Application Manager

The Role

We are looking for an experienced Applications Manager to lead a customer-facing technical engineering team, ensuring customers receive effective technical support, suitable tooling solutions, and measurable improvements to their manufacturing processes.

You will manage and develop a team of Application Engineers, support customers with tooling selection, cutting data, and process optimisation, and oversee technical troubleshooting and on-site support.

This is a hands-on technical management position that requires someone who can support and guide the team, maintain strong customer relationships, and help improve manufacturing performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and develop a team of Application Engineers, providing technical guidance, coaching and support.
• Provide customers with technical advice on tooling selection, cutting data and machining applications.
• Support customers with process optimisation, toolpath improvements and troubleshooting.
• Oversee on-site customer visits and provide technical support to resolve machining and manufacturing challenges.
• Ensure proposed tooling solutions are technically suitable, practical and commercially viable.
• Work closely with Sales, Engineering, Design and Production teams to develop effective customer solutions.
• Support the preparation and review of technical proposals, tooling packages and turnkey projects.
• Identify opportunities to improve tool life, cycle times, process reliability and overall cost per part.
• Monitor the effectiveness of applications support and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, applications guidance and best-practice information.
• Build strong relationships with customers, understanding their requirements and helping them achieve improved manufacturing performance.
• Share technical knowledge across the team and support the development of internal expertise.
• Use customer feedback and technical performance data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.

Skills & Experience

Previous experience in an Applications Manager, Applications Engineering Manager or similar technical leadership role.

Strong background in cutting-tool applications, CNC machining, or machining process optimisation.

Proven experience leading, coaching, or managing technical engineers.

Good understanding of tooling selection, cutting data, and the practical application of cutting tools.

Experience providing technical support directly to customers within a manufacturing environment.

Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop practical engineering solutions.

Evidence of delivering improvements in tool life, cycle times, process reliability or manufacturing costs.

Excellent communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships with customers and internal teams.

Commercial awareness and the ability to balance technical performance with customer requirements and business objectives.

Experience working collaboratively with Sales, Engineering, Design and Production teams.

Candidates with a strong technical applications background who are ready to progress into a management position will also be considered, provided they can demonstrate the technical credibility and leadership potential required for the role.

The Package

Circa £60,000, dependent on experience.

Opportunity to lead and develop a technical applications team.

A varied role combining technical leadership, customer engagement and engineering problem-solving.

The opportunity to work closely with customers to deliver measurable manufacturing improvements.

Scope to influence technical capability, customer support and continuous improvement across the business.