Applications Engineer - California - Planar Systems

Are you ready to put your skills to work in a dynamic and growing company? Are you passionate about technology and want to see video, imagery, and data come to life on big electronic canvases? Are you ready to make a difference and assist us as we help shape the way people think about and use digital signage now and into the future?

We are seeking a Pre-Sales Applications Engineer who is responsible for joining with Planar’s Sales team to assist customers with the development and implementation of industry leading display solutions. The Pre-Sales Engineer serves as the primary technical contact to Consultants, Architects, and Designers for pre-sales technical support. The Pre-Sales Engineer will interact directly with our customers’ sales, engineering, and others to lead technical discussions about  Planar’s display systems to arrive at an optimal solution. S/he will be responsible for training and occasionally assisting with the installation of products and services at customer sites. Additionally, the Pre-Sales Engineer will be responsible for providing feedback and following up on technical issues with the Product Management team.

What You’ll Do:

• Conduct product trainings and presentations, and provide technical qualification of sales opportunities for Sales.
• Provide pre and post-sale integration and application development support to new and existing customer base. 
• Partner with Customer Service as necessary to resolve post-sale technical issues.
• Partner with Sales to initiate technical discussions with current and prospective customers.
• Make presentations and perform product demonstrations for the customer’s decision-makers and influencers.  Assist the Sales team on sales calls.
• Advocate customer needs to the Product Management team.
• Create technical documents and drawings in support of sales process.
• Assist Sales with proposal creation and technical order review.
• Provide on-site support to Planar partners and customers to perform training and installation as required.
• Prepare and coordinate hardware and software applications for use in both short- and long-term customer demonstrations.
• Ability to read, write, and understand English
• Ability to maintain acceptable standards of office conduct
• Ability to come to work demonstrating timely and regular attendance
• Ability to handle stress
• Have a valid driver’s license and automobile insurance coverage
• Provide technical feedback on enhancements and changes to existing and development products.
• Advise management on issues arising from product development problems identified through communications with the customer. 
• Support marketing activities including trade shows, technical articles, as required.
• Support engineering activities including, but not limited to, product roll-outs and technical publication review in support of business objectives.
• Assist Sales team to support Planar customers in the effort of customer support, product sustaining engineering and RMA process.
• Other duties as assigned by manager.

Who You’ll Work With:

• This role has both internal and external contacts. The internal contacts are within Sales, as well as Customer Service, Sales Operations, R&D, Product Marketing and Manufacturing Operations.  Contacts outside the organization are also crucial, and both types of interactions involve information exchange, problem solving, and some discussion about confidential/sensitive matters.  Has access to proprietary information.

Requirements

What You’ll Need:

• A/V product knowledge
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong negotiation and selling ability
• Mental ability to conduct on-going interpersonal interactions, analyze and solve problems essential.
• Ability to actively participate in team development and team-oriented processes.
• Physical ability to use computer hardware/software required.
• Valid driver’s license and vehicle availability
• Some higher education or vocational training, preferably in a technical field
• 2 to 4+ years in a technical sales role, preferably in a B2B technology company

Other Requirements:

Ability and willingness to:

• travel occasionally
• work overtime or work on-call, nights, or weekends
• lift, pull, or carry up to 40 pounds and stand for long periods of time
• work with others in a team setting

Benefits

All benefits start on first day of employment!

• 75% employer-paid medical for employee. Family coverage also included. 
• 100% employer paid dental, and vision for employee and dependents
• 100% employer paid long-term, short-term disability, and life insurance policy
• 401k Match, if you’re contributing 5% we match 4%. 100% vested immediately.
• 10 paid holidays
• Starting at 15 days paid PTO (inclusive of sick and vacation time) annually
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)