineers have higher pay in the start-up industry, with an average salary of $118,808.In general, management engineers achieve similar levels of education than solutions engineers. They're 3.4% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for solutions engineers in the next 3-5 years?

Andrea Welker Ph.D.Andrea Welker Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University

Virtual/augmented reality will play an increasingly important role in visualizing designs and interacting with them.

Solutions engineer vs. Technical systems engineer

Technical Systems Engineers are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the infrastructure or systems network. They build, maintain, and repair all the systems and network infrastructure of the organization. They troubleshoot problems and find the best possible solution to address such problems. They also ensure that those problems will be resolved and would never be encountered again. Technical Systems Engineers also help out in information technology or network infrastructure projects of other departments. They provide expertise on the systems-related aspects of the project. They help guide project teams on the feasibility and the success factors of the project.

On average, technical systems engineers earn higher salaries than solutions engineers, with a $5,681 difference per year.Using the responsibilities included on solutions engineers and technical systems engineers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "cloud," "java," and "cloud computing.rdquo;

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a solutions engineer is likely to be skilled in "pre sales," "architecture," "customer satisfaction," and "infrastructure," while a typical technical systems engineer is skilled in "powershell," "dod," "database," and "sccm."

Technical systems engineers make a very good living in the finance industry with an average annual salary of $116,420. On the other hand, solutions engineers are paid the highest salary in the start-up industry, with average annual pay of $118,808.Most technical systems engineers achieve a similar degree level compared to solutions engineers. For example, they're 1.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Solutions engineer vs. Technical support engineer

A technical support engineer is responsible for responding to customer issues, providing immediate resolutions to their system issues through remote assistance. Technical support engineers must have strong knowledge of software and hardware applications to diagnose system defects and process troubleshooting. They also assist customers with the installation of programs and updates to improve system performance, escalating high-level concerns to appropriate internal technology teams. A technical support engineer must have strong command with technical systems, as well as excellent communication and time-management skills to understand clients' issues while documenting procedures.

Technical support engineers tend to earn a lower pay than solutions engineers by an average of $9,766 per year.While both solutions engineers and technical support engineers complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like java, customer satisfaction, and cloud computing, the two careers vary in some skills.Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A solutions engineer uses "cloud," "pre sales," "architecture," and "infrastructure." Technical support engineers are more likely to have duties that require skills in "customer issues," "database," "provides technical support," and "technical problems. "technical support engineers enjoy the best pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $82,316. For comparison, solutions engineers earn the highest salary in the start-up industry.In general, technical support engineers hold similar degree levels compared to solutions engineers. Technical support engineers are 4.3% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of solutions engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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