BALANCING TECHNICAL DEPTH AND SOFT SKILLS: THE EVOLVING ROLE OF A TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS ENGINEER

The nature of the work of a Technical Solutions Engineer (TSE) is changing significantly. While the demands for technical knowledge still remain high, customers also need soft skills from the TSE. As highlighted in this paper, TSEs must now simultaneously be profoundly technical yet very personable. Exploiting the nature of these dual competencies, we discuss their effect on job performance, customer satisfaction, and teamwork. Further, we state the issues of TSEs in implementing and maintaining the balance of these skills and identify the recommendations for improvement. Using examples and key facts and figures, the position of today’s modern TSE is explored and effectively illustrated with an emphasis placed on the fact that the industrial use of this theory is still growing and developing.