Sales Application Engineer

NPAworldwide; Springfield (IL); Remote; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental & Vision

401(k) plan

Disability coverage

Job summary

NPAworldwide is seeking an experienced Sales Application Engineer to support and grow the Illinois & Eastern Wisconsin territory. You will combine technical expertise in cutting tools, CNC machining, and metalworking with a consultative sales approach to win new opportunities.

This remote/field-based role offers a competitive base salary with commission, travel up to 50% within the territory, and benefits including medical/dental/vision and a 401(k) plan.

Qualifications

• Proven technical sales experience in precision cutting tools, metalworking, or machining solutions.
• Ideally 5+ years of experience in cutting tools, CNC machining, manufacturing engineering, or related technical applications.
• Strong knowledge of metal cutting processes, including milling, turning, hole-making, and hole-finishing.
• Understanding of cutting-tool geometry, tool materials, workpiece metallurgy, and machining parameters.
• Working knowledge of CNC programming and G-code; hands-on machine operation is not required.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, tolerances, and surface finish specifications.
• Experience with cutting-tool applications, troubleshooting, process optimization, and technical value selling.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to independently manage a sales territory and travel up to 50% with Northern & Eastern Michigan.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow an established sales territory, developing existing customer relationships and identifying new business opportunities.
• Promote and sell precision cutting tools and custom-engineered tooling solutions to manufacturing customers.
• Provide technical application support for milling, turning, hole-making, and hole-finishing operations.
• Evaluate machining processes and recommend cutting tools, tool geometries, cutting parameters, and application solutions.
• Conduct and document cutting-tool trials to improve tool life, cycle time, part quality, and productivity.
• Troubleshoot tooling performance issues and identify opportunities to reduce cost per part and total cost of ownership (TCO).
• Collaborate with internal engineering and manufacturing teams to develop custom tooling solutions.
• Develop distributor relationships and provide technical product support and training.
• Prepare technical proposals, quotations, and cost justification analyses to support sales opportunities.

Skills

Proven technical sales experience

5+ years experience

Metal cutting processes

Cutting-tool geometry

CNC programming basics

Engineering drawings & GD&T

Tool troubleshooting & optimization

Communication & negotiation

Territory management & travel

Job description

Job Description

Our client, a leading global manufacturer, is seeking an experienced Sales Application Engineer to support and grow the Illinois & Eastern Wisconsin territory.

The company provides innovative cutting-tool solutions for complex machining applications across the automotive, aerospace, and general manufacturing industries.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise in cutting tools, CNC machining, and metalworking applications with proven technical sales experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and grow an established sales territory, developing existing customer relationships and identifying new business opportunities.
• Promote and sell precision cutting tools and custom-engineered tooling solutions to manufacturing customers.
• Provide technical application support for milling, turning, hole-making, and hole-finishing operations.
• Evaluate machining processes and recommend cutting tools, tool geometries, cutting parameters, and application solutions.
• Conduct and document cutting-tool trials to improve tool life, cycle time, part quality, and productivity.
• Troubleshoot tooling performance issues and identify opportunities to reduce cost per part and total cost of ownership (TCO).
• Collaborate with internal engineering and manufacturing teams to develop custom tooling solutions.
• Develop distributor relationships and provide technical product support and training.
• Prepare technical proposals, quotations, and cost justification analyses to support sales opportunities.

Qualifications

• Proven technical sales experience in precision cutting tools, metalworking, or machining solutions.
• Ideally 5+ years of experience in cutting tools, CNC machining, manufacturing engineering, or related technical applications.
• Strong knowledge of metal cutting processes, including milling, turning, hole-making, and hole-finishing.
• Understanding of cutting-tool geometry, tool materials, workpiece metallurgy, and machining parameters.
• Working knowledge of CNC programming and G-code; hands-on machine operation is not required.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, tolerances, and surface finish specifications.
• Experience with cutting-tool applications, troubleshooting, process optimization, and technical value selling.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to independently manage a sales territory and travel up to 50% with Northern & Eastern Michigan.

What you can expect

• Competitive base Salary plus performance-based commission.
• Established Territory: Existing customer base with opportunities for further growth.
• Remote / Field-Based: Work from home within the assigned Illinois & Eastern Wisconsin territory.
• Travel: Up to 50% within territory.
• Medical plans with 90% company cost coverage.
• Benefits: Day-one medical, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability coverage, and 401(k) eligibility.