Pre-Sales Applications Engineer – Robotic Welding & Automated Systems

Management Performance Associates; Waukesha (WI); On-site; USD 113,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) retirement match

Health/dental/vision/life benefits

Annual performance merit reviews

Job summary

Management Performance Associates is seeking a Pre-Sales Applications Engineer to lead welding automation initiatives from Pewaukee, WI, on a 1st shift, on-site basis. The role includes evaluating customer prints, architecting robotic cells (FANUC/ABB), and delivering compelling proposals.

With 7+ years in welding automation and strong CAD/engineering skills, you will partner with sales and engineering to drive high-margin solutions.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of welding automation experience in pre-sales or robotic systems integration.
• Strong understanding of GMAW/MIG and GTAW/TIG processes and how material selection affects feasibility.
• Proficiency reviewing or drafting conceptual cell layouts using CAD tools.
• Excellent client-facing communication and presentation skills.
• Must reside within a 45-minute drive of Pewaukee, WI and have US work authorization.

Responsibilities

• Lead pre-sales technical feasibility assessments by reviewing parts, drawings, and specs.
• Architect welding automation concepts, selecting processes, power sources, tooling, and robot layouts (FANUC/ABB).
• Develop technical proposal content, including layouts, cycle-time estimates, labor hours, and BOMs.
• Coordinate weld sample evaluations, trials, and feasibility testing for proposed solutions.
• Travel to customer sites (~15% of time) for requirements gathering and design reviews.
• Ensure weld processes comply with AWS D1.1/ASME IX and customer specifications.

Skills

Robotic welding

Pre-sales

CAD proficiency

Customer communication

Travel readiness

Education

2-year technical or 4-year engineering degree

Tools

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Job description

Pre-Sales Applications Engineer - Robotic Welding & Automated Systems

Up to $125,000/yr Pewaukee, WI Area 1st Shift / Mon-Fri Direct-Hire

• Pay & Incentives: Baseline starting salary up to $125,000/yr (scaling directly with pre-sales and welding automation depth) + 401(k) retirement match, full corporate health/dental/vision/life benefits, and annual performance merit reviews.
• Work Pattern/Schedule: Dedicated 1st Shift schedule (Monday - Friday) based 100% on-site at the Pewaukee facility, paired with light travel (~15% domestic/international) for technical discovery and proposal presentations.
• Environment & Company Profile: Direct-hire seat with a premier, family-owned custom automation integrator featuring cutting-edge R&D, long-tenured team culture, zero micromanagement, and custom high-value machinery builds.
• Core Technical Scope: Serve as primary pre-sales technical lead for robotic welding cells; evaluate customer prints for weld feasibility, conduct sample trials, specify power sources/tooling, architect cell concepts (FANUC/ABB), and develop technical proposal packages.
• Strict Requirements & Authorization: Requires 2-Year technical or 4-Year engineering degree, 7+ years of progressive experience in robotic welding, GMAW/GTAW metallurgy, and pre-sales applications/quoting, US work authorization (U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder), and a local Pewaukee commute (~45 mins).

If you are a creative welding automation specialist who loves cutting-edge technology and thrives on solving complex technical puzzles, this direct-hire seat with an industry-leading custom systems integrator offers an exceptional career path. We operate as a true extension of our customers' R&D departments—building custom, high-value automated systems that have never been created before.

Serving as the primary technical interface during the pre-sales and proposal phase, you will evaluate customer parts and prints, determine weld feasibility, architect robotic cells, and partner with sales and engineering to deliver high-margin, manufacturable automation proposals in an environment free of corporate red tape.

What You Will Be Doing (Daily Responsibilities)

• Lead Technical Feasibility: Serve as the main pre-sales technical point of contact, reviewing customer parts, engineering drawings, and specs to evaluate weld feasibility and application scope.
• Architect Welding Automation Concepts: Select and specify welding processes (GMAW, GTAW, robotic arc), power sources, tooling concepts, and robotic cell layouts (FANUC, ABB) tailored to project budgets.
• Develop Technical Proposals: Partner with Sales and Engineering to generate technical proposal content, including preliminary layouts, cycle time estimates, labor hours, and equipment BOMs.
• Conduct Process Trials & Testing: Coordinate weld sample evaluations, process trials, and feasibility testing to validate proposed automation solutions prior to customer contract.
• Customer Collaboration & Travel: Travel to customer facilities (~15% domestic/international) to gather technical requirements, lead design reviews, and present proposed automation solutions.
• Code & Compliance Oversight: Ensure proposed weld processes adhere to industry standards (AWS D1.1, ASME Section IX) and customer specs, including defense-adjacent application requirements.

What We Are Looking For (Requirements & Qualifications)

• Robotic Welding & Pre-Sales Experience: 7+ years of technical expertise in welding automation, pre-sales application engineering, or robotic systems integration.
• Process & Metallurgy Mastery: Solid understanding of GMAW/MIG, GTAW/TIG, and robotic arc welding processes, understanding how material selection and joint fit-up impact automation feasibility.
• Engineering CAD & Layout Literacy: Proficiency reviewing or drafting conceptual cell layouts using AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or similar 2D/3D design tools.
• Customer-Facing Communication: Professional presentation and communication skills to interface directly with client engineering teams and plant leadership.
• Location & Authorization: U.S. Citizenship or Green Card holder residing within a comfortable 45-minute daily driving radius of the Pewaukee, WI area.

Preferred Technical Assets (Bonus Skills)

• Educational Background: Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical discipline; or equivalent hands-on industry experience.
• Industry Certifications: AWS Certified Welding Engineer (CWEng), Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), or similar formal credentials.
• Robotics & Simulation Software: Experience with FANUC, ABB RobotStudio, or offline programming simulation platforms.