CNC Applications Engineer

Applications Engineer – CNC Machine Tools (West Coast)Territory: San Francisco Bay Area Washington & Oregon (West Coast Only)Employment Type: Direct HireCompensation: $48–$58/hour (Overtime Eligible)Position OverviewA leading CNC machine tool integrator is seeking a highly skilled Applications Engineer to support customers across the West Coast, with a primary focus on Northern California, Washington, and Oregon. This role is ideal for a technically strong, customer-facing engineer who can own projects end-to-end—from programming and setup to testing, optimization, and customer training.This is not a repetitive role. Machines are imported as base platforms and custom-built to customer specifications, meaning no two machines—or problems—are the same. The successful Applications Engineer will thrive in a dynamic environment that requires adaptability, patience, and deep CNC expertise.Day-to-Day ResponsibilitiesCustomer Application SupportSupport customers with CNC machine tools both remotely and on-site, ensuring machines are programmed, set up, and running efficiently.Programming & Process DevelopmentWrite CNC programs from scratch for new, never-before-seen partsDevelop tooling paths, select tooling, conduct time studies, and optimize tool lifeModify and optimize existing programs as neededSupport tight-tolerance applications (aerospace, medical, automotive, complex components)Machine Setup & ValidationTake projects from A–Z: setup, programming, running parts, testing, and validating machine performance before and after customer delivery.Customer TrainingTrain operators and maintenance personnel on machine operation, programming, and best practices—often stepping in when customer operators leave or turnover occurs.Sales Collaboration (50/50 Split)Work closely with the sales team to support machine demos, time studies, and application feasibilityExplain machine capabilities, workholding, tooling strategies, and process advantages to customersHelp drive additional sales through technical expertise and customer confidenceField & Office BalanceSome weeks may be entirely customer-facing; others may be office-based supporting sales, programming, or time studiesFlexibility is key—workload depends on customer demandCross-Functional CollaborationWork alongside automation teams (automation knowledge not required)Partner with engineering, product, and regional teams across the organizationTravel Expectations & SupportTerritory includes Northern California, Washington, and Oregon (West Coast only)Typical travel: 60–70%Occasional longer trips (2 weeks to 1 month) are rare but possibleTravel model:Company credit card provided$75/day per diemMileage reimbursedHotels fully coveredPaid from the moment you leave your house until you returnAdditional per diem if returning home after 9:00 PMTravel is typically Monday–Friday; weekends are yoursTechnology & EquipmentPrimary focus:FANUC controls (MUST-HAVE / critical requirement)Additional machine lines include:OkumaNakamuraWeiler Lathes (Siemens controls – limited exposure)Machines support a wide range of industries and applications requiring high precision and complex machining strategies.Ideal BackgroundExperienceStrong hands-on CNC Applications Engineering experienceBackground as a Field Service Engineer transitioning into Applications Engineering is highly successful in this roleExperience owning full CNC projects (setup, programming, testing, customer support)ProgrammingComfortable writing programs from scratch, not just optimizationExperience with CAM systems (Gibbs, Mastercam, etc. — all transferable)Strong understanding of machining strategies, tooling, materials, and machine behaviorControlsDeep experience with FANUC controls across machine tools (essential)EducationBachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering preferredEquivalent hands-on experience strongly consideredYou should be proficient in:Customer ServiceCNC ToolingCNC ProgrammingCNC Machine InstallationBusiness-to-Business (B2B)

Salary : $48 - $58