Applications Engineer

Protolabs•Raleigh, NC

5d•$69,500 - $92,700•Hybrid

About The Position

The Applications Engineer helps customers bring products to life by evaluating manufacturing opportunities across CNC machining, 3D printing, injection molding, and sheet metal fabrication. Serving as a trusted technical advisor, the role reviews customer drawings, 3D CAD models, requests for quote (RFQs), and quality requirements to assess manufacturability, optimize outcomes, and mitigate risk. The engineer works with Sales, Operations, customers, and other partners throughout quoting and production, providing guidance to help customers move from concept to production and understand Protolabs’ manufacturing solutions. This is a hybrid role, onsite Tuesday through Thursday in Raleigh, North Carolina. The position supports customer communications and technical consultations, helps ensure quotes and orders accurately reflect customer requirements and manufacturing capabilities, and contributes to Sales training. Local trade show support may be required.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in Engineering and at least 2 years of related work experience, or at least 5 years of directly related work experience in an engineering or manufacturing role.
Direct experience in CNC machining, 3D printing, or injection molding.
Technical aptitude and the ability to communicate technical information to people at various levels.
Ability to read technical engineering drawings and understand fundamental requirements.
Strong customer relationship skills, including the ability to build rapport, gain trust, and communicate effectively.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well on a team and with cross-functional partners.
Strong computer skills, including MS Office applications and experience with CRM software.
Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or foreign national granted refugee or asylee status; people holding temporary visas are not eligible because of ITAR requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a technical, customer-facing, or sales support role.
Working knowledge of sheet metal fabrication, in addition to one or more of CNC machining, 3D printing, or injection molding.
Experience with geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).
Experience modeling or revising 3D solid models in native CAD software.
Experience working in or with the drone or aviation industry.

Responsibilities

Answer customer phone calls, emails, and chat questions to maintain strong customer service support.
Provide pre-sale technical guidance and consultative design support to customers and internal partners.
Support Sales activities and customer meetings, including webinars, design reviews, and plant tours for non-strategic customers.
Meet four-hour response guidelines for internal and external customer communications.
Understand customers’ technical requirements, design flexibility, project timelines, and product volume needs, and recommend suitable options from Protolabs’ factory and network offerings.
Deliver Design for Manufacturability feedback and propose solutions for customer projects.
Review customer 3D CAD data, technical drawings, and RFQs to communicate requirements and support accurate quoting.
Evaluate customer requirements, communicate expectations, and manage risk so fulfillment aligns with the appropriate product offering and manufacturing capabilities.
Coordinate with cross-functional partners to communicate customer requirements to downstream stakeholders for accurate order intake and fulfillment.
Support Sales Enablement in creating and delivering technical training to Sales.
Help customers make recommended or required changes to 3D CAD models so they can benefit from Protolabs’ services.
Balance customer requests with downstream risks to deliver acceptable parts on schedule.
Use applicable work instructions and documentation when evaluating customer quotes.
Provide local trade show support when required.

Benefits

Competitive salary and total rewards package.
Health insurance, with traditional or high-deductible plan options.
Flexible Spending Accounts.
Health Savings Account, including employer contributions.
Dental and vision coverage.
Basic and supplemental life insurance.
Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
Paid caregiver leave.
At least three weeks of PTO, plus wellness time, holiday pay, and volunteer hours.
401(k) with company match and immediate vesting.
Employee Stock Purchase Program at a discounted rate.
Matching grants through the Protolabs Foundation.