Manager of Applications and Estimating

XpanseHR; Souderton (Montgomery County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

XpanseHR in the Greater Philadelphia Area is seeking a Manager of Applications & Estimating to lead a critical customer-facing function in an engineered-to-order manufacturing environment. You will drive technical solutions from concept through proposal, collaborating with Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Project Management.

The role blends engineering expertise with commercial insight, requiring 7–10 years in related roles and a proven ability to lead technical teams and develop

Qualifications

• 7–10 years in Applications Engineering, Estimating, Project Engineering, Technical Sales, or related leadership role.
• Experience in engineered-to-order manufacturing, custom machinery, automation, packaging systems, material handling, or process equipment.
• Experience leading or mentoring technical teams.
• Ability to develop customer-focused engineered solutions.
• Strong estimating and commercial decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Applications & Estimating team.
• Partner directly with customers to understand operational challenges and develop engineered solutions.
• Prepare and oversee technical proposals, quotations, and project estimates.
• Evaluate technical and commercial risk before projects move into execution.
• Collaborate with Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Project Management to deliver practical, profitable solutions.
• Drive continuous improvement in estimating accuracy, proposal quality, and departmental performance.
• Personally support complex applications engineering opportunities as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Estimating

Applications Engineering

Technical Sales

Proposal Development

Customer Collaboration

Team Mentoring

Job description

Manager of Applications & Estimating

Greater Philadelphia Area | Hybrid

Lead the Technical Strategy Behind Complex Engineered Solutions

Are you passionate about solving complex engineering challenges while working directly with customers to develop innovative solutions?

We are seeking a Manager of Applications & Estimating to lead a critical customer-facing function within a growing engineered-to-order (ETO) manufacturing organization. This role sits at the intersection of Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Project Management, helping shape technical solutions that drive revenue, profitability, and successful project execution.

This is more than a leadership role—it's an opportunity to influence how customer opportunities are evaluated, engineered, and delivered from concept through proposal.

What You'll Do

As Manager of Applications & Estimating, you'll lead a team responsible for developing customized engineered solutions while remaining hands-on with strategic opportunities.

You'll:

• Lead and develop the Applications & Estimating team.
• Partner directly with customers to understand operational challenges and develop engineered solutions.
• Prepare and oversee technical proposals, quotations, and project estimates.
• Evaluate technical and commercial risk before projects move into execution.
• Collaborate with Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Project Management to deliver practical, profitable solutions.
• Drive continuous improvement in estimating accuracy, proposal quality, and departmental performance.
• Personally support complex applications engineering opportunities as business needs require.

What We're Looking For

We're seeking a technical leader who combines engineering expertise with commercial insight.

Qualified candidates will have:

• 7–10 years of experience in Applications Engineering, Estimating, Project Engineering, Technical Sales, or a related technical leadership role.
• Experience within engineered-to-order manufacturing, custom machinery, automation, packaging systems, material handling, or process equipment.
• Experience leading or mentoring technical teams.
• A proven ability to develop customer-focused engineered solutions.
• Strong estimating, proposal development, and commercial decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.

Preferred Experience

Experience supporting sanitary or highly regulated manufacturing environments is highly valued, including:

• Wash-down equipment
• Food or beverage processing
• Packaging automation
• Hygienic process equipment
• Other engineered systems requiring sanitary design principles

Candidates from other engineered-to-order industries with strong applications engineering experience are also encouraged to apply.

Why Join Us?

You'll become part of a collaborative leadership team where engineering innovation and customer partnership drive business success. This role offers the opportunity to:

• Lead a high-impact technical function.
• Influence major customer opportunities from concept through award.
• Work on complex, custom-engineered systems.
• Develop and mentor a growing technical team.
• Drive improvements that directly impact customer satisfaction, revenue, and profitability.

Location

Greater Philadelphia Area (Hybrid)

Periodic travel to customer sites and manufacturing facilities throughout North America is expected.

Equal Opportunity Employer