Application Manager

Auxo Talent; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Auxo Talent seeks a Manager of Applications Engineering to lead the day-to-day operations of the engineering team in North America. You’ll partner with the Director of Applications Engineering to align priorities, manage demonstrations, turnkey projects, and machine validations while keeping the Technical Center and showroom customer-ready.

The ideal candidate has a strong CNC machining background and proven leadership to develop a high-performing technical team.

Qualifications

• Must have 8+ years of CNC machining or related experience.
• Experience leading technical teams with hands-on engineering involvement.
• Strong knowledge of multi-axis/mill-turn/multitasking machine tools.
• Willingness to travel ~10%.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations and priorities of the Applications Engineering team.
• Oversee customer demonstrations, turnkey projects, machine validations, training and technical activities.
• Maintain showroom and Technical Center readiness for customer visits, demonstrations and events.
• Lead technical execution for events like IMTS, Open Houses and strategic engineering initiatives.
• Mentor, coach and develop Applications Engineers, fostering accountability and continuous improvement.
• Support customer visits, technical presentations, machine evaluations and manufacturing assessments.
• Collaborate with Sales, Service, Operations, Facilities, Marketing and Executive Leadership to deliver projects successfully.
• Build strong relationships with strategic technology partners and support global engineering initiatives.
• Establish engineering standards, best practices and technical documentation.
• Identify and remove operational or technical obstacles affecting team performance.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and development of engineering personnel.
• Ensure continuity of engineering operations and execution across the Technical Center.

Skills

Leadership

CNC machining

Customer engagement

Mentoring

Communication

Problem solving

Travel 10%

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

Mastercam

Siemens NX CAM

hyperMILL

ESPRIT

GibbsCAM

Fanuc controls

Siemens CNC controls

Job description

A global leader in CNC machine tools and advanced manufacturing solutions, the company supports manufacturers across a wide range of industries with high-performance machining technology, automation and turnkey solutions. With a strong focus on innovation, engineering excellence and customer success, its technical centres play a key role in demonstrating technology and delivering practical manufacturing solutions.

The Role

The Manager of Applications Engineering will lead the day-to-day operations of the engineering team, working closely with the Director of Applications Engineering as a key operational partner.

This is a hands-on leadership role combining people management, technical engineering and customer engagement. You will oversee engineering priorities, customer demonstrations, turnkey projects, machine validations and technical events while ensuring the Technical Center and showroom remain fully operational and customer-ready.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in CNC machining and applications engineering, alongside the leadership skills to develop a high-performing technical team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the daily operations, priorities, workload and technical resources of the Applications Engineering team.
• Oversee customer demonstrations, turnkey projects, machine validations, training and technical activities.
• Maintain showroom and Technical Center readiness for customer visits, demonstrations and events.
• Lead technical execution for IMTS, Open Houses, customer events and strategic engineering initiatives.
• Mentor, coach and develop Applications Engineers, fostering accountability, ownership and continuous improvement.
• Support customer visits, technical presentations, machine evaluations and manufacturing assessments.
• Collaborate with Sales, Service, Operations, Facilities, Marketing and Executive Leadership to deliver projects successfully.
• Build strong relationships with strategic technology partners and support global engineering initiatives.
• Establish engineering standards, best practices and technical documentation.
• Identify and remove operational or technical obstacles affecting team performance.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and development of engineering personnel.
• Ensure continuity of engineering operations and execution across the Technical Center.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering or a related field preferred; equivalent hands-on manufacturing experience will be considered.
• 8+ years of progressive hands-on experience in CNC machining, manufacturing engineering, applications engineering, machine tools or turnkey manufacturing.
• Previous experience as a CNC Machinist, CNC Programmer, Manufacturing Engineer, Applications Engineer or similar hands-on manufacturing professional.
• Proven experience leading technical teams while remaining actively involved in engineering and machining activities.
• Extensive hands-on experience with CNC setup, programming, prove-out, tooling, workholding, fixture design and process optimisation.
• Strong knowledge of multi-axis machining, mill-turn and multitasking machine tools.
• Experience with Fanuc and/or Siemens CNC controls.
• Experience with a major CAM platform such as Mastercam, Siemens NX CAM, hyperMILL, ESPRIT, GibbsCAM or similar.
• Strong understanding of cutting tools, advanced workholding, fixture design and machining strategy.
• Excellent leadership, communication, organisational and customer-facing skills.
• Willingness to travel approximately 10%.

Who We're Looking For

We’re looking for a hands-on manufacturing leader who has built their career on the shop floor and earned credibility through practical experience.

You should have personally programmed CNC machines, set up machine tools, proved out processes, solved complex machining challenges and worked through real-world manufacturing problems. This is not a desk-based management position, you’ll be expected to remain technically engaged and be someone engineers can turn to for practical solutions.

The ideal candidate will be equally comfortable on the shop floor, mentoring engineers, solving machining problems, meeting customers, presenting technical solutions and leading projects.

Above all, we’re looking for someone who takes ownership, anticipates problems, removes obstacles, develops people and drives execution. This is an opportunity to play a key role in building a world-class Applications Engineering organisation in North America.