Robotic Welding Engineer - Sales Support

Sterling St James Inc.; Waukesha (WI); On-site; USD 113,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Health benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Life insurance

Job summary

Sterling St James Inc. in Pewaukee, WI is seeking a Robotic Welding Applications Engineer focused on technical proposals and pre-sales.

You will serve as the primary technical interface, review customer parts and drawings, and architect welding automation concepts for cost-conscious projects. This on-site role requires 7+ years in welding automation, deep knowledge of GMAW/GTAW, CAD skills, and strong customer-facing communication.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in welding automation, or robotic pre-sales experience.
• Solid understanding of GMAW/MIG, GTAW/TIG and automation feasibility.
• Experience with reviewing drawings and evaluating weld feasibility.
• Ability to develop technical proposals and BOMs.

Responsibilities

• Lead Technical Feasibility: main pre-sales technical point of contact, reviewing parts and drawings to evaluate weld feasibility.
• Architect Welding Automation Concepts: select welding processes, power sources, tooling concepts and cell layouts.
• Develop Technical Proposals: generate content, layouts, cycle time estimates, labor hours, and BOMs.
• Conduct Process Trials & Testing: coordinate weld samples and feasibility testing before contracts.
• Customer Collaboration & Travel: travel ~15% for requirements gathering and design reviews.
• Code & Compliance Oversight: ensure processes meet AWS D1.1, ASME IX and customer specs.

Skills

Robotic welding

Pre-sales engineering

GMAW MIG

GTAW TIG

CAD AutoCAD/ SolidWorks

Customer-facing communication

Education

2-year technical degree

4-year engineering degree

Tools

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

FANUC robot programming

RobotStudio

ABB robot systems

Job description

Robotic Welding Applications Engineer - Technical Proposals & Pre-Sales

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

• Compensation & Earnings: Baseline starting salary up to $125,000/yr (scaling with pre-sales and welding automation depth), 401(k) retirement match, full corporate health/dental/vision/life benefits, and strong work-life balance.
• Company Culture & Stability: Direct-hire seat with a premier, family-owned custom automation integrator featuring cutting-edge R&D, long-tenured team culture, and zero micromanagement.
• Work & Travel Model: 100% on-site seat in the Pewaukee, WI area, with light domestic and occasional international travel (~15% total) for client technical discovery and proposal presentations.
• Core Technical Scope: Primary pre-sales technical lead for robotic welding cells; evaluating customer prints for weld feasibility, conducting sample trials, specifying power sources/tools, and developing technical proposal concepts.
• Strict Requirements: U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency (Green Card); 2-year technical or 4-year engineering degree; 7+ years of progressive experience in robotic welding, GMAW/GTAW metallurgy, and pre-sales applications/quoting; 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.

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.