Technical Applications Engineer
MachineMetrics | Remote (US)
About the Role
MachineMetrics is looking for a Technical Sales Engineer with deep industrial connectivity expertise to own the technical relationship across the full sales cycle and into post-sale onboarding. This is a hands-on, customer-facing role — you will be the technical authority on sales calls, the person who validates trial readiness, and the engineer who actually connects machines once a deal closes.
You will work closely with Account Executives, the Technical Onboarding team, and customers' IT and engineering teams to ensure every engagement is credible, well-scoped, and set up for a fast and successful deployment.
This role is remote but requires the ability to engage across US time zones and travel to customer sites. Expect on-site travel up to 25% of the time for trials, connectivity validation, and customer kickoffs.
What You'll DoPre-Sales Technical Engagement
- Join prospect calls alongside Account Executives to provide technical credibility and build confidence that MachineMetrics is the right partner
- Lead IT-focused calls with prospect technical teams to discuss networking requirements, firewall rules, edge architecture, and connectivity prerequisites
- Conduct machine connectivity discussions with prospects — explaining supported protocols, control compatibility, and what to expect during deployment
- Develop comprehensive connectivity plans that define scope, expected effort, hardware requirements, and any risks or dependencies
Trial & Technology Validation Support
- Support the technology validation process by providing rapid machine connection proofs and short outcome demonstrations aligned to the prospect's business case
- Confirm technical readiness before trials go live — verifying that customers have network access provisioned, IPs assigned, IT stakeholders engaged, and the correct machines identified
- Maintain visibility across all active trials to ensure technical milestones are being met and no engagements go silent
- Ensure trial accounts are properly documented and technical learnings are captured ahead of the onboarding handoff
Competitive Positioning
- Articulate how MachineMetrics compares to alternatives on protocol support, data depth, integration capability, and deployment scalability
- Support AEs with technical objection handling and prospect-specific differentiation
Post-Trial Technical Debrief
- Conduct structured technical debriefs on lost trials and failed deals — documenting what worked, what failed technically, and what should have been discovered earlier in the sales process
- Feed findings back into the pre-sales discovery process to continuously sharpen technical qualification
Sales-to-Onboarding Handoff
- Ensure every closed deal has a complete, accurate connectivity plan and Factory Assessment ready for the Technical Onboarding team
- Participate in handoff calls between Sales and Technical Onboarding to transfer context, flag risks, and set new accounts up for a fast start
- Surface any gaps between what was sold and what can be delivered — before they become onboarding problems
Post-Sale Connectivity Support
- Continue to support machine connectivity tasks for onboarding customers as assigned through Jira
- Connect machines, configure I/O devices, write adapter scripts, and verify data accuracy against defined tasks
Technical RequirementsCNC Machine Connectivity
The ideal candidate will have broad exposure across multiple control platforms and a strong foundation in industrial connectivity. The list below represents the full scope of knowledge required in this role — candidates with depth in several areas and the aptitude to develop the rest are encouraged to apply.
Networking
You can hold a technical conversation with a customer's IT team and configure network infrastructure independently when required.
- IP addressing, subnet masks, gateway configuration, and DNS resolution
- NAT 1:1 translations and firewall rule requirements for outbound IoT traffic
- VLAN segmentation as it applies to OT/IT network separation
- Understanding of router and managed switch configuration in industrial environments
- VPN and remote access configuration for secure machine connectivity
- Edge device network configuration — static IP assignment, network interface management
- Familiarity with common IT security concerns around OT device deployment and how to address them professionally
Edge & Hardware
- Edge computing concepts — local data collection, buffering, and cloud forwarding
- Configuration of Linux-based edge devices, including network setup and application deployment
- I/O device configuration for machine signal monitoring — voltage inputs (24VDC, 110VAC), current transformers, and digital I/O signals
- Familiarity with I/O hardware platforms such as Sealevel or Advantech WISE series devices
- Basic hardware troubleshooting
Software & Tooling
- Comfortable working in Linux terminal environments
- YAML/JSON configuration and basic scripting for adapter or parser customization
- Familiarity with Jira or similar project tracking tools for task management
- Ability to read and interpret PLC ladder logic or I/O diagrams is a plus
- Experience with industrial data platforms such as Kepware, Ignition, or SCADA systems is a strong asset — candidates coming from these environments will find the technical concepts familiar and transferable
Who You Are
- You are a strong communicator who can switch fluently between explaining technical architecture to a plant IT manager and discussing business outcomes with a VP of Operations
- You are organized and self-directed — you manage your own task queue, keep statuses current, and don't let things go silent
- You are credible and calm under pressure — when a trial isn't going well, you diagnose fast and communicate clearly
- You are genuinely curious about manufacturing technology and take pride in making machines talk
- You have worked in a technical pre-sales, applications engineering, field service, or technical support role in the industrial automation space
Preferred Background
- 3–7 years of experience in industrial automation, CNC applications, machine tool integration, or IIoT connectivity
- Hands-on experience operating or setting up CNC machines — someone who has stood at a control, navigated menus, and understands the manufacturing environment from the floor up
- Direct experience with CNC machine data collection or connectivity in a production environment
- Experience supporting a sales or pre-sales process in a technical capacity is strongly preferred
- Background in machine tool dealership, CNC integration, applications engineering, or field service translates well to this role
- Familiarity with manufacturing intelligence, MES, SCADA, or IIoT platforms — whether as a competitor, integrator, or end-user — is a plus
Why MachineMetrics
MachineMetrics is the leading manufacturing intelligence platform for discrete manufacturers. We connect directly to CNC machines and production equipment to surface real-time data that helps manufacturers reduce downtime, improve throughput, and make better operational decisions. Our platform is trusted by manufacturers across aerospace, defense, firearms, precision machining, and medical devices.
This role puts you at the intersection of industrial connectivity and go-to-market — a rare opportunity to be the technical expert that closes deals and delivers the first impression of what MachineMetrics can do.
Work Authorization: Applicants must be a US citizen or permanent resident (green card holder). We are unable to sponsor or transfer visas of any kind.
Pay: Up to $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Vision insurance
- Work from home
Application Question(s):
- Name two or more CNC control types you have worked with directly and describe what you were doing with them.
- Describe a time you configured network settings on a piece of industrial equipment or CNC machine to establish a data connection. What settings were involved and what challenges did you encounter?
- Have you worked with similar systems to MachineMetrics or other MES / Machine Monitoring?
Experience:
- Industrial controls: 3 years (Required)
Willingness to travel:
Work Location: Remote
