Application Engineer

No C2C or 3rd Party Candidates will be Considered. Sterling Engineering is partnering with a growing manufacturing organization to hire an Applications Engineer in Vernon Hills, IL. This is a great opportunity for an early-career engineer who wants to build both technical and customer-facing experience while working with advanced manufacturing and automation equipment.You’ll work alongside experienced sales and engineering teams to learn customer applications, help develop technical solutions, and gain hands-on exposure to equipment demonstrations, testing, process improvement, and customer projects.Location: Vernon Hills, IL 60069Salary: $65,000–$72,000Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off, paid holidays, and additional company-sponsored benefits.What You’ll Be Doing:Work with experienced sales and engineering team members to understand customer needs and recommend technical solutionsParticipate in customer meetings, site visits, equipment demonstrations, and application reviewsLearn how manufacturing equipment and processes are evaluated for different customer applicationsAssist with equipment testing, proof-of-concept projects, and customer acceptance testingPerform cycle time analysis and basic capacity planningGain hands-on experience with electronic assembly and automated manufacturing equipmentHelp prepare technical proposals, project documentation, and statements of workCommunicate with customers and internal sales, engineering, and service teams throughout projectsHelp answer customer technical questions and support RFIs and RFPsParticipate in trade shows, customer workshops, training sessions, and company eventsContinue developing your knowledge of automation, manufacturing equipment, and electronic assembly technologiesWhat We’re Looking For:Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related field preferredRecent graduates and early-career engineers are encouraged to applyInternship, co-op, project, manufacturing, technical sales, or customer-facing engineering experience is a plusStrong mechanical or electrical aptitude and an interest in manufacturing and automationComfortable communicating with customers and explaining technical informationCurious, willing to learn, and comfortable asking questionsStrong problem-solving and organizational skillsAbility to manage multiple assignments and prioritiesWorking knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Excel