Presales Engineering Manager

Location: Schaumburg, IL

Salary Range: $150,000 - $170,000

Company Description

For over 50 years, DN Solutions has built machine tools that shape the world around us, including the cars we drive, the planes we fly, and the medical devices that save lives. We develop smart machines and customized solutions that advance these essential industries.

Join our applications engineering team and help coach, teach, manage the current and future members of DN Solutions!

Job Description

Lead the organization's technical sales and application engineering function by delivering innovative manufacturing solutions, validating customer success through proven machining processes, and developing a world-class team that drives profitable growth, customer satisfaction, and technology leadership in the CNC machine tool market.

This individual serves as the technical bridge between customers, sales teams (distributors and internal sales), product management (PSM team), and applications, ensuring proposed solutions meet customer productivity, quality, and profitability objectives while reporting to the Engineering Director.

Job Responsibilities

- Lead, mentor, and develop the Presales/Application Engineering team, establishing technical sales strategies and best practices that support company growth objectives.

- Provide technical leadership and guidance to customers, distributors, regional sales managers, and key account teams.

- Evaluate customer manufacturing challenges, analyze engineering drawings and production requirements, and develop optimized machining solutions involving machine tools, tooling, work holding, automation, and software.

- Oversee strategic machine demonstrations, proof-of-concept projects, test cuts, and customer runoffs to validate machining performance and meet customer requirements.

- Direct the development of cycle time studies, process documentation, and competitive benchmarking to demonstrate solution performance and value.

- Lead the technical development of turnkey and capital equipment proposals, including project scope, engineering estimates, statements of work, quotations, and customer deliverables.

- Collaborate with sales teams to develop ROI analyses and business cases that support customer investment decisions.

- Provide technical strategy and support for key accounts, major opportunities, and executive-level customer presentations across aerospace, medical, automotive, energy, defense, and general manufacturing industries.

- Establish and monitor presales engineering performance metrics, including win rates, demonstration conversion, test cut success, cycle time improvements, and quote responsiveness.

- Drive continuous improvement in application engineering processes, technical sales support, and team performance.

- Recruit, train, and develop application engineering talent through technical training, coaching, and career development programs.

Job Requirements

Required

- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline. Equivalent manufacturing and machining experience may be considered.

- 10+ years of experience in CNC machining, applications engineering, manufacturing engineering, or technical sales.

- 5+ years of experience leading engineering or technical teams.

- Demonstrated success supporting the sale of CNC machine tools, automation systems, or manufacturing solutions.

- Extensive experience with multi-axis machining centers, turning centers, mill-turn systems, and automated manufacturing cells.

- Strong knowledge of metal cutting processes, tooling, work holding, CAM programming, process optimization, and manufacturing economics.

- Experience with CAD/CAM software, CNC programming, cutting tool selection, and fixture design.

- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T requirements, and complex manufacturing specifications.

- Excellent technical communication skills, including customer presentations, proposal development, and customer engagement.

- Strong leadership, coaching, strategic thinking, and business acumen, including capital equipment sales support and financial/ROI analysis.

- Ability to travel approximately 25%.

Preferred

- Experience supporting aerospace and other high-precision manufacturing applications.

- Knowledge of robotics, automation systems, pallet systems, and flexible manufacturing systems.

- Familiarity with digital manufacturing platforms, MES systems, machine monitoring, and process analytics.

- Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma experience.

- Project management experience supporting turnkey manufacturing solutions.

Company Benefits

- Competitive pay based on experience.

- 401(k)

- Health, Vision, and Dental Insurance

- Life Insurance and Short-Term Disability

- Paid Time-Off including vacation, sick time, and Holidays.

- Employee Referral Program

Our success is driven by our team of talented, dedicated individuals working closely together to meet or exceed customer expectations. Take the next step in your career and become part of our fast-growing company.

DN Solutions America is an equal-opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality, sex, religion, or veteran status.