Solution Engineering Manager

Applied Intuition Applied Intuition · Robotics · Sunnyvale, CA · Engineering

This role is for a Solutions Engineering Manager at Applied Intuition, a company focused on physical AI and vehicle intelligence. The manager will lead a team of solutions engineers, acting as the first technical point of contact for strategic global customers, guiding architectural conversations, and driving the presales process from discovery to deal closure. The role requires expertise in pre-sales, a background in development/design engineering, and experience with automotive software development workflows.

What you'd actually do

  1. Serve as the first technical point of contact for prospective customers, leading early-stage architectural discussions and business model reviews that establish credibility and momentum
  2. Plan, host, and drive customer onsites by owning the agenda, coordinating cross-functional stakeholders, and ensuring every session moves the deal forward
  3. Lead and mentor a team of solutions engineers focused on pre-sales and customer engagement for major automotive collaborations
  4. Drive the full pre-sales motion from a technical standpoint, from initial discovery through solution validation and deal closure
  5. Identify and articulate the customer's core problem statement by cutting through surface-level asks to understand underlying needs and strategic priorities

Skills

Required

  • 8 to 13 years of experience
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field
  • Expertise in the pre-sales and have successfully closed deals
  • Proven track record in a 'build to sell' trajectory, having transitioned from a development/design engineer background to the technical sales side
  • Experience with automotive software development workflows and customer team dynamics
  • Ability to drive new business-focused technical engagements rather than renewal-focused account management

Nice to have

  • Experience working at major automotive suppliers or automotive software-first companies
  • Start-up experience
  • Familiarity with the selling motion for dual-use applications or adjacent high-stakes industries like aerospace and defense

What the JD emphasized

  • first technical touchpoint
  • leading architectural conversations
  • setting the tone for every major engagement
  • participating in nearly every major deal
  • own the presales process end-to-end
  • running deep-dive architectural sessions
  • compelling solution narratives that win trust and close deals
  • first technical point of contact
  • early-stage architectural discussions
  • moves the deal forward
  • Drive the full pre-sales motion
  • solution validation and deal closure
  • strategic priorities
  • key technical outcomes
  • winning proposals
  • customer needs
  • effective technical solutions
  • pre-sales
  • successfully closed deals
  • build to sell' trajectory
  • development/design engineer background
  • technical sales side
  • automotive software development workflows
  • new business-focused technical engagements