In this episode of Inside the Salesforce Ecosystem, we’re joined by Michael J. Fox, Solutions Engineer at PDF Butler.
Because of the name similarity, yes — that Michael J. Fox from Back to the Future — Michael finds the first few minutes of almost every meeting pretty entertaining. But just to clarify upfront: he is not the Hollywood actor… he’s our Solutions Engineer.
What does a Solutions Engineer actually do?
Michael’s role sits right at the intersection of business and technology. His job is to help customers not only understand what PDF Butler does but also how it fits into their specific challenges.
“My days are a mix of those demonstrations, preparing proof of concepts for people, having just calls with customers… and then a bunch of other stuff like this or like doing the videos on our website.”
No two customers are the same, and that’s exactly what makes the role interesting. From product demonstrations to tailored proof of concepts, Michael spends his days translating business needs into practical solutions.
From stand-up comedy to solution engineering
One of the more unexpected parts of Michael’s journey? He used to be a comedian.
“Straight out of university… one of the parts of the course was to do standup… and it went well enough that I was like invited to go to other places.”
But the reality of the lifestyle quickly set in:
“Yeah, £50 for five minutes… but you only work ten minutes a week… and then it’s petrol money… and then you’re also working Friday and Saturday night.”
Alongside that, he also did audiobook recordings. Starting with one that turned out to be a fantasy thriller.
“And then I did ten others in this very similar vein, sort of found a niche. It’s fun to read other people’s words and do all the different voices.”
Eventually, he chose a more stable career path, but those early experiences still shape how he works today.
“Acting and speaking in public doesn’t… faze me now.”
Why the Salesforce ecosystem?
Before joining PDF Butler, Michael worked in accountancy software, a much more standardized environment. The shift into Salesforce changed everything.
“The demonstration that you do… it could be replaced by a video pretty easily because it’s compliance software.”
In contrast, Salesforce and tools like PDF Butler bring complexity, flexibility, and endless variety.
“Anything in Salesforce… I’m looking how we can tie into what they do… PDF Butler is definitely one of those tools that bridges all these little gaps that Salesforce has.”
That variability is what keeps things fresh:
“There’s never kind of two demonstrations or calls that go the same.”
Communication is the real skill
That background in performance plays directly into his current role. Whether it’s a demo, a discovery call, or presenting to a room full of stakeholders, communication is critical.
“I think it’s key to any job to be able to communicate with people.”
But it’s not about putting on a show; it’s about balance:
“You also don’t want to make it just a show… You got to ask those questions… make it into a conversation.”
Advice for aspiring Solution Engineers
For anyone considering a move into tech or specifically into solution engineering, Michael is very clear: it’s not an entry-level role.
“I don’t think it’s something you could start… first job to be a solution engineer because you… are doing two jobs at once.”
His recommendation is to build from one side first: “Start with sales… or start the tech side… and then try and prove yourself that you can… do the other bit.”
Final thoughts
Michael’s journey is a strong example of how diverse experiences — from comedy to audiobooks to sales — can come together in a role that’s equal parts technical, strategic, and human.
And while he may not be traveling through time in a DeLorean, he is helping customers navigate complexity every day, which, in the Salesforce ecosystem, might be just as impressive.
