This is a remote/some travel role: the work happens either at our office in Farmington Hills, MI, your home office, or at customers across the U.S., and you can live anywhere in the country. Travel to customer sites estimated to be roughly 15-30% of the year.
The Technical Sales Engineer – Gear Grinding supports the Technical Sales Manager and the broader Sales organization by providing technical expertise, developing customer-focused manufacturing solutions, and preparing accurate, competitive quotations. This role acts as a key technical interface between customers, Sales, Engineering, and Operations, ensuring that customer requirements are clearly understood and translated into feasible, cost-effective solutions.
This gear grinding-focused position is the main driver for all our gear manufacturing processes for hard parts. This includes but is not limited to generating grinding, profile grinding, and power skiving.
The Technical Sales Engineer – Gear Grinding participates in customer meetings, evaluates manufacturing processes, develops system layouts and concepts, and collaborates with suppliers and internal teams to deliver high-quality proposals. This position requires strong analytical skills, technical acumen, and the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Solution Development
- Analyze customer RFQs, technical specifications, and process requirements to determine suitable manufacturing solutions.
- Develop conceptual process flows, system layouts, equipment selections, and preliminary simulations.
- Understand the EMAG machine portfolio and the machine tool market in general to pick the best machine fit and be able to discuss advantages and disadvantages compared to other solutions.
- Identify risks, feasibility concerns, and optimization opportunities in proposed solutions.
- Ensure all proposed solutions meet customer requirements, engineering standards, and internal business goals.
Quotation & Cost Analysis
- Prepare complete technical sales quotations under the guidance of the Technical Sales Manager.
- Create cost sheets, evaluate manufacturing cost structures, and determine pricing inputs.
- Coordinate with suppliers to obtain cost details, validate feasibility, and confirm lead times.
- Ensure all quotations are technically accurate, competitive, and aligned with profitability targets.
Customer & Internal Collaboration
- Support the Technical Sales Manager in customer presentations, technical discussions, and onsite or remote meetings.
- Communicate effectively with Sales, Engineering, and Operations to clarify requirements, gather inputs, and support project feasibility discussions.
- Participate in cross-functional reviews for solution development, cost validation, and risk assessment.
- Assist in developing technical documentation, proposal packages, and customer-facing materials.
- Become the main contact and lead for all gear grinding machines in EMAG’s machine portfolio and future gear grinding machines and processes.
Technical Expertise
- Apply gear manufacturing knowledge to develop process studies and cycle times.
- Interpret engineering drawings and specifications to identify process steps, tolerances, and critical features.
- Stay informed of emerging technologies, supplier capabilities, and competitive trends.
- Support internal initiatives to improve tools, processes, and documentation within the organization.
Travel & Customer Engagement
- Participate in domestic and international travel for customer visits, presentations, and project discussions as required.
- Provide professional, technically informed support to help customers make confident decisions.
Required Knowledge & Technical Skills
- Comprehensive knowledge of machining technologies, including:
- Knowledge in any other technology, such as turning, grinding, gear hobbing, ECM, laser processing, etc. or automation / robotics is a plus
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, process requirements, and specifications.
- Skill in developing process layouts, conceptual designs, and preliminary system simulations.
- Proficiency with CAD tools (UG/NX preferred) and simulation software.
- Familiarity with costing principles and manufacturing cost drivers.
- Strong communication skills for customer-facing and cross-functional roles.
- Experience with Salesforce, Camos, SAP, and common business applications (preferred).
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, or related technical field (or equivalent experience).
- 2–5+ years of experience in technical sales, applications engineering, or machinery/system integration.
- Experience in machining systems, manufacturing processes, or capital equipment is strongly preferred.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to deliver clear technical explanations.
- Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally.
Key Competencies
- Technical problem-solving
- Customer focus
- Collaboration & communication
- Analytical thinking
- Business acumen
- Presentation skills
- Adaptability and continuous improvement mindset
Physical/Mental/Environment Demands
- Must be able to lift/move up to 25lbs occasionally
- Occasionally be required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop or kneel, talk and hear, and use fingers and hands to feel objects, tools or controls.
- Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, depth perceptions, and the ability to adjust focus.
- Must be able to think rationally and apply logic during high-stress situations
- Must be able to learn new tasks, remember processes, complete tasks independently, make timely decisions in the context of a workflow, ability to communicate effectively and professionally with internal/external customers
- Job will generally be performed in an office environment, but may require travel to and visit a customer, production facility or job site. Conditions will vary at each location, but the conditions listed above will generally apply.
You should be proficient in:
- Bachelor's Degree
- Measuring and Quoting
- Outside Sales
Machines & technologies you'll use: