Highlights
Applications Engineering Manager Location: Dallas, TX (100% Onsite) Compensation: $130,000–$140,000 Base Salary + 15% Annual Bonus Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Applications Engineering Manager to lead and develop a growing team supporting complex electrical and mechanical power distribution equipment proposals and customer applications. Reporting directly to the Director of Estimating, this individual will oversee the day-to-day applications engineering and proposal activities at the Dallas facility, providing technical leadership and ensuring the delivery of accurate, competitive, and technically sound customer solutions.
Numbers & Facts
| Location | Dallas, TX |
| Industry | Staffing/Employment Agencies |
| Company Size | 500 to 999 employees |
| Year Founded | 1969 |
| Website | http://www.sterling-engineering.com |
Description
Applications Engineering Manager
Location: Dallas, TX (100% Onsite)
Compensation: $130,000–$140,000 Base Salary + 15% Annual Bonus
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Applications Engineering Manager to lead and develop a growing team supporting complex electrical and mechanical power distribution equipment proposals and customer applications.
Reporting directly to the Director of Estimating, this individual will oversee the day-to-day applications engineering and proposal activities at the Dallas facility, providing technical leadership and ensuring the delivery of accurate, competitive, and technically sound customer solutions.
This is a hands-on leadership position requiring a combination of engineering expertise, commercial acumen, and team development. The successful candidate will initially lead a team of 2–3 employees, with plans to approximately double the size of the group as the business continues to grow.
The ideal candidate brings experience in an OEM or manufacturing environment, preferably within critical power, data center infrastructure, power distribution, or related electrical equipment industries. They should be equally comfortable leading a team, reviewing technical requirements, developing cost estimates, and personally contributing to complex customer proposals.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, mentor, and develop a growing team of Applications Engineers, establishing a process-driven culture focused on technical accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Manage day-to-day applications engineering and proposal activities for the Dallas facility, ensuring accurate and timely execution of customer opportunities.
- Provide hands-on technical leadership throughout the customer application, estimating, and proposal development processes.
- Review and interpret customer RFQs, technical specifications, electrical and mechanical drawings, schematics, and contract requirements.
- Evaluate technical feasibility and ensure proposed solutions meet customer requirements, technical specifications, and applicable industry standards.
- Oversee the development of accurate and competitive cost estimates, bills of materials (BOMs), pricing, and comprehensive proposal packages.
- Evaluate manufacturing costs, labor and material requirements, profit margins, and project risks to support competitive and profitable bids.
- Collaborate closely with Sales, Engineering, Operations, and Purchasing to develop effective solutions and ensure alignment throughout the bid lifecycle.
- Manage competing priorities and proposal schedules, ensuring timely and accurate responses to multiple concurrent customer opportunities.
- Partner with the Director of Estimating to implement and improve estimating processes, tools, procedures, and performance metrics across the organization.
- Support the continued growth of the Applications Engineering organization through recruiting, training, and development of additional team members.
- Maintain strong communication and collaboration with the Fontana facility and other cross-functional teams to ensure consistency and effective execution across locations.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline is required.
- Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience managing or leading engineering, applications, estimating, or technical teams. Experience leading through indirect reports will also be considered.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in estimating, applications engineering, proposal development, or a related function within a manufacturing environment.
- Strong technical background in electrical and mechanical systems, preferably involving power distribution equipment, critical power infrastructure, or related OEM products.
- Experience working within an OEM or engineered-to-order manufacturing environment is highly preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to interpret engineering drawings, electrical schematics, customer specifications, and technical requirements.
- Proven experience developing cost estimates, bills of materials, technical proposals, and commercial quotations.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing costs, pricing strategies, margin analysis, and bid risk assessment.
- Proven ability to lead teams while remaining hands-on with technical and commercial responsibilities.
- Excellent organizational, analytical, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and estimating tools. Familiarity with AutoCAD and SolidWorks is preferred.
Additional Information
- This is a 100% onsite position based in Dallas, TX.
- The position will require frequent travel between the Dallas, TX, and Fontana, CA facilities, approximately 40–50% of the time during the first six months. Estimated to decrease to 10-20% travel afterward.
- The initial team consists of 2–3 employees, with anticipated growth and expansion of the department.
About Company
Sterling Engineering has been a trusted partner for engineering, project management, and staffing solutions for over five decades. We provide exceptional engineering/technical recruitment and engineering project services to clients nationwide:
- Engineering & Technical Recruitment - With our focus on engineering, technical, and IT, Sterling has the in-depth knowledge, industry expertise, and robust employee pipeline it takes to rapidly find talent for even the most difficult to fill positions. Sterling’s extensive recruitment methodology allows us to engage the most talented employees in the marketplace. We offer exciting work and career-building opportunities for our candidates, along with expert support at every step of the process.
- Engineering Project Services – Our experienced, multi-disciplined team of project managers, engineers, and designers, led by licensed Professional Engineers (PE), provide project management, engineering, design, and Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation (CQV) to manufacturing, OEM, and R&D customers. We work on complex, highly technical projects across a number of industry sectors, and our ability to scale and seamlessly integrate at multiple levels of your organization is what differentiates us.
Sterling offers a unique combination of engineering solutions and Best of Staffing level service to help our clients and talent achieve their goals.