Applications Engineer

Connect-Force; Farmington Hills (MI); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Applications Engineer will join a Michigan operation to translate customer needs into technically sound equipment and process solutions within a highly visible team. You will coordinate with engineering, sales, manufacturing, and project teams to develop proposals, cost estimates, and detailed technical documentation, ensuring solutions meet customer requirements and are commercially competitive.

This role demands strong communication, cross-functional collaboration, and hands-on problem

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related engineering discipline.
• Experience in industrial machinery or engineered-to-order equipment.
• Ability to read technical drawings and RFQs.
• Experience developing proposals, quotations, estimates, or project scopes.

Responsibilities

• Review RFQs, specs, drawings, and manufacturing requirements.
• Evaluate applications and determine equipment and processes.
• Develop concepts and preliminary solutions for customer requirements.
• Prepare detailed proposals, quotations, and cost estimates.
• Coordinate with engineering and manufacturing to define scope and costs.
• Provide technical support throughout sales and project development.
• Communicate with customers to clarify specs and timelines.
• Support sales with technically feasible, commercially competitive solutions.

Skills

RFQ review

Proposal development

Customer communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Cost estimation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Industrial/Electrical Engineering

Job description

Applications Engineer – Confidential Opportunity

Location: Farmington Hills, MI

Job Type: Full-Time | On-Site

Industry: Industrial Machinery / Advanced Manufacturing

The Opportunity

Our client, an established global manufacturer of highly engineered industrial equipment and manufacturing solutions, is seeking an Applications Engineer to join its Michigan operation.

This position is an excellent opportunity for an engineer who enjoys combining technical problem-solving, manufacturing knowledge, customer interaction, and proposal development.

The Applications Engineer will work closely with customers, engineering, sales, manufacturing, and project teams to understand technical requirements and develop the right equipment and process solutions.

This is a highly visible position within the organization with the opportunity to become an important technical resource for both customers and internal teams.

What You'll Be Doing

• Review customer RFQs, technical specifications, drawings, and manufacturing requirements.
• Evaluate customer applications and determine appropriate equipment, processes, and technical solutions.
• Develop technical concepts and preliminary equipment/process solutions based on customer requirements.
• Prepare detailed technical proposals, quotations, cost estimates, and supporting documentation.
• Work with engineering and manufacturing teams to determine project scope, equipment requirements, labor, materials, and estimated costs.
• Assist with equipment and process selection for highly engineered manufacturing applications.
• Communicate directly with customers to clarify specifications, requirements, timelines, and technical expectations.
• Partner with sales to ensure proposed solutions accurately address the customer's manufacturing needs.
• Review drawings, layouts, cycle-time requirements, specifications, and other technical documentation.
• Identify potential technical or commercial risks during the proposal stage.
• Support proposal presentations and technical discussions with customers.
• Coordinate with internal engineering, project management, purchasing, manufacturing, and service teams as projects move from proposal to execution.
• Maintain accurate proposal documentation, revisions, costing information, and customer requirements.
• Provide technical support throughout the sales and project-development process.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate has a strong technical foundation and is comfortable working between engineering, manufacturing, customers, and sales.

Candidates should be able to take a customer's manufacturing challenge and help turn it into a practical, technically sound solution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline preferred.
• Previous experience as an Applications Engineer, Proposal Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Project Engineer, Estimating Engineer, or similar technical position.
• Experience within industrial machinery, machine tools, automation, manufacturing equipment, special machines, or engineered-to-order equipment is highly desirable.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, specifications, and customer RFQs.
• Experience developing technical proposals, quotations, estimates, or project scopes.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes, equipment, tooling, automation, and/or mechanical systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Comfortable communicating directly with customers regarding technical requirements.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, sales, manufacturing, purchasing, and project management.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple proposals and priorities simultaneously.

The Right Person

We're looking for someone who enjoys figuring out how to make something work.

You may currently be an Applications Engineer, but you could also be a Proposal Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Project Engineer, Estimator, or technically minded engineer who has experience developing solutions for customers.

The strongest candidate will be able to understand a customer's requirements, ask the right technical questions, collaborate with internal engineering teams, and ultimately help develop a solution that is both technically feasible and commercially competitive.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This position offers exposure to sophisticated manufacturing technology, complex engineering challenges, and major industrial customers.

You’ll have the opportunity to work across multiple areas of the business rather than being limited to one engineering function. The role provides exposure to the entire front end of the project lifecycle — from the initial customer request and technical concept through proposal development and project handoff.

For an engineer who enjoys a combination of technical engineering, customer interaction, problem-solving, estimating, and business development, this is an opportunity to build a highly valuable and versatile skill set.

All inquiries, conversations, and applications will be handled confidentially.