The business engineer takes care of the prospection of new customers and the realization of an adapted technical and commercial offer. Also called a business developer, key account engineer or major account engineer, he is the main intermediary between the company and the customer.
How do you become a business engineer (business developer)?
Wondering how to become a business engineer? The first thing to know is that it is advisable to take a course bac+5 level. This guide will help you learn about the key training courses to gain entry into this profession.
Which Baccalaureate to Become a Commercial Engineer?
There is no royal road to becoming a business engineer. the STMG Baccalaureate gives access to the profession of business developer. Nevertheless, the general baccalaureate is recommended to be able to easily integrate a business school or a technical school.
What education to become a commercial engineer?
The training for business engineering starts with a business course. Several route choices are possible:
- Join a business school to earn a vocational degree, either right after the baccalaureate degree or after a preparatory class for the Grandes Ecoles.
- Go to a technical school with a year of specialization in commerce.
- Start with one BTS NDRC or a Bachelor in Sales and Commercial Negotiation and then complete this education with a master’s degree in commerce, computer science or even a professional master’s degree in management business engineering course.
- A university education, especially through the IAE, is also possible to become a commercial engineer.
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Job description of a business engineer (business developer)
Being a position with high responsibilities and a strong decision-making dimension, the job description of a business engineer goes beyond the simple performance of commercial duties.
The missions of a business engineer
The missions of a business engineer contribute to the development and commercial prosperity of the company. As with many professions in the commercial sector, we will list as key positions:
- Manage all aspects of the relationship between the company and its customers.
- Prospecting new customers and new offers.
- Analyzing the customer’s needs (functional, marketing, etc.) by studying their problems and providing them with appropriate solutions.
- Representing and promoting the products and services of the organization.
- Preparation of commercial proposals and verification of all phases of the project.
- The security of a technological watch to anticipate customer requests.
- Follow-up and control of the negotiated deadlines and the achievement of all objectives expected by the client.
The qualities of a business engineer
Being in constant contact with various interlocutors, both inside and outside the company, the business engineer must demonstrate good communication skills and interpersonal skills. It goes without saying that listening is important in understanding and deciphering prospects’ problems. In addition, negotiation skills are needed to obtain new opportunities and succeed in closing them. This profession requires a lot of rigor and organization to ensure the smooth running of projects. Often leading a team, the business developer must have a collective mind.
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Hiring a business engineer (business developer)
Opportunities for a business engineer
The commercial engineering profession is becoming increasingly popular in organizations of all sizes, including: the design offices of large industrial companies, engineering firms or service companies in consulting or in auditing… The opportunities for business developers are many and in sectors as diverse as the field of selling digital solutions.
Several career paths are possible. After a good period of practice in the profession, the key account engineer can Commercial Director or a marketing director. It can also evolve into B2B sales functions,Account manager or from Customer Success Manager.
Good to know : Because it is a position that requires a lot of travel and in some cases the management of international projects, the command of foreign languages, especially English, is a very important asset for the practice of this profession.
Business engineer, basic salary
The salary of an entry-level business engineer, like most sales jobs, is both fixed and variable based on how their results are calculated. A junior business developer earns approximately € 3,000 gross per month + a variable amount[1].
[1] Salary Sales Engineer / Business Engineer – Salaries Encyclo 2021 (journaldunet.com)
The Salary of a Senior Business Engineer
After a few years of experience, the salary of a senior business engineer can reach € 4,500 gross + variable salary[1].
[1] Salary Sales Engineer / Business Engineer – Salaries Encyclo 2021 (journaldunet.com)
Ultimately, the business developer is the interface between the customer and the company, managing all phases from the customer’s needs to the implementation of technical solutions.