Account Sales Engineer

cognex; Michigan; On-site; USD 97,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognex is hiring a strategic Account Sales Engineer to drive sales of its ID and Vision portfolio in a defined territory. You will build a robust pipeline, lead negotiations, and coordinate with TSEs and partners to secure major opportunities.

The role emphasizes field demonstrations, post‑sale support, and close collaboration with cross‑functional teams to deliver exceptional customer outcomes. Travel up to 20% is expected.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in technical sales, ideally in automotive automation or a related industry.
• Proven ability to manage long, complex sales cycles and to sell solutions across organizational levels.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Achieve sales quotas and grow a 12–24 month pipeline for large, complex projects.
• Conduct product demonstrations and on-site solutions tailored to customer needs.
• Collaborate with partners and internal teams to drive strategic account coverage and contracts.

Skills

Technical sales

Solution selling

Communication

Customer relationships

Field sales

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM or Business

Job description

Job Description

About Us

Cognex is the largest, most successful and recognized global player in industrial machine vision! We are a financially strong, international company with no debt and have been in business for over 40 years. Using advanced optics, image sensors and artificial intelligence software Cognex vision and ID systems capture an image then analyze it to make sense of what's being seen. We are deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment, guided by our "Work Hard, Play Hard, Move Fast" culture, which celebrates employee innovation, determination, and dedication in a dynamic, fun, and distinctive atmosphere .

Position Summary

The Account Sales Engineer (ASE) drives sales of Cognex's ID and Vision product portfolio within an assigned territory, targeting end-users and machine builders. This role focuses on meeting sales quotas, building a pipeline of complex business opportunities, and collaborating with Territory Sales Engineers (TSEs) to deliver exceptional customer experiences. The ASE partners with other sales engineers within Cognex and integration partners to ensure comprehensive strategic account coverage.

Key Responsibilities

Sales Execution

• Maximize booking performance and exceed quotas for ASE and TSE accounts by following best practices in territory management, account strategy, and the 6-bullet sales process.
• Build and maintain a 12-24-month pipeline of qualified business opportunities, focusing on large, complex projects and depending on the territory also smaller applications.
• Lead contract negotiations to close deals effectively and ensure compliance with agreements.

Customer Engagement & Support

• Conduct product demonstrations, assess applications, and deliver on-site solutions to address customer needs.
• Provide hands‑on support for system programming and configuration post‑sale to ensure successful implementation.
• Collaborate with integration partners and apply the "best sales channel" approach to secure strategic opportunities.

Strategic Account Coordination

• Partner with TSEs, OEM Sales Engineers and GAMs to drive effective coverage and support for key end‑user accounts.
• Coordinate application evaluations, leveraging the Applications Engineering team for technical assessments.

Operational Excellence

• Manage weekly forecasts accurately and ensure timely, clear information flow within the team.
• Utilize CRM and Service Cloud tools to track sales execution, monitor key metrics, and capture market insights.

Market Insights & Collaboration

• Engage with the End User Sales Readiness team for pre- and post‑sales support, providing technical guidance, application evaluations, and training to enhance the customer journey.

Key Qualifications

Experience

• 3-5 years of experience in technical sales, ideally within the automotive automation or a related industry, with a proven ability to manage complex sales cycles.
• Demonstrated success in solution‑based selling and managing long‑term, intricate projects.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong ability to sell technical products across organizational levels and cultivate long‑term relationships with accounts and partners.
• Action‑oriented, self‑motivated, with excellent communication and listening skills.
• Proficient in working independently in a field sales environment, with frequent travel (up to 20% overnight).

Education

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, ideally in a STEM or Business field.

Additional Requirements

• Valid driver's license
• A reasonable estimate of the OTE salary range for this role is 97,000 USD - 146,000 USD. Please note that actual salaries may vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, education, training, experience, professional achievement, business need, and location. In addition to base salary, employees will participate in either an annual bonus plan based on company and individual performance or a sales incentive plan. This position is also eligible for equity under the Cognex Equity Program.
• This position provides a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) retirement plan with company matching; employer‑paid disability, family leave, life insurance, paid time off (including holidays), optional voluntary benefits, and recognition and wellness programs.

Additional Job Description

Equal Employment Opportunity

Cognex is an equal opportunity employer. Cognex evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, disability/handicap status or any other legally protected characteristic.