Applications Engineer

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.

• 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

• 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.

• Experience with precision machining systems, metal cutting, or automation
• CAD experience (Solid Works, AutoCAD, or similar)
• Background in applications engineering, sales engineering, or estimating
• Customer-facing technical experience

• 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

Prescreening interviews will begin January 2nd
Qualified candidates will be contacted directly.

This role is being handled confidentially by an external recruiting partner.
Qualified candidates will receive full company details after initial screening.