Applications Engineer

Job Description

Job Title: Applications Engineer
Location: Buffalo Grove, IL
Compensation: Base Salary: $80,000 - $115,000 + Commission (based on targets and revenue generated)

Position Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Applications Engineer to join our growing team. This role plays a critical part in the early stages of automation projects, working closely with sales engineers and customers to develop pre-concept designs, Statements of Work (SOW), and Requests for Quotation (RFQ). The ideal candidate will have a strong background in automation machinery and OEM automation and should be comfortable managing customer interactions and project discovery phases.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with Sales Engineers to develop pre-concept designs during the project discovery phase.
• Engage with customers early in the project lifecycle to understand requirements and define solutions.
• Develop Statements of Work (SOW) and Requests for Quotation (RFQ).
• Support the design and quoting process for automation projects.
• Utilize Excel for scheduling and documentation (processes are currently manual and "old school").
• Work with SolidWorks, though not responsible for direct design work.
• Maintain a high level of customer interaction, ensuring clear and articulate communication.
• Work with robots, gantries, and material handling equipment.
• Support projects in automotive, consumer products, durable goods, and medical industries.
• Travel 10-20% of the time for short, primarily domestic customer site visits; the remainder of the time will be spent in the Buffalo Grove office.

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in an Applications Engineering role (not entry-level).
• Automation machinery experience is a must.
• OEM automation experience required.
• Strong proficiency in Excel for scheduling and documentation.
• Ability to work in SolidWorks (though not performing direct design work).
• Excellent communication skills; must be able to articulate ideas and interact effectively with customers.
• Experience in industries such as automotive, assembly and test, machine test, and production environments is a plus.

Why Join Us?

• Competitive base salary with additional commission opportunities.
• Work in a growing team with opportunities for impact and leadership.
• High level of customer engagement and influence in project development.
• Exposure to cutting-edge automation technologies in various industries.

Meet Your Recruiter

Max Francis
Technical Recruiter

Max Francis is a seasoned Engineering Recruiter specializing in the Automation Division at Sterling. With five years of invaluable experience in recruitment, Max is on a mission to help individuals find their perfect career move-one that aligns with their professional goals and supports their families.

As an Engineering Recruiter, Max excels in the Automation Division, leveraging his deep industry knowledge to connect candidates with opportunities tailor-made for their unique skill sets and aspirations. He understands that finding the right career move is a pivotal moment in people's lives, and he thrives on being a part of that journey.

What Max finds most exciting and rewarding about his work is the opportunity to guide individuals to their ideal career fit. He recognizes that this transition is an exhilarating time for most people, and he derives immense satisfaction from helping them navigate the path toward their next professional adventure.

Max's advice to job seekers is grounded in the value of connections. He believes that having a well-connected recruiter within the industry you aspire to be in can open doors to companies and positions that may not be readily available on job boards. In today's competitive job market, he encourages candidates to connect with a recruiter early in their job search journey. While he advocates for candidates to continue their independent job searches, he emphasizes the benefit of having an additional set of experienced eyes on the market.

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