Senior Applications Engineer - Metrology & Smart Manufacturing

Thomas Lee Recruitment; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency in the engineering sector is looking for a Senior Technical Applications Engineer to support complex customer applications and technical sales. The role requires a strong background in manufacturing and metrology, with responsibilities including providing technical support, contributing to technical projects, and mentoring junior engineers. The position offers a salary of £45,000 - £50,000 plus bonuses and opportunities for growth into leadership.

Benefits

Non-contractual bonus equivalent to 1 month’s salary

Clear opportunity for career progression

Qualifications

• Strong background in precision engineering, quality, metrology, or machine vision.
• Comfortable rolling sleeves up when required.
• Clear, structured technical reporting skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level technical support to sales and client development.
• Contribute to bespoke technical solutions and projects.
• Support and mentor less experienced engineers.

Skills

Engineering qualification or equivalent practical experience

Strong background in manufacturing

Proven hands-on capability

Confident working directly with customers

Ability to understand application requirements

High attention to detail

Leadership potential

Education

Engineering qualification

Job description

Overview

This is a senior, hands‑on Technical Applications Engineer role within a smart manufacturing and metrology environment, supporting complex customer applications, technical sales activity, and development projects across precision engineering sectors.

The brief is deliberately broad. The priority is capability. The ideal hire is someone who has been there, done it, is technically credible in front of customers, and can operate with a high degree of autonomy. Longer term, this role will form part of the succession plan for team leadership, coaching, and technical direction.

The role

You will work closely with sales, customers, and internal technical teams, acting as the technical authority on applications, feasibility, and solution development. While the role broadly spans the areas below, the split is flexible and will evolve with the individual.

Responsibilities

• Technical Applications & Sales Support
  • Providing high-level technical support to sales and client development activities
  • Carrying out demonstrations, feasibility studies, and application trials using metrology and measurement equipment
  • Supporting customer visits, installations, and solution definition on-site
  • Acting as a trusted technical advisor to customers and internal stakeholders
  • Delivering technical training and knowledge transfer where appropriate
• Technical Development & Projects
  • Contributing to bespoke technical solutions beyond standard equipment resale
  • Working on projects involving equipment, fixturing, software, logic, enclosures, and machine programming
  • Supporting the delivery of technically robust, commercially viable solutions
• Subcontract Measurement & Technical Capability
  • Undertaking subcontract measurement work for key customers and partners
  • Maintaining hands-on expertise with existing equipment and developing capability on new technologies
  • Ensuring the technical team remains grounded in real-world application work
• Future leadership and succession
  • Supporting and mentoring less experienced engineers as the team evolves
  • Contributing to technical standards, best practice, and process improvement
  • Over time, taking on elements of team leadership, coordination, and development

What they are looking for

This is not a box-ticking exercise. The focus is on depth, credibility, and attitude.

• Engineering qualification or equivalent practical experience
• Strong background in manufacturing, precision engineering, quality, metrology, and/or machine vision
• Proven hands-on capability, comfortable rolling sleeves up when required
• Confident working directly with customers in technical and commercial settings
• Ability to quickly understand application requirements and propose solutions
• High attention to detail with clear, structured technical reporting
• Comfortable balancing customer needs, sales priorities, and internal project demands
• Leadership potential, whether already demonstrated or clearly evident

Salary and progression

• £45,000 - £50,000 base salary
• Non-contractual bonus equivalent to 1 month’s salary, based on company revenue and margin performance
• For the right individual, there is flexibility on package and scope
• Clear opportunity to grow into a senior technical leadership role over time

About Us

At Thomas Lee Recruitment, we specialise in connecting engineers and technical salespeople with leading companies in the engineering sector. We pride ourselves on offering a personalised, professional, and transparent recruitment service. Our focus is on understanding both client and candidate needs to ensure the best possible match.

How to Apply

All applications will be responded to. Please ensure you have the right to work in the UK before applying. By applying for this role, you accept our Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers, which can be found on our website