Technical Sales Engineer Co-op - Entry Level Sales Program 2027

IBM; United States; Remote; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Part time

Job summary

IBM is seeking an Entry-Level Technical Sales Engineer Co-Op to collaborate with clients and IBM experts to design, demonstrate, and deliver AI, hybrid cloud, automation, data, and security solutions. The program runs 1–2 years, with up to 20 hours while in school and up to 40 hours during breaks and summer.

The role blends technical problem-solving with customer engagement and business consulting to drive measurable outcomes and build a foundation for a career in technical sales and solution

Qualifications

• Actively enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student.
• Pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a technical field (e.g., CS, SE, CE, Data Science, Cybersecurity).
• Foundational knowledge of cloud computing, AI, automation, data, or cybersecurity.

Responsibilities

• Participate in client discovery sessions to understand objectives and requirements.
• Design and validate technical solution approaches across IBM tech areas.
• Build demonstrations, proofs of concept, workshops, and technical presentations.
• Translate technical concepts into clear business value for stakeholders.
• Support adoption and success by defining use cases and removing barriers.
• Collaborate with sales, technical specialists, and success teams to progress opportunities.
• Contribute ideas and best practices to accelerate client readiness and adoption.
• Present findings and recommendations to business and technical audiences.

Skills

Programming languages

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Team collaboration

AI tooling

Education

Bachelor's degree

High School Diploma

Job description

Introduction

At IBM, technology creates value when it solves real business challenges. As an Entry-Level Technical Sales Engineer, you will work with clients and IBM technical experts to design, demonstrate, and deliver solutions across AI, hybrid cloud, automation, data, and security.

This role combines technical problem-solving, customer engagement, and business consulting to help organizations achieve measurable outcomes while building the foundation for a career in technical sales and solution consulting.

This is a 1 to 2 year Co-Op position for students to work while actively pursuing a degree for up to 20 hours while school is in session and up to 40 hours a week during school breaks and summer. As a Technical Sales Engineer Co-Op within our Sales Technical team, you’ll harness your unique skills and perspectives to engage in the development and deployment of AI systems using our watsonx platform for pilots that lead to deployment of enterprise-scale solutions at start-up speed.

IBM’s Sales Co-Op Program culture will set you up for positive impact and success, whilst ongoing development will continually advance your skills. Our sales environment is collaborative and experiential. Part of a team, you’ll be surrounded by bright minds - always willing to help- as you apply passion to work that will compel our clients to invest in IBM’s products and services.

Your role and responsibilities

• Participate in client discovery sessions to understand business objectives, technical requirements, success criteria, current environments, and opportunities to apply IBM technology.
• Design and validate technical solution approaches that address customer challenges, align with business goals, and demonstrate practical value across IBM software, AI, cloud, data, automation, and security capabilities.
• Build and deliver demonstrations, proofs of concept, workshops, and technical presentations that showcase solution functionality, technical feasibility, integration requirements, and business value.
• Translate technical concepts into clear business value for technical and non-technical stakeholders through effective storytelling, documentation, and recommendations.
• Support customer adoption, expansion, and success by helping clients define use cases, remove technical barriers, identify deployment considerations, and realize measurable value from IBM solutions.
• Collaborate with sales, technical specialists, customer success teams, and partners to progress opportunities, identify growth areas, and support client engagement activities.
• Contribute innovative ideas, reusable assets, technical best practices, and emerging technology perspectives that help accelerate client success, technical readiness, and solution adoption.
• Present technical findings, solution recommendations, and next steps to both business and technical stakeholders.

Required education

High School Diploma/GED

Preferred education

Bachelor's Degree

Required technical and professional expertise

• Actively Enrolled: Registered undergraduate or graduate university student.
• Seeking a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree completed by start date in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Mathematics, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Foundational knowledge of cloud computing, software development, AI, automation, data, or cybersecurity.
• Experience with at least one programming language such as Python, Java, JavaScript, C++, or similar.
• Experience using AI-assisted development tools to prototype, build, or troubleshoot applications.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and communicate with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Curiosity, adaptability, and a passion for technology and client success.

Preferred technical and professional experience

• Leadership experience through student organizations, athletics, volunteer work, competitions, or community involvement.

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

IBM has a global presence, operating in more than 175 countries with a broad-based geographic distribution of revenue. The company’s Global Markets organization is a strategic sales business unit that manages IBM’s global footprint, working closely with dedicated country-based operating units to serve clients locally. These country teams have client relationship managers who lead integrated teams of consultants, solution specialists and delivery professionals to enable clients’ growth and innovation. By complementing local expertise with global experience and digital capabilities, IBM builds deep and broad-based client relationships. This local management focus f…om%%h n? last?