Product Manager / Applications Engineer – Cutting Tools
Location: Southern California
Compensation: $120,000+ Base + Bonus
Travel: Approximately 30%
Position Overview
Our client, a well-established global manufacturer of high-performance cutting tools, is seeking a technically strong Product Manager / Applications Engineer to support customers throughout the Western U.S.
This is a highly technical, customer-facing position ideal for someone who enjoys solving machining challenges, developing tooling solutions, and working directly with manufacturers on the shop floor. The individual will serve as a technical resource for customers, sales professionals, and internal teams, with a particular emphasis on special tooling and complex machining applications.
The organization offers strong technical resources, domestic manufacturing capabilities, and an experienced team of applications and business development professionals throughout the United States.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide hands-on technical support to manufacturing customers throughout the Western U.S.
- Work directly with customers to evaluate machining processes, troubleshoot applications, and recommend cutting-tool solutions.
- Develop and support tooling solutions for milling, turning, holemaking, and other machining applications.
- Support the development and implementation of special and custom cutting-tool solutions.
- Assist customers with process optimization, tooling selection, programming, fixturing, and productivity improvements.
- Partner closely with sales, engineering, manufacturing, and technical business development teams.
- Conduct customer trials, demonstrations, testing, and application support.
- Manage technical projects from initial customer requirements through implementation.
- Serve as a technical resource to colleagues throughout the organization and collaborate with other specialists based on their areas of expertise.
- Develop a strong understanding of the company's manufacturing capabilities, product portfolio, and application expertise.
- Maintain a consistent presence at customer facilities throughout the territory.
Ideal Background
Candidates may come from several technical manufacturing backgrounds, including:
- Cutting Tool Applications Engineering
- CNC Machining
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Tool & Cutter Grinding / Toolmaking
- CNC Programming
- CAM Programming
- Process Engineering
- Manufacturing Process Development
Strong knowledge of metal cutting, CNC machining, and cutting-tool applications is highly preferred.
Experience with solid carbide and/or special cutting tools would be particularly valuable.
Qualifications
- Strong technical background within CNC machining, metalworking, or cutting tools.
- Ability to understand machining processes and identify opportunities to improve productivity, tool life, cycle time, and overall process performance.
- Hands-on mentality and willingness to work directly with customers on the shop floor.
- Experience with CAM software, CNC programming, tooling design, fixturing, or process development is beneficial.
- Strong problem-solving and project-management skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Collaborative approach and willingness to share technical knowledge with teammates.
- Ability to work independently while remaining highly connected to a geographically dispersed technical team.
- Willingness to travel approximately 30% overnight, primarily throughout the Western U.S., in addition to regional day travel.
- Ability to occasionally travel internationally for training and company meetings.
- U.S. citizenship required due to work performed within certain controlled manufacturing environments.
Compensation & Benefits
- Base Salary: $120,000+
- Annual Bonus Opportunity
- Car Allowance
- Comprehensive company benefits
- Extensive technical and product training
- Domestic and international training opportunities
Why Consider This Opportunity?
This is an excellent opportunity for a technically driven manufacturing professional who wants to remain close to the machining process while taking on broader responsibility for customer applications and technical projects.
The position offers the opportunity to work with sophisticated manufacturers, solve challenging machining applications, and become a key technical resource for a growing Western U.S. customer base.
The company places significant value on teamwork, technical expertise, collaboration, and long-term employee development. The technical group operates as a true team, with specialists regularly supporting one another based on their individual areas of expertise.