Team Lead Applications Engineer

Axis Automation; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Job summary

Axis Automation in Grand Rapids, MI seeks a Team Lead Applications Engineer to blend hands-on applications engineering with people leadership. You will guide a team, support proposal activities, and ensure engineers are trained, utilized, and aligned with departmental objectives.

Reporting to the Director of Applications Engineering, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to complete work efficiently and in line with customer expectations and business goals.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years of experience in industrial automation, applications engineering, manufacturing engineering, estimating, project management, or a related field with demonstrated leadership and mentorship experience.
• Experience leading engineers and coordinating proposal development in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong understanding of controls and mechanical systems, robotics, and safety principles.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and develop complex automation proposals including manufacturing concepts, budgets, risks, schedules, and technical content while ensuring accuracy and alignment with department standards.
• Leads proposal strategy for complex opportunities by evaluating technical feasibility, manufacturing approaches, cycle times, costs, and project risks.
• Interface with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to resolve issues, align expectations, and support project success.
• Lead the day-to-day performance of assigned Applications Engineers by establishing priorities, communicating expectations, coaching professional development, and ensuring work is completed on time and in accordance with department standards, estimating practices, and proposal requirements.

Skills

Manufacturing process development

Automation concepts

Project budgeting

Cycle time analysis

Proposal generation

Estimating

Risk assessment

Controls systems

Mechanical systems

Robotic integration

Machine safety principles

Microsoft Office

Leadership

Communication

Problem Solving

Reliability

Education

Bachelor's Degree in engineering or related field

Job description

Job Description: The Team Lead Applications Engineer combines hands-on applications engineering execution with formal people leadership. While remaining actively engaged in proposal activities, this role ensures engineers are appropriately supported, trained, utilized, and aligned with departmental objectives. The Team Lead serves as the first level of accountability for engineer development, proposal execution, workload balancing, and communication.Reporting directly to the Director of Applications Engineering, the Team Lead collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to ensure work is completed efficiently, accurately, and in alignment with customer expectations and business objectives.

Responsibilities Include:

• Prepare and develop complex automation proposals including manufacturing concepts, budgets, risks, schedules, and technical content while ensuring accuracy and alignment with department standards.
• Leads proposal strategy for complex opportunities by evaluating technical feasibility, manufacturing approaches, cycle times, costs, and project risks.
• Interface with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to resolve issues, align expectations, and support project success.
• Lead the day-to-day performance of assigned Applications Engineers by establishing priorities, communicating expectations, coaching professional development, and ensuring work is completed on time and in accordance with department standards, estimating practices, and proposal requirements.
• Review proposal quality, estimating practices, and technical approaches while coaching Applications Engineers on proposal development, customer engagement, risk assessment, and solution strategy to ensure compliance with department standards.
• Provide workload visibility, staffing recommendations, and resource planning feedback to the Director of Applications Engineering, balancing proposal assignments, supporting quote prioritization, and escalating capacity concerns with recommended corrective actions.
• Partner with subject matter experts to support proposal reviews, complex concept development, team mentoring, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement of estimating methods, standards, training materials, and departmental capabilities.
• Support the development of future technical and leadership talent while promoting a culture of accountability, professionalism, ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Approximately 70% of time spent performing Applications Engineering responsibilities and 30% in leadership, planning, coaching, and team-development activities.
• Champion our Operating Principles: You will be expected to actively embody and uphold our ten Operating Principles, which guide our every action and decision at Axis Automation. These principles are key to our culture and success.

Qualifications:

This position is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) which requires U.S. person status. ITAR defines U.S. person as a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (i.e. 'Green Card Holder'), Political Asylee, or Refugee.

Education: Bachelor's Degree in an engineering-related field preferred, or comparable field experience in industrial automation, manufacturing engineering, or applications engineering.

Experience: Minimum 6 years of experience in industrial automation, applications engineering, manufacturing engineering, estimating, project management, or a related field withdemonstratedleadership and mentorship experience.

Technical Skills

• Strong proficiency in manufacturing process development, automation concepts, project budgeting, cycle time analysis, proposal generation, estimating, and risk assessment.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and review complex automation solutions across multiple manufacturing technologies and industries.
• Strong understanding of controls systems, mechanical systems, robotic integration, machine safety principles, and manufacturing processes.
• Effective use of Microsoft Office applications and proposal development tools.
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead, develop, and hold engineers accountable for performance, quality, responsiveness, professionalism, and execution. Demonstrated ability to provide candid feedback, resolve conflicts, manage competing priorities, and maintain a high-performing team environment.
• Communication: Excellent communicator capable of effectively engaging engineers, customers, suppliers, management, direct reports, and technical subject matter experts.
• Problem Solving: Serves as the first escalation point for proposal execution challenges, workload conflicts, resource concerns, team development issues, and departmental support needs.
• Reliability: Accountable for the team's execution of applications engineering activities including proposal quality, schedule adherence, communication, documentation, knowledge transfer, customer responsiveness, and compliance with departmental standards. Demonstrates strong ownership by ensuring engineers have the resources, direction, support, and accountability required to consistently meet departmental and company objectives.

Benefits:Axis offers a comprehensive benefits package to our employees with immediate eligibility upon hire.