Digital Application Engineer (SSA)

Job Purpose

The Digital Applications Engineer enables the digital (pre) sales team by providing application expertise and technical customer support throughout complex sales opportunities. Acting as a bridge between Sales, Product Management, Solution Architects, and customers, the role translates customer challenges into value-driven digital solutions.

Through deep knowledge of digital applications, aviation X-ray networking, and AI-powered screening technologies, the Technical Applications Engineer supports customer engagements, demonstrates solution value, addresses technical concerns, and helps advance opportunities toward successful closure.

The role focuses on technical sales enablement and solution consulting, without ownership of product strategy, pricing, architecture, implementation, or commercial opportunities.

Duties

• Partner with Digital Sales Executives and Key Account Managers (KAMs) on proposal for wider digital portfolio upsell opportunities.
• Run technical demonstrations, workshops and proof-of-concept engagements with prospective and existing customers.
• Feed customer and market technical requirements back into Digital Portfolio/Product teams to inform the roadmap (e.g. ELECTORA feature prioritisation).
• Support senior and C-level technical engagement with strategic accounts and regulators (e.g. TSA), positioning Smiths Detection's open-architecture and interoperability credentials.
• Build and maintain standardised technical playbooks and collateral to make pursuits repeatable across regions.
• Apply strong technical and commercial judgement to support business case development, solution pricing input, and contract technical schedules.
• Maintain accurate technical opportunity records and handover documentation through CRM and governance processes to support delivery planning.
• Monitor technology trends, competitor architectures and emerging standards to identify risks and opportunities for the digital portfolio.
• Prioritise support for strategic aviation pursuits while extending technical coverage into Ports & Borders, Urban Security, and other target market segments.
• Contribute to onboarding and enablement of new digital and technical sales colleagues, sharing solution and architecture expertise.
• Ensure all technical and commercial activities are conducted in accordance with company policies, ethical standards, regulatory requirements and applicable governance processes.
• Identify technical, operational, and business risks early in the sales cycle and support opportunity qualification activities.
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor during customer engagements, workshops, executive briefings, demonstrations, and industry events. Support customers in understanding best practices and operational use cases for digital solutions.

Qualifications & Requirements

Technical Application and Product Expertise

Knowledge & Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Engineering, Computer Science, IT, or a related technical field.
• Background in solutions architecture, network/systems engineering, or technical pre-sales - ideally in security screening, aviation, critical infrastructure, or enterprise software/SaaS.
• Strong grasp of networking, systems integration and cloud/on-prem deployment models; comfortable working across IT and OT environments.
• Experience supporting complex, multi-stakeholder tenders and RFPs.
• The ability to assess customer environments, interpret operational requirements, and identify practical ways in which digital applications can support improved performance.
• You take a structured approach to technical questions and customer challenges.
• (DNSA role)
• Knowledge of cybersecurity, cloud solutions, AI-enabled applications or digital transformation programs.
• Experience participating in government procurement and tender processes.
• Willingness to travel to support regional pursuits.
• The ability to explain complex technical concepts in clear, accessible, and value-focused language. You are comfortable communicating with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including IT teams, security operations, procurement, and operational leadership.

Competence and Abilities

• A strong understanding of how technical capabilities contribute to customer value and commercial success. You can connect application functionality to customer priorities such as operational performance, productivity, cost efficiency, investment protection, compliance, and risk reduction.
• The understanding and recognition of the organisation's commercial environment and positioning themselves, their role and their actions to support the organisation's commercial success.
• Strong understanding of Digital/IT technology, procurement processes, and industry regulations.
• Exposure to customers in market segments such as Aviation, Ports & Borders and Urban Security.
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills.
• Collaboration and influencing with a Global mindset, cultural awareness.
• The ability to engage, challenge and work effectively with others.
• Strong relationship-building skills with both technical and commercial stakeholders.
• Proven matrix and stakeholder management skills/experience working virtually in diverse teams.
• Collaborative style - comfortable working closely with sales, product and delivery teams.
• Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills.
• Effective planning, prioritisation and multi-pursuit management capability.
• Willing and able to identify and support change and continuous improvement in own and wider business environment.
• High degree of resilience, self-motivation and accountability.
• What Success Looks Like
• Success in this role means that the digital sales force has access to the specialist knowledge and customer-facing support needed to progress opportunities confidently and effectively. Customers clearly understand how our digital applications address their operational challenges and what value they can expect from their investment.
• Drive a measurable increase in the conversion rate of upsell opportunities within supported tenders.
• Reusable technical playbooks and collateral adopted across regions.
• Strong technical credibility with strategic accounts and regulators (e.g. TSA).
• Positive customer adoption of digital solutions following technical engagement.
• Growth in software penetration across the installed base, tracking to the group ambition as defined.

Additional Information: We offer

Join us and we'll help build your career, with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business, both locally and globally. You'll experience an inclusive environment, with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. You'll also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle, offering you and your family support from a health and wellbeing, financial and lifestyle perspective.

Join us and work for a world-leader, with the benefits and training to reward your dedication and skills. Be part of a team where we are making the world a safer place.

The total compensation for this position ranges from $147,521.25 - $221,281.25/yr (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, & abilities of the applicant and the alignment with the internal team & market data). This role offers a competitive Business Profit Plan. This position includes a competitive benefits package. The comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental & vision insurance; 401(k) with company match; paid time off; and other benefits. For details, please visit the Rewards & Benefits tab on our main careers page at Careers | Smiths Detection.

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