Motion Applications Engineer - Custom CNC Machine Specialist
Waukegen, IL
CONFIDENTIAL CAREER OPPORTUNITY
Motion Applications Engineer — Custom CNC Machine Specialist
Global Motion Control Leader | Waukegan, IL | $90,000 – $140,000 (target range $115,000–$120,000 based on experience)
WHY THIS MATTERS
You've spent years mastering CNC — and you're still explaining it to people who've never touched a machine. You know G-code the way most engineers know PowerPoint. You've run the programs, set the tools, fixed the problems — and watched others take credit for the results. You're good at your job. Maybe the best in the building. But you're still one of many inside a company that didn't build its future around what you know.
This role is the opposite of that. A global leader in motion control — one of the most respected names in industrial automation — is entering the CNC machine vertical for the first time. They need one person to own it. Not manage a team. Not take orders. Own it. That person becomes the internal subject matter expert on CNC applications for an entire global organization — from day one.
ROLE AT A GLANCE
Title: Motion Applications Engineer — Custom CNC Machine Specialist
Location: Waukegan, IL (Onsite)
Reports To: Doug
Travel: 30–50% to customer sites; additional time in Wisconsin during onboarding and team collaboration
Structure: Individual Contributor — Subject Matter Expert for a brand-new vertical
Relocation: Available — sign-on bonus to cover relocation assistance for out-of-state candidates
Compensation: $90,000 – $140,000 (target range $115,000–$120,000 based on experience)
THE COMPANY
Our client is a global leader in motion control, variable speed drives, and industrial automation — with a product portfolio trusted by manufacturers across virtually every sector. They operate in dozens of countries, hold significant market share in motion and drive technology, and have built a reputation over decades on engineering precision, not marketing spend.
The Americas division operates with the energy of a growth-stage company inside the stability of a global enterprise. Headcount, budget, and strategic investment are expanding — and the leadership team makes decisions based on technical expertise, not org chart politics. Engineers here are listened to.
This role exists because the company is moving into a vertical they haven't formally owned before: custom CNC machine applications. There's no legacy playbook. There's no incumbent to shadow. The person who walks in the door walks in as the expert — and the team knows it.
WHAT YOU'LL OWN
The CNC vertical — entirely. You are the first applications engineer in this space at this company. Your knowledge is the foundation everything else gets built on
Customer application ownership from first call to final sign-off — concept, design, implementation, and commissioning. No handing off mid-stream
Direct customer relationships — working alongside a seasoned sales team to develop technical credibility and become the go-to resource for machine tool manufacturers
Application and process consulting — translating complex motion control technology into customer-facing solutions for milling, routing, turning, plasma cutting, waterjet, and laser cutting applications
Internal knowledge transfer — educating colleagues across the organization on CNC machine applications, elevating the team's capability in a vertical they're just entering
Troubleshooting and field support — diagnosing real-world application failures and delivering solutions that stick, not workarounds
THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE
Base Salary: $90,000 – $140,000 (target range $115,000–$120,000 based on experience)
Profit Sharing: Company-wide profit sharing plan — paid annually based on performance
Corporate Bonus: Corporate-wide bonus plan in addition to profit sharing
401(K): Generous 401(K) plan
Tuition Reimbursement: Up to $10,000/year for graduate coursework
Sign-On / Relocation: Sign-on bonus for relocation assistance for out-of-state candidates
Benefits: Full benefits package including medical, dental, and vision
WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR
You're the person other engineers come to when the machine isn't doing what the software says it should. You've built that reputation by working on the floor, not just at a screen. Here's what the right fit looks like:
You come from a machine tool manufacturer — you know how CNC machines are built, not just how they're programmed
3–5+ years of hands-on applications experience with CNC machinery (milling, routing, turning, plasma, waterjet, or laser cutting)
G-code proficiency — you write it, read it, and debug it without looking it up
Mechanical engineering background with a genuine understanding of the physics, not just the interface
You are the expert in your building. You don't need someone else to validate your troubleshooting calls
Comfortable owning customer relationships independently — this role puts you in front of clients, not behind a senior engineer
PLC programming experience (ladder logic, IEC 61131-3) is a strong plus
Fusion 360 or comparable CAD/CAM exposure preferred but not required — your hands-on CNC knowledge matters more
THE PATH FORWARD
This role is a ground-floor opportunity at a global company entering a new market. The person hired becomes the internal authority on CNC machine applications — and in a company this size, internal authority compounds fast.
Near-term, you establish the technical foundation: build the customer relationships, develop application frameworks, and become the person leadership calls when a CNC opportunity lands. Mid-term, as the vertical grows, so does the team around it — and the person who built the playbook is the natural leader of that team. Long-term, the company's depth in motion control means this role can grow in scope, in geographic reach, and in technical complexity. There is no ceiling that has been set, because this vertical hasn't had one before.
THE INTERVIEW PROCESS
Step 1: Zoom Call with Colleen — initial conversation to confirm background fit and mutual interest
Step 2: Zoom Call with Doug — technical and role-fit discussion with the hiring manager
Step 3: Onsite with multiple team members — collaborative panel format; meet the team you'll work alongside
Offer: Timeline moves quickly for the right candidate — this role will not stay open long
READY TO LEARN MORE?
If this reads like the opportunity you've been waiting for, let's talk — 20 minutes, completely confidential. You don't need to be actively looking. You just need to be open to the right conversation. Reach out directly and let's figure out if this is worth your time.
Contact: Jay Veniard, CEO, VenTech Search Group
Phone: (602) 888-8188 | Email: jay@ventechsearch.com | ventechsearch.com
July 8, 2026