As you indicated, I think it depends on the type of individual you are. If you an extrovert and good at pitching ideas/devices as customers, you may be suited for a sales job. Although an engineering background does not directly help with being a sales representative, it may help in being able to have more technical discussions with customers that are very knowledgeable of the actual engineering behind the devices. In general, I personally believe an entry job as a sales representative in a medical device company is not a bad idea. First, working in sales will help you make connections with customers and high-level individuals. These connections can help you later on when looking for a higher-level job or job in a more engineering-centered role. Second, the job will make you a more well-rounded engineer. By working in marketing/sales, you will hone in on skills such as pitching, communicating, etc. that you would most likely not develop in a traditional engineering role. 

It depends on your interests and passions. Also, the salaries sales might be lower, but you can get a lot of commission. I would recommend maybe doing an internship in this field to see if you like it. Also, I have seen a lot of sales careers within biomedical engineering, it seems like a lot of hours. So, be really sure, if you want to get into it. Personally, I preferred the engineering track. Also, i just don't believe I have the social battery for it. 

I certainly agree that it depends on the type of person you are. To be successful in sales, there has to be some sort of extroverted nature that you can bring out when speaking with customers. I would argue, however, that most of the money is not necessarily on the technical side. The closer you are to customers, the more money you may be exposed to. From a BME standpoint, if you want to end up in sales, I think it is a massive benefit to have a technical background. Take for example consultants who are in the operating room with surgeons trying to promote and sell their company's products. When you are in that space, you need to know anything and everything there is to know about your product to effectively articulate the benefits of your product compared to others and how to use it. Having a technical background, and possibly even working on testing the product before moving into sales can bolster your ability to be able to speak to the product and effectively sell it. The more you know, the more you can say. In my opinion, the worst thing you can say if you are in the OR with a surgeon asking about a product is, "I don't know." If you don't know, what are you there for! Sales is not necessarily just cold-calling customers in an attempt to market your product. It can be in a dynamic, fast-paced, and even exciting environment where your technical knowledge can give you the cutting edge over other sales associates. 

Engineers can leverage their technical expertise in customer-facing contexts through sales and marketing roles in the medical device business. These positions entail more than just typical sales; they also entail gaining the trust of healthcare professionals, comprehending intricate client needs, and offering technical support. These engineers act as vital conduits between product development and end customers, guaranteeing that input from the field informs subsequent iterations of the product.

These positions also offer a great deal of professional flexibility. Engineers who work in sales are better equipped with transferable abilities that are useful in other areas, such as product management or business development, such as negotiation, client relationship management, and strategic thinking. In addition to providing cash incentives, the commission-based structure creates a performance-driven dynamic that may be attractive to individuals seeking prospects for professional advancement.

Since they can immediately observe how their work is helping patient care, engineers may find it enjoyable to take a hands-on approach by interacting with healthcare practitioners. Sales engineering provides a way to build a broad skill set and make a real difference in the healthcare system for people who are flexible and eager to combine technology and business. It's a profession that calls for both technical expertise and people skills, but for the right individual, it can be lucrative and satisfying.

The original poster brings up a good point about the marketing engineer role, especially in the medical device industry, as this career path blends technical expertise with the need of strong interpersonal skills and the ability to sell complex ideas. However, it sounds like they may be underestimating the value a sales/marketing engineer can bring to an individual as well as a company. Technical roles may seem like the right path for most engineers but asserting the claim that sales/marketing roles are lesser of value because they are not technical dismisses an entire category of jobs that are necessary for a medical device company's success. It is true that these roles require a different skill set, but it is unfair to claim that strong people skills cannot be built with experience. These skills, similar to coding or video games, can be developed throughout time and practice in order for one to communicate and sell effectively. The notion that engineers should focus on technical roles because "that's where the money is at" overlooks the value that a diverse group from different background brings to a company. It may be worth considering that a role requires more than the technical know how, as choosing the easy or most obvious path is not always the goal. Someone may also choose a career path hat fits an individual's strength as well as offers room for growth.