Customer-Facing Manufacturing & Applications Engineer (Remote)

Customer-Facing Manufacturing & Applications Engineer (Remote) Position Summary We are seeking a highly motivated, customer-facing Engineer to support global growth initiatives by evaluating new business opportunities, interfacing directly with customers, and determining optimal global manufacturing strategies. This role serves as a technical liaison between customers, internal engineering teams, and global manufacturing sites, ensuring successful product introduction, manufacturability, and execution under demanding timelines. The ideal candidate is outgoing, technically strong, commercially aware, and comfortable operating in ambiguous, fast-paced environments. This position is remote but requires regular global travel to manufacturing sites, customer locations, vendors, and raw material suppliers. Periodic work will also take place at our Milwaukee, WI–based R&D laboratory as needed. This position offers high visibility, direct customer interaction, and the opportunity to influence global manufacturing decisions while working closely with senior leadership. It is well suited for an experienced engineer seeking a broader, more strategic role that blends technical depth, commercial insight, and customer engagement—particularly within spring and stamping–based manufacturing environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary technical interface with customers, supporting new business development and ongoing customer relationships.
• Evaluate new product opportunities and determine the best-fit global manufacturing site based on capability, capacity, cost, and risk.
• Provide design-for-manufacturability (DFM/DFA) input during quotation and development phases.
• Lead or support new product introductions (NPI) in collaboration with global manufacturing teams.
• Drive implementation of new manufacturing processes, working closely with internal teams, equipment suppliers, and raw material vendors
• Support process development, validation, and scale-up activities across multiple global sites.
• Apply CAD (SolidWorks preferred) to support product development, concept reviews, and manufacturing transitions.
• Utilize additive manufacturing and emerging technologies to accelerate prototyping and development cycles.
• Identify and support opportunities for AI and digital tools in manufacturing, process optimization, and decision-making.
• Prepare and deliver technical presentations, cost analyses, and recommendations to internal stakeholders and customers.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting aggressive deadlines and customer expectations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related engineering discipline (Master’s degree preferred)
• 5–8 years of relevant engineering experience in manufacturing, applications engineering, product development, or customer-facing technical roles
• Strong proficiency in CAD software (SolidWorks strongly preferred)
• Solid understanding of manufacturing processes, tooling, materials, and industrial production environments
• Experience supporting global manufacturing operations and cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate technical and commercial tradeoffs and make sound recommendations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) for analysis and executive-level communication
• Familiarity with additive manufacturing technologies and modern digital manufacturing tools
• Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills
• Ability to travel internationally 25–50%

Strongly Preferred Experience

• Hands-on or application-level experience in spring manufacturing, including compression, extension, torsion, and/or formed wire products.
• Experience with metal stamping and forming processes, including progressive dies, tooling concepts, and high-volume production.
• Working knowledge of spring materials, heat treatment, surface finishing, and fatigue performance considerations
• Experience supporting customer design reviews, technical problem solving, and cost reduction initiatives related to springs and stamped components.
• Familiarity with tight-tolerance, high-reliability components used in automotive, industrial, medical, or similar markets.

Skills & Attributes

• Experience with NPI, APQP, PPAP, or stage-gate product development processes
• Exposure to supplier development, vendor qualification, and process automation
• Knowledge of cost modeling, should-cost analysis, and capital justification
• High emotional intelligence (EI) with the ability to build trust and influence across cultures and organizations.
• Confident, outgoing, and comfortable engaging directly with customers and senior stakeholders
• Strong sense of ownership, urgency, and accountability
• Ability to perform effectively under tight timelines and evolving requirements.

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