What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sales Application Engineer (Illinois & Eastern Wisconsin) position at Expert Connections?
Sales Application Engineer – Cutting Tools
Location: Illinois & Eastern Wisconsin (Remote / Field-Based)
About the Opportunity
Our client, a leading global manufacturer, is seeking an experienced Sales Application Engineer to develop and grow its sales territory covering Illinois and Eastern Wisconsin.
The company serves the automotive, aerospace, and industrial manufacturing industries, providing advanced cutting-tool solutions for complex machining applications.
The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise in cutting tools, CNC machining, and metalworking applications with proven technical sales experience. This opportunity offers the chance to expand a growing territory with significant business potential.
Key Responsibilities
Develop and grow the assigned sales territory by building customer relationships and identifying new business opportunities.
Promote and sell precision cutting tools and custom-engineered tooling solutions to manufacturing customers.
Provide technical application support for milling, turning, hole-making, and hole-finishing operations.
Evaluate machining processes and recommend cutting tools, tool geometries, cutting parameters, and application solutions.
Conduct and document cutting-tool trials to improve tool life, cycle time, part quality, and productivity.
Troubleshoot tooling performance issues and identify opportunities to reduce cost per part and total cost of ownership (TCO).
Collaborate with internal engineering and manufacturing teams to develop custom tooling solutions.
Develop distributor relationships and provide technical product support and training.
Prepare technical proposals, quotations, and cost justification analyses to support sales opportunities.
Qualifications
Proven technical sales experience in precision cutting tools, metalworking, or machining solutions.
Ideally 5 years of experience in cutting tools, CNC machining, manufacturing engineering, or related technical applications.
Strong knowledge of metal cutting processes, including milling, turning, hole-making, and hole-finishing.
Understanding of cutting-tool geometry, tool materials, workpiece metallurgy, and machining parameters.
Working knowledge of CNC programming and G-code; hands-on machine operation is not required.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, tolerances, and surface finish specifications.
Experience with cutting-tool applications, troubleshooting, process optimization, and technical value selling.
Strong communication, relationship-building, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to independently manage a sales territory and travel up to 50%.
Why Join?
Join a globally established manufacturer of precision cutting tools and engineered tooling solutions.
Opportunity to develop a growing Illinois and Eastern Wisconsin territory with significant business potential.
Competitive base salary plus performance-based, uncapped commission.
Medical insurance with 90% of premiums covered by the company (subject to confirmation).
Day-one benefits, including medical, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability coverage, and 401(k) eligibility.
Work with leading automotive, aerospace, and industrial manufacturing customers.
Receive comprehensive onboarding, technical product training, and opportunities for training in Germany.
Be part of a growing North American sales organization focused on innovation and long-term customer relationships.