Director, Applications Engineering

Job Posting Start Date 08-05-2025 Job Posting End Date 10-01-2025

Flex is the diversified manufacturing partner of choice that helps market-leading brands design, build and deliver innovative products that improve the world.

A career at Flex offers the opportunity to make a difference and invest in your growth in a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative environment. If you are excited about a role but don't meet every bullet point, we encourage you to apply and join us to create the extraordinary.

Job Summary

The Health Solutions division of Flex is seeking a strategic and hands-on Director of Applications Engineering to lead our pre-sales engineering function and drive technical excellence in support of our contract manufacturing customers. This role combines leadership and direct engagement, managing a team of two Sales Solutions Engineers while partnering with the Sales team to identify, design, and deliver high-value, customer-specific manufacturing solutions.

The Director will serve as the primary technical liaison between our customers and internal operations, engineering, and manufacturing teams. This individual will be an expert in our technical capabilities—including materials, production processes, quality standards, and supply chain logistics—and use that expertise to develop proposals that meet the unique needs of each customer.

This is a critical role responsible for aligning customer requirements with our operational capabilities and ensuring we deliver technically sound, commercially viable manufacturing solutions.

What a typical day looks like:

• Lead and mentor a team of Sales Solutions Engineers, setting priorities and driving high performance.
• Allocate team resources across customer opportunities to ensure timely, accurate, and scalable support.
• Establish and evolve pre-sales engineering processes and tools to support consistent delivery and team growth.
• Collaborate with Sales and Operations leadership to align team efforts with commercial and operational goals.
• Provide coaching, feedback, and professional development opportunities to enhance team performance
• Partner with the Sales team throughout the sales cycle—from discovery through quoting and contract finalization.
• Engage directly with OEM customers to understand product requirements, specifications, timelines, and supply chain needs.
• Develop comprehensive manufacturing solutions that incorporate our core capabilities, including materials selection, process planning, tooling, regulatory requirements, and cost targets.
• Drive the creation of technical proposals, and partner with the Deal Desk team to create detailed quotes and formal documentation.
• Lead or support customer visits, presentations, audits, and technical discussions.
• Coordinate with internal subject matter experts—including Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Engineering—to ensure feasibility and alignment of proposed solutions.
• Represent the voice of the customer in internal discussions to inform development of go-to-market strategies and new customer offerings.

The experience we are looking to add to our team:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years of experience in contract manufacturing, OEM/ODM, or technical sales, including 2+ years of managing or leading a team.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes (e.g., precision machining, injection molding, assembly, electronics, automation, or relevant processes).
• Experience working with customers in regulated industries such as medical devices, aerospace, automotive, or industrial equipment.
• Understanding of quality systems (e.g., ISO 9001, ISO 13485, AS9100) and regulatory compliance.
• Proven ability to translate complex customer requirements into actionable manufacturing solutions.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and customer relationship skills.
• Experience working cross-functionally in fast-paced, high-standards environments.

Some of our Preferred experiences:

• Familiarity with ERP/MRP and quoting tools used in manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with CRM solutions (preferably SalesForce) and sales opportunity management
• Strong business acumen and ability to balance customer needs with operational capabilities and cost considerations.

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What you'll receive for the great work you provide:

• Full range of medical, dental, and vision plans
• Life Insurance
• Short-term and Long-term Disability
• Matching 401(k) Contributions
• Vacation and Paid Sick Time
• Tuition Reimbursement

Job Category

Production Engineering

Is Sponsorship Available?

No

Flex is an Equal Opportunity Employer and employment selection decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. We do not discriminate based on: age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, pregnancy status, or any other status protected by law. We're happy to provide reasonable accommodations to those with a disability for assistance in the application process. Please email [email protected] and we'll discuss your specific situation and next steps (NOTE: this email does not accept or consider resumes or applications. This is only for disability assistance. To be considered for a position at Flex, you must complete the application process first).