Applications Engineer

Be yourself at Protolabs  Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification.  We are an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to building a diverse team that feels they are valued in the workplace.  So do you feel you do not meet every single requirement but still intrigued? We encourage you to still apply!  You can help make our company even better.  We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, age, mental or physical ability, or any way you represent yourself.  We strongly believe diversity makes for more successful teams.    Why Protolabs?  We are the leaders in digital manufacturing.  We hire doers, makers, and creative thinkers who tackle our roles with an entrepreneurial spirit.  Our culture is centered around meaningful work that brings new and innovative products to market at unprecedented speeds.  We are a diverse team that comes from all walks of life and take pride in our team who is smart, genuine, humble, and passionate about what we do.  It’s our people who fuel our creativity and make our culture feel like home.  Join our team as an Applications Engineer! This is a HYBRID role - onsite Tuesday-Thursday in Raleigh, NC.  The Applications Engineer plays a pivotal role in helping customers bring innovative products to life by evaluating manufacturing opportunities across CNC machining, 3D printing, injection molding, and sheet metal fabrication. Acting as a trusted technical advisor, this role reviews customer drawings, 3D CAD models, RFQs, and quality requirements to ensure manufacturability, optimize outcomes, and mitigate risk. Working closely with Sales, Operations, and customers, the Applications Engineer delivers expert guidance throughout the quoting and production process, helping customers confidently move from concept to production while showcasing the full value of Protolabs' manufacturing solutions. What You Will Do:

· Maintain strong customer service support by answering customer phone calls, emails, and chat questions

· 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

· Maintain 4-hour response guidelines set on all customer (internal and external) communications.

· Gain a solid understanding of the customer’s technical requirements, design flexibility, project timeline, and product volume needs to recommend appropriate options within Protolabs factory and network offering.

· Deliver Design for Manufacturability feedback and provide innovative solutions for customer projects

· Thoroughly review and evaluate customer 3D CAD data, technical drawings, and RFQ’s to communicate customer requirements and ensure accurate quote information

· Manage risk by evaluating customer requirements, communicating expectations, and ensuring product fulfillment aligns with the appropriate product offering and manufacturing capabilities of Protolabs factory or network

· Coordinates with cross-functional partners to ensure customer requirements are communicated to downstream stakeholders for accurate order intake and product fulfillment

· Support Sales Enablement in creation and delivery of technical training to Sales

· Assist the customer in working through recommended or required changes to their 3D CAD model to help them take advantage of Protolabs’ services and value.

· Balance the objective of satisfying the customer requests with the potential of downstream risks to deliver acceptable parts on schedule.

· Effectively uses all work instructions and associated documentation when evaluating customer quotes.

· Local trade show support may be require

What You Bring:

· BS in Engineering and 2+ years of related work experience or 5+ years of directly related work experience in an engineering or manufacturing role

· Experience in a technical, customer-facing or sales support role is preferred

· Direct experience in CNC machining, 3D Printing, or Injection molding

· Experience and working knowledge of one or more of the above and Sheet Metal fabrication is a plus

· Technical aptitude with ability to communicate technical information to others at various levels

· Able to read technical engineering drawings and understand fundamental requirements

· Experience with geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) is desirable

· Experience with modeling/revising 3-D solid model in native CAD software is desirable

· Strong customer relationship skills with an ability to build rapport, gain trust, and deliver effective communication

· Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well within a team and with cross-functional partners

· Strong computer skills (MS Office applications), including experience with a CRM software.

Preferred Qualifications:

· Experience working in or with the drone/aviation industry
What's In It For You:

We offer a competitive salary and total rewards package

We offer amazing benefits including but not limited to:

Health Insurance: Traditional OR High Deductible plan

Flexible Spending Accounts

Health Savings Account (including employer contributions)

Dental and Vision

Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance

Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

Paid caregiver leave

You will receive at least 3 weeks of PTO + Wellness + Holiday Pay + Volunteer Hours

401k with company match and immediate vest

Employee Stock Purchase Program at a discounted rate

Matching grants through Protolabs foundation

And More!

Proto Labs maintains ITAR-compliant operations in all of our United States based facilities.  Due to ITAR regulations, this role is only open to U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders) or foreign nationals granted refugee or asylee status.  Individuals with temporary visas (e.g. E, F-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J, TN or OPT) are not eligible for hire in this role.   Proto Labs, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer   Physical Demands: While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use a computer keyboard, monitor and mouse, telephone and printer; reach with hands, and arms, talk, see and hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop or kneel and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Work Environment: Indoors (A/C); nonsmoking; the majority of this job function is performed in an office setting requiring normal safety precautions. However, there may be job duties that require the employee to spend time in the manufacturing areas exposed to machinery and noise; eye protection occasionally required. Occasionally works in outside weather conditions. Occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.