Job Description

The chance
n This is a senior technical pre-sales role with a well-established manufacturer of inspection and detection equipment. Based at the Head Office in South Melbourne, you'll be the person who validates every solution before it goes to quote — meaning every deal in this business unit passes through you. It's a high-trust, largely autonomous position with real line-of-sight to broader commercial responsibility over time.
n About the company
n A specialist manufacturer supplying check-weighing, X-ray inspection and metal detection equipment to food & beverage, FMCG, logistics and home goods operations across Australia and New Zealand. Equipment is configured to the application (not sold off the shelf) with deal values typically range from $50K to $1M.
n What you'll be doing

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- Partnering with the sales team (approx. 70% of the role) to design, validate and cost technical solutions — primarily via Teams, with site visits for complex applications
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- Reviewing and signing off on proposed solutions across the business — from quick sanity checks to deep technical involvement
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- Engaging directly with end users and OEM partners (approx. 30% of your time) including plant managers, engineering managers and senior stakeholders
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- Supporting the commissioning team on complex post-sale issues as needed — this role is approximately 90% pre-sales
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- Liaising with European operations, which means occasional early starts or later finishes during peak periods
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What we're looking for

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- Mechanical engineering qualification — this is non-negotiable
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- Hands-on exposure to production or process-line environments involving conveying, packaging or palletising — food & beverage, FMCG, logistics and materials handling all suit well
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- Ability to operate with genuine autonomy from day one
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- Comfortable in a senior technical/commercial seat without needing heavy oversight
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Backgrounds that fit well: design engineer, project engineer, sales application engineer, senior field service engineer with commercial acumen, or a senior site/plant engineer from food & beverage or FMCG.
n What's in it for you

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- Base salary $120,000–$130,000 (with flexibility for the right person)
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- Car allowance ~$18,000 p.a. plus fuel card and tolls (or company vehicle if preferred)
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- Bonus/commission scheme
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- Approx. 80% office-based — not a heavy travel role
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- A senior seat with real influence on how deals are structured and won
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- Genuine pathway to broader business responsibility for those who want it
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📌 Senior Application Engineer (Middle Park)
🏢 SearchWorks
📍 Middle Park