Pre-Sales Applications Engineer – Robotic Welding & Automated Systems

Your Talent Team; Waukesha (WI); On-site; USD 113,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

Your Talent Team in Pewaukee, WI seeks a Senior Pre-Sales Applications Engineer for robotic welding and automated systems. The role is on-site (1st shift) with about 15% travel, direct-hire and a salary up to $125,000 per year.

You will lead technical feasibility, architect welding cells, and develop robust proposals in collaboration with sales and engineering. Responsibilities include evaluating prints, selecting processes, and coordinating trials to deliver high-margin automation solutions.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of welding automation experience including pre-sales/quoting
• Solid understanding of GMAW/MIG and GTAW/TIG welding processes
• Experience reviewing customer prints and developing welding cell concepts
• Strong CAD/layout literacy for conceptual cell layouts
• US work authorization and ability to commute to Pewaukee, WI area

Responsibilities

• Lead pre-sales technical feasibility reviews and evaluate customer parts and drawings
• Architect welding automation concepts and specify processes, power sources, tooling, and robot layouts
• Develop technical proposal content including layouts, cycle times, labor hours, and BOMs
• Coordinate weld sample evaluations, trials, and feasibility testing
• Travel to customer facilities ~15% to gather requirements and present solutions
• Ensure compliance with AWS D1.1, ASME IX and customer specs

Skills

Welding automation

Pre-Sales engineering

Customer-facing communication

Robotic welding processes

Project feasibility assessment

Education

Bachelor's degree in Welding/Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

RobotStudio

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.