Applications Engineering Manager Jobs in Naperville, IL

Location: Schaumburg, IL (On-Site)

Job Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire

Travel: Approximately 10%

Compensation: Competitive and commensurate with experience

A leading global manufacturer of advanced CNC machine tools is investing heavily in the expansion and transformation of its Chicago-area Technical Center. Through significant capital investment and strategic technology partnerships, the organization is building a world-class engineering and manufacturing technology center focused on advanced machining solutions, automation, digital manufacturing, turnkey systems, and engineering excellence.

This position offers an opportunity to lead a high-performing Applications Engineering team while playing a key role in the continued growth and development of the Technical Center. The successful candidate will serve as the operational leader of the Applications Engineering function, ensuring successful execution of customer demonstrations, engineering projects, machine validations, technical events, and overall engineering operations.

The CNC Applications Manager will provide day-to-day leadership of the Applications Engineering organization and serve as a key member of the Technical Center leadership team.

This individual will oversee engineering operations, coordinate technical resources, mentor engineering staff, support customer-facing activities, and ensure the successful execution of demonstrations, turnkey projects, process development initiatives, and advanced manufacturing solutions.

The ideal candidate has built their career through hands-on CNC machining and manufacturing experience and has progressed into engineering leadership. This is a highly visible role requiring strong technical expertise, leadership capability, and customer-facing skills.

• Lead daily operations of the Applications Engineering department.
• Coordinate engineering priorities, schedules, project assignments, and technical resources.
• Ensure engineering objectives, project milestones, and customer commitments are achieved.
• Support overall Technical Center operations and engineering execution.
• Maintain continuity of engineering operations and departmental performance.

• Oversee customer demonstrations, machine prove-outs, process validations, and manufacturing trials.
• Support development of turnkey manufacturing solutions and advanced machining processes.
• Ensure showroom and demonstration equipment remain operational and customer-ready.
• Review and optimize machining strategies, cycle times, tooling selections, workholding methods, and fixture concepts.
• Provide technical guidance on CNC machining applications and process improvements.

• Mentor, coach, and develop Applications Engineers and technical personnel.
• Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Participate in recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and development of engineering staff.
• Support performance management and employee growth initiatives.

• Support customer visits, technical presentations, machine evaluations, and manufacturing assessments.
• Collaborate with customers to identify and solve complex manufacturing challenges.
• Build and maintain relationships with strategic technology partners and vendors.
• Assist with executive demonstrations, open houses, industry events, and technical showcases.

• Work closely with Sales, Service, Operations, Facilities, Marketing, and Executive Leadership teams.
• Coordinate engineering activities with internal stakeholders to ensure successful project execution.
• Support global engineering initiatives and collaboration with international engineering teams.

• Establish and maintain engineering standards, best practices, and technical documentation.
• Identify operational improvements that increase efficiency and engineering effectiveness.
• Remove obstacles that impact project execution and team performance.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives throughout the engineering organization.

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline preferred.
• Equivalent hands-on manufacturing and machining experience will be strongly considered.
• Minimum 8+ years of progressive experience in:
  • CNC Machining
  • Manufacturing Engineering
  • Applications Engineering
  • Machine Tool Applications
  • Turnkey Manufacturing Solutions
• Prior experience in one or more of the following roles:
  • CNC Machinist
  • CNC Programmer
  • Manufacturing Engineer
  • Applications Engineer
  • Process Engineer
  • Engineering Team Lead
• Previous experience leading technical teams while remaining actively involved in engineering activities.

• Extensive experience with:
  • CNC machine setup
  • CNC programming
  • Process prove-outs
  • Tooling selection
  • Workholding systems
  • Fixture design
  • Process optimization
• Strong understanding of:
  • Multi-Axis Machining
  • 5-Axis Machining
  • Mill-Turn Technology
  • Multi-Tasking Machine Tools
  • Advanced Manufacturing Processes

Experience with one or more of the following:

• Fanuc Controls
• Siemens Controls

Experience with one or more of the following:

• Mastercam
• Siemens NX CAM
• hyperMILL
• ESPRIT
• GibbsCAM
• Similar CAM Platforms

Strong understanding of:

• Cutting Tool Technologies
• Advanced Workholding Solutions
• Fixture Design
• Machining Process Development
• Manufacturing Strategy
• Process Optimization
• Production Efficiency Improvements

The ideal candidate is someone who has personally spent years on the manufacturing floor solving machining challenges, developing CNC programs, proving out processes, supporting customers, and leading technical teams.

This is not a management-only role. The successful individual must be capable of:

• Leading engineers and technical teams.
• Supporting customer-facing technical discussions.
• Solving complex machining and manufacturing challenges.
• Providing hands-on technical direction when needed.
• Driving engineering execution and operational excellence.

The organization is seeking a leader who takes ownership, develops people, removes obstacles, drives accountability, and contributes to building one of North America's premier manufacturing technology centers.

Candidates with experience from the following environments are highly preferred:

• CNC Machine Tool Manufacturers
• Machine Tool Distributors
• Advanced Manufacturing Organizations
• Precision Machining Operations
• Aerospace Manufacturing
• Medical Device Manufacturing
• Automotive Manufacturing
• Industrial Equipment Manufacturing
• Turnkey Automation & Manufacturing Solution Providers

This is a unique opportunity to join a rapidly growing Technical Center undergoing significant expansion and investment. The selected candidate will play a critical role in shaping engineering operations, developing technical talent, supporting advanced manufacturing initiatives, and helping build a world-class manufacturing technology organization.