Auction Setup & Equipment Specialist

About Machine Tool Bids

Machine Tool Bids (MTB) is The #1 Metalworking Auction Platform, helping manufacturers, financial institutions, and machinery owners sell CNC, fabrication, and industrial equipment through auctions and complete facility liquidations.

We're looking for an Auction Setup & Equipment Specialist who will play a critical role in getting equipment from a client's facility onto the auction block.

This is a highly hands on position for someone who understands machinery, pays attention to details, enjoys being in the field, and isn't afraid to get their hands dirty.

The Role

The Auction Setup & Equipment Specialist will travel to client facilities across the country to prepare machinery and industrial assets for upcoming Machine Tool Bids auctions.

You'll be responsible for turning a facility full of equipment into an organized, accurate, professionally presented auction catalog.

That means identifying equipment, gathering specifications, photographing machines, determining how assets should be grouped and lotted, and making sure our auction team has everything needed to successfully market and sell the equipment.

When you're not traveling for auction setups, you'll work alongside our team at our Chicago area warehouse, helping inspect, organize, prepare, and work on machinery that Machine Tool Bids and our affiliated companies purchase for resale.

Responsibilities

Auction Setup & Lotting

• Travel to manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and industrial sites to prepare equipment for upcoming auctions.
• Identify and categorize CNC machines, fabrication equipment, tooling, inspection equipment, material handling equipment, and other industrial assets.
• Gather accurate machine specifications, including manufacturer, model, serial number, year, capacity, control, dimensions, accessories, and other relevant information.
• Build organized and accurate asset lists for each auction.
• Develop a lotting strategy that maximizes the presentation and potential value of the assets.
• Determine which equipment should be sold individually versus grouped into lots.
• Assign and physically organize lot numbers throughout facilities.



Photography & Equipment Presentation

• Take high-quality, consistent photographs of machinery and equipment for auction listings.
• Capture important machine details including controls, identification plates, tooling, accessories, hours, condition, and relevant specifications.
• Identify the features and accessories that buyers will care about most.
• Ensure every auction lot is represented accurately and professionally.
• Document visible equipment condition and communicate potential issues to the auction team.

Machinery & Warehouse Support

When not traveling for auction setups:

• Assist with machinery located at our Chicago-area warehouse.
• Help receive, inspect, photograph, organize, and prepare equipment purchased for resale.
• Assist with basic machine cleanup and preparation.
• Help identify missing components, tooling, accessories, or potential equipment issues.
• Assist with equipment demonstrations and preparation for prospective buyers.
• Support loading, unloading, organization, and movement of equipment when appropriate.

Requirements

• Has experience around CNC, fabrication, manufacturing, or industrial equipment.
• Can identify machinery and understand basic machine specifications.
• Has strong attention to detail and takes pride in accuracy.
• Is comfortable using a camera or smartphone to professionally photograph equipment.
• Can think strategically about how equipment should be grouped and presented for sale.
• Is mechanically inclined and comfortable working around industrial machinery.
• Is comfortable working independently at customer facilities.
• Communicates professionally with customers, plant managers, operators, riggers, and the MTB team.
• Is willing and able to travel frequently.
• Is comfortable working in active manufacturing and warehouse environments.