Sales Engineer

Company Description

At Tristar AI, we transform manufacturing by bringing cutting-edge computer vision tools to the factory floor. Our focus is on empowering frontline operators and managers whether the customer is a family-run plastics factory or a global automotive titan. Born out of research at MIT and Harvard, we are headquartered in Cambridge, MA, serving customers across North America. We are backed by world-class investors and partners, including Intel’s highly selective.

This is an incredible opportunity to join on the ground level of a rapidly growing startup. We are a dynamic team and you will have the opportunity to shape the future of our technology. The features you build here will be used every day by leading manufacturers.

Role Description

The Sales Engineer will serve as a technical expert, working closely with clients to understand their needs, demo solutions, and provide tailored recommendations. Day-to-day, the role involves delivering technical support, building and maintaining relationships with customers, assisting the sales team in technical discussions, and addressing client concerns to ensure satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop conceptual blueprints, layouts, and mockups for machine vision and automation system installations.
• Collaborate with sales teams during customer discovery to understand application requirements and manufacturing workflows.
• Create 2D/3D system concepts, mechanical layouts, and installation drawings to support proposals and presentations.
• Assist in sizing and configuring vision systems, cameras, lighting, conveyors, fixtures, robotics, and supporting hardware.
• Support pre-sales technical discussions with customers, integrators, and manufacturing teams.
• Translate customer pain points into scalable automation and inspection solutions.
• Work cross-functionally with engineering teams to ensure proposed concepts are technically feasible and aligned with customer expectations.
• Help standardize and streamline proposal generation and system visualization processes.
• Participate in customer site visits to evaluate manufacturing environments and gather technical requirements.
• Provide technical support during quoting, proposal development, and project handoff processes.
• Maintain knowledge of manufacturing automation trends, machine vision technologies, and industrial applications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in a Sales Engineer, Applications Engineer, or Solutions Engineer role within manufacturing, industrial automation, or machine vision industries.
• Ability to travel ~60% of the time
• Experience creating mechanical layouts, blueprints, CAD drawings, or system mockups.
• Proficiency with CAD software such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Inventor, or similar design platforms.
• Understanding of machine vision systems, industrial automation, robotics, conveyors, fixtures, and production line integration.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to explain technical concepts to customers and sales teams.
• Experience supporting technical sales cycles and customer-facing engineering discussions.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to travel for customer visits and onsite evaluations as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with machine vision platforms such as Cognex, Keyence, Omron, or similar systems.
• Familiarity with industrial manufacturing environments, including automotive, plastics, food & beverage, packaging, logistics, or electronics manufacturing.
• Experience with robotic integration and automation system design.
• Knowledge of industrial safety standards and manufacturing processes.
• Prior experience helping build scalable sales engineering or proposal processes.

What Success Looks Like

• Faster turnaround on customer proposals and solution concepts.
• Improved customer visualization and understanding of proposed systems.
• Increased sales efficiency through standardized layouts and mockup processes.
• Strong collaboration between sales and engineering teams.
• Higher conversion rates through technically accurate and visually compelling solution presentations.