Applications Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Confidential Job Posting : Applications Engineer (Proposal-Focused)

Location : Metro Detroit, MI

Employment Type : Full-Time, Direct Hire

Compensation : Competitive + Bonus Potential

Industry : Precision Machinery / Capital Equipment

Where Engineering Meets Business

Our confidential client is a global leader in precision machinery and advanced manufacturing systems . Before any machine is built, it starts with a well-engineered proposal — and that’s where this role comes in.

We are seeking an Applications Engineer who excels at evaluating customer requirements, developing technical concepts, and creating clear, competitive proposals for complex, custom machinery.

What You’ll Be Doing

Review customer RFQs and develop technical and cost proposals for capital equipment

Translate customer requirements into machine concepts, layouts, and solution summaries

Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, and sales teams to define optimal solutions

Prepare cost estimates, assumptions, and technical clarifications for proposal packages

Support customer-facing technical discussions and pre-award meetings

Ensure proposals are accurate, competitive, and aligned with customer needs

Required Qualifications (Must Be Shown on Resume)

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience

Proposal experience must be clearly documented on your resume to be considered

(RFQs, estimating, quoting, applications engineering, sales engineering, or bid support)

Experience with capital equipment, machine tools, or industrial machinery

Strong mechanical aptitude and understanding of how machines are built

Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to customers and internal teams

Candidates without proposal experience listed on their resume will not be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with precision machining systems, metal cutting, or automation

CAD experience (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar)

Background in applications engineering, sales engineering, or estimating

Customer-facing technical experience

Why This Role Stands Out

You influence projects before they exist

You work across engineering, manufacturing, and commercial teams

Your work directly impacts which projects move forward

You’ll be involved in custom, high-precision machinery — not off-the-shelf products

Important Timeline

Prescreening interviews will begin January 2nd

Qualified candidates will be contacted directly.

Confidential Application Notice

This role is being handled confidentially by an external recruiting partner.

Qualified candidates will receive full company details after initial screening.