Applications Engineer - Western US

[CNCAppsJames]

My company is looking to hire another Applications Engineer.
 
Ideally the candidate would live somewhere "relatively" near one of our offices (Auburn Washington, Wilsonville Oregon, Sacramento California, Ontario California, or Salt Lake City Utah). If relocation is needed, that's a conversation we can have for the right candidate.
 
The individual we're looking for would have experience as a machinist, setup person and programmer. The favorite software is mostly unimportant; we can get access to almost everything. 4 or 5-Axis Programming and Operating experience would be VERY helpful. This is NOT a programming job though. I can't stress that enough. If you're looking to sit in an air conditioned office and be on a computer all day, this is not even close to the job for you. This is not a machinist's job either. This is a job where you'll be out on the customers' shop floor passing along your machining, setup, programming, and probing knowledge and expertise to our customers, training them in the operation of their new (and sometimes used) equipment. Now that said, I do spend a fair amount of time with programmers in their dungeons teaching them how to use CAMplete, and how to integrate it into their environment. You must be comfortable speaking in front of people. From time to time you may called on to address CEO's, CFO's, and present solution proposals. 

Travel IS part of the gig. It won't be as much travel as me (after you get trained and settle in), but it will be significant. It will be limited to Washington, Montana (I've never been there for business yet), Oregon, Idaho, California, Utah, and Nevada though.  

We're an ESOP (Employee Stock Option Program)  company (meaning we're employee owned). Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k (i forget the matching %), I think 2 weeks vacation to start, 3 weeks after 5, 4 after 10, 5 after 15... I think that's the break down.

Pay... needless to say, this is a six figure job with all the perks, stress, AND responsibilities that come along with it. Also what goes without saying, this is not a job for someone new (less than 10 years) to the machining environment. Our customers are a who's who in just about every industry and more than likely 5-6 years experience doesn't quite get you there in today's high tech manufacturing environment. This isn't a job where you're just cruising making the big bucks either. You're expected to be constantly learning, mastering skills, and passing that knowledge and expertise along to our customers. They expect it. They demand it.

We're a 3rd Generation family run business and we're in the process of onboarding and growing the 4th generation. I love this company so much I brought my 2nd son into the organization. He's been with the company ~7 years. The average time with the company in our department is 14.8 years. Yes YEARS. I've been with the company since January 2007 and it's been the best company I've ever worked for. Period. Hands Down.

As an organization, we represent (in no particular order) Haas, Matsuura, JTEKT (formerly Toyoda), Hwacheon, Eurotech, MCM, C. R. Onsrud, Muratec, Enshu, Supertec, Acer, and Mitutoyo. Different regions have different offerings. Don't worry... you do not have to know all of these... or any for that matter. I only work with a few of them. Don't let these names deter you you if you don't have any experience with them. When I started here in 2007, I had never even seen a Matsuura. You'll be learning from seasoned professionals. We're going to be investing a significant amount of time and resources in you. 

If you or the person that may be considering this position is apprehensive because they don't think they know enough... good. Lets chat. The guys that know everything already tend to be on the unteachable side and our industry is changing so rapidly, there's just no room for guys that can't or won't learn... often on the fly... because they know everything already. Over the next year or two, you'll spend a considerable amount of time in the field with myself and 2 of our other current engineers. We want you to be successful, and we're going to give you all the tools you need for that.

Reach out if you or someone you know may be interested.

[Newbeeee™]

^^^^THAT was an enjoyable read. Salud James

[CNCAppsJames]

^^^^THAT was an enjoyable read. Salud James

Hopefully we can find someone. 

It's a had job to fill. SO many people are scared.... no check that... terrified of admitting they don't know something so they stay away from careers like this where they HAVE to be the one to find solutions. 

Man... just this morning, I had to tell a customer "I have no idea if it's even possible or how to do...". So what do I do? Reach out to my resources and ask. And we all get better one way or another. 

[Newbeeee™]

Hopefully we can find someone. 

It's a had job to fill. SO many people are scared.... no check that... terrified of admitting they don't know something so they stay away from careers like this where they HAVE to be the one to find solutions.

Man... just this morning, I had to tell a customer "I have no idea if it's even possible or how to do...". So what do I do? Reach out to my resources and ask. And we all get better one way or another.

And this is the rub - in our game, the majority feel weakness in admitting they don't know or having to ask.... I blame the removal of the note on the old prints - IF IN DOUBT ASK
The most important note there ever was, mostly lost in time now....
And the old saying is never truer - it's not what we know, it's who we know!

[CNCAppsJames]

...
And the old saying is never truer - it's not what we know, it's who we know!

Indeed. NO man is an island.

I learned EARLY on in my career it's totally OK to not know something. You just need to know where to look, who to ask, how to start figuring it out, or where to start.

What concerns me at this immediate juncture in time is the HEAVY reliance on AI in the younger generation for machine functionality as opposed to asking someone who knows how important context and application is to finding the RIGHT solution. Don't get me wrong, it defintitely has it's place and will get better as time goes on. 

Youngsters have the "trust AI" part down good, they loathe the "verify AI" part, and IMHO that's the most important part.

[CNCAppsJames]

Wanted to update this posting

Based on further analysis, the company is desirous of a candidate to be based out of the Southern California region.

Thank you to the guys that reached out and inquired about the position.