Application Engineer

Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with Inside Sales, Regional Sales, Sales Representatives, and customers to understand application needs and deliver effective technical solutions.
• Analyze product specifications and application requirements to design engineered solutions that are compatible with existing manufacturing processes and capabilities.
• Prepare detailed proposals, quotations, and supporting documentation for engineered workholding and related mechanical solutions.
• Serve as a technical expert on company products, providing technical presentations and sales proposals to customers and stakeholders.
• Create concept drawings, perform engineering calculations, and develop CAD designs to meet project requirements and customer expectations.
• Maintain, organize, and update engineering CAD files and technical data to ensure accuracy, traceability, and easy accessibility.
• Work directly with customers to evaluate applications, identify improvement opportunities, and provide timely technical feedback and recommendations.
• Stay informed on industry trends, new technologies, and product updates to support business development and enhance solution offerings.
• Communicate effectively with internal teams and leadership, ensuring timely resolution of technical and commercial issues and completion of required documentation.
• Estimate and record the cost, selling price, and delivery date of engineered solutions, and generate bids in the ERP system.
• Determine risk management for custom tooling and limit exposure to unsafe or unprofitable engineered solutions.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives, including participation in corrective and preventive action (CAPA) processes.
• Adhere to company policies, safety standards, and quality requirements in all engineering and quotation activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering, specifically Mechanical Engineering or Manufacturing Engineering, or an equivalent associate degree in a related field.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of related experience in a corporate environment.
• Strong mechanical engineering experiences in mechanical design and engineered solutions.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks or similar 3D CAD software for creating concept drawings and detailed designs.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints and engineering drawings, including GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing).
• Experience with quoting, proposals, and cost estimation for engineered solutions.
• Experience using ERP systems to generate bids, record costs, and manage quotations.
• Proactive approach to professional development, including pursuing training and development opportunities.
• Experience participating in continuous improvement initiatives, including CAPA processes.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust, communicate clearly, and support a collaborative culture.

Essential Skills

• Experience working in a sales-support or applications engineering role within a corporate environment.
• Experience in workholding, tooling, or related mechanical systems.
• Comfort presenting technical information to customers and internal stakeholders.
• Experience using ERP systems to generate bids, record costs, and manage quotations.
• Experience collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams, including sales, engineering, and leadership.
• Proactive approach to professional development, including pursuing training and development opportunities.
• Experience participating in continuous improvement initiatives, including CAPA processes.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust, communicate clearly, and support a collaborative culture.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in a sales-support or applications engineering role within a corporate environment.
• Experience in workholding, tooling, or related mechanical systems.
• Comfort presenting technical information to customers and internal stakeholders.
• Experience using ERP systems to generate bids, record costs, and manage quotations.
• Experience collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams, including sales, engineering, and leadership.
• Proactive approach to professional development, including pursuing training and development opportunities.
• Experience participating in continuous improvement initiatives, including CAPA processes.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust, communicate clearly, and support a collaborative culture.

Work Environment

• This is an on-site role in a corporate engineering and sales-support environment.
• You will work closely with sales, engineering, and leadership teams, using SolidWorks and other CAD tools to create designs and concepts.
• The role involves frequent use of ERP systems for generating bids and managing quotations, as well as measuring equipment and gauges to support quality-focused engineering work.
• The position emphasizes adherence to company policies, safety standards, and quality requirements, and supports a culture of continuous improvement, strategic thinking, and ethical conduct.

Job Type & Location

• This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Roselle, IL.

Pay And Benefits

• The pay range for this position is $31.25 - $36.05/hr.

About Actalent

• Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions.
• We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market.
• We serve many of the Fortune 500.
• We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
• The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.