Applications Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Sterling Engineering is partnering with a growing manufacturing organization to hire an Applications Engineer t o join their team in Vernon Hills, IL. This is a customer-facing technical role for someone who enjoys combining engineering with customer interaction and sales support.

Location : Vernon Hills, IL 60069

Salary: $65,000-$72,000

Hire Type : Direct Hire

Schedule: 1st Shift

Benefits : Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off, paid holidays, and additional company-sponsored benefits.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with sales representatives to understand customer requirements and develop technical solutions
• Conduct customer discovery meetings, site visits, and application reviews
• Recommend equipment and process solutions based on customer production needs
• Conduct product demonstrations, technical presentations, and proof-of-concept evaluations
• Perform cycle time analysis and capacity planning to support customer applications
• Develop and optimize assembly processes involving screen printers, placement equipment, and odd-form insertion machines
• Prepare technical proposals, statements of work, and supporting documentation
• Serve as the technical liaison between customers, sales, engineering, and service teams
• Coordinate customer equipment evaluations and acceptance testing
• Respond to technical questions, RFIs, and RFPs
• Support trade shows, customer workshops, training sessions, and company events
• Stay current on electronic assembly equipment, technologies, and industry trends

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related field preferred
• Experience in Applications Engineering, Technical Sales, Field Engineering, Sales Engineering, or another customer-facing technical role
• Strong technical problem-solving and customer communication skills
• Comfortable presenting technical information and demonstrating equipment
• Ability to understand customer requirements and translate them into practical technical solutions
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple customer projects and priorities
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.