Automation Engineer

Cindavi; Portland (ME); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP participation

401(k) match

Relocation consideration

Job summary

Cindavi is seeking an Applications Engineer to transform complex manufacturing challenges into practical, high-value automation systems. You will own the technical thinking from initial customer conversations to clear, compelling proposals.

Based in Westbrook, Maine, this hybrid role requires a minimum of three onsite days per week with up to 10% travel and a target base range of $100,000-$120,000. We offer ESOP participation, 401(k) match, relocation consideration, and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Associate or Bachelor degree in mechanical, electrical, software engineering or a related technical field.
• 2-7+ years of practical hands-on experience in automation and machine design.
• Strong knowledge of assembly-automation concepts and cost-conscious engineering judgment.
• Proficiency in 2D and 3D CAD systems (SolidWorks).
• Experience gathering customer requirements, preparing technical specs, developing quotes, and communicating complex concepts.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical side of customer opportunities from specifications review to proposal support.
• Create practical automation concepts balancing performance, feasibility, and customer priorities.
• Partner with Sales to clarify needs and deliver polished technical presentations.
• Analyze manual, automatic, and robotic operations; identify risks early; set project assumptions.
• Coordinate with vendors and internal teams to validate costs and ensure successful launches.

Skills

2D/3D CAD

SolidWorks

Customer requirements

Presentation skills

Education

Associate or Bachelor degree in mechanical, electrical, software engineering

Tools

Job description

Are you an Applications Engineer who can turn complex manufacturing problems into commercially smart automation solutions?

Position Summary

We are hiring an Applications Engineer to turn complex manufacturing challenges into practical, high-value automation systems. You will own the technical thinking that takes an opportunity from an early customer conversation to a clear, compelling proposal.

Working at the intersection of Sales, Engineering, and Operations, you will develop concepts for custom assembly automation, evaluate risk and feasibility, build accurate estimates, and communicate solutions that earn customer confidence. Your work will help deliver everything from single-station semi-automated cells to fully integrated robotic assembly solutions for medical, defense, consumer, and industrial markets.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the technical side of customer opportunities, from reviewing specifications, prints, and requirements through concept development, costing, and proposal support.
• Create practical automation concepts that balance performance, technical feasibility, customer priorities, and competitiveness.
• Partner with Sales Account Managers to clarify needs, address technical objections, and deliver polished presentations and demonstrations to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Analyze manual, automatic, and robotic operations; identify risks early; and establish sound project assumptions and exceptions.
• Coordinate with vendors and internal teams to validate costs, identify long-lead items, share customer insight, and set Engineering up for successful launches.

Qualifications

• Associate or Bachelor degree in mechanical, electrical, software engineering, or a related technical field.
• 2-7+ years of practical, hands-on experience in automation and machine design, with relevant experience at the two-year mark considered for the right background.
• A strong working knowledge of assembly-automation concepts, custom machinery, and cost-conscious engineering judgment.
• Confidence using 2D and 3D CAD systems, including SolidWorks, plus standard business tools.
• A proven ability to gather customer requirements, prepare technical specifications, develop accurate quotes, and communicate complex concepts clearly.
• Experience presenting technical solutions to customers and collaborating across sales, engineering, operations, and vendor teams.

Based in Westbrook, Maine, this hybrid role includes a minimum of three onsite days per week, up to 10% travel, and a target base range of $100,000-$120,000. We offer an employee-owned culture, ESOP participation, 401(k) match, comprehensive insurance, paid time off and holidays, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, and relocation consideration.

If you are ready to pair machine-design expertise with customer-facing impact, and help us build the next generation of custom automation.