Sales Engineer / Estimator Sheet Metal Fabrication

Sales Engineer / Estimator Sheet Metal Fabrication

Location: San Diego, CA (Otay Mesa)

Job Type: Full-Time, In-Office

Department: Sales / Engineering

Reports To: Management Team

Position Summary

We are seeking a Mid-Level Sales Engineer with experience in sheet metal fabrication estimating and customer engagement. This role is ideal for someone who understands manufacturing costs and margins, communicates well with customers, and works collaboratively with internal teams.

This is an in-office position at our factory in South San Diego. The applicant will mostly be working from a dedicated office with occasional travel to customer facilities in San Diego County and limited travel outside the region as needed. The applicant should be comfortable working in a multi-lingual, blue collar, metal fabrication environment where safety is a top priority. There will be regular conference room engineering meeting and on-the-floor meetings, in order to fully understand the processes and costs involved in the parts we make.Requirements:

Key Responsibilities

Estimating & Quoting

Prepare quotes for sheet metal fabrication work including:

Laser, Punch and Saw cutting

Bending / forming

Welding (manual and robotic)

Machining / milling

Powder coating and finishing

Mechanical Assembly

Quote low-volume prototype jobs through medium- and high-volume production work. 1 pc – 100,000 pc runs.

Review customer drawings, specifications, and models for manufacturability and cost drivers.

Enter rough routings and estimating data into ECI / JobBOSS / Shoptech ERP.

Collaborate with management, engineering, and manufacturing leads on pricing strategy and quote review.

Apply industry knowledge of fabrication costs, labor, and margins to support accurate quoting (final pricing reviewed with management).

Customer Relationships & Business Development

Serve as a technical and relationship-focused point of contact for customers.

Communicate clearly and professionally regarding quotes, revisions, lead times, and technical questions.

Visit customer facilities to support existing relationships and evaluate new opportunities.

Engage new leads and referrals; this role is not territory-based.

Represent AP Precision with professionalism, confidence, and attention to detail.

Internal Collaboration

Work closely and regularly with:

Company ownership

Management

Engineering

Manufacturing and operations leads

Provide feedback on recurring design issues, cost drivers, and quoting assumptions.

Support continuous improvement in estimating and customer engagement processes.

Qualifications & Experience

Mid-level experience (typically 3–7 years) in:

Sheet metal fabrication estimating

Sales engineering

Manufacturing customer support

Strong understanding of fabrication processes and cost drivers:

Cutting, bending, welding, machining, finishing

Experience working with ERP/MRP systems; JobBOSS / ECI / Shoptech experience strongly preferred.

Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and specifications.

ITAR pricing familiarity preferred.

Highly organized, thorough, and detail-oriented.

Personable, professional, and comfortable interacting with customers in technical environments.

Proactive mindset with strong follow-through.

Compensation & Growth

Base Compensation

Hourly pay: $30–$36 per hour, depending on experience.

Bonus / Incentive Compensation

Quarterly bonus structure 0.15% of Gross Company Sales

Successful management and growth of existing customer accounts

New account net revenue

Career Path

This role is expected to grow into a Senior Sales Engineer or Sales / Business Development Manager position as the company expands.