Technical Instructor (Detroit)

The Company:

Cognex is the global leader in the exciting and growing field of machine vision, with annual revenue approaching $1 Billion. We are a financially strong international company with a culture that maintains the fast-paced, creative environment of a startup. Our employees, proudly called “Cognoids,” take their work seriously but don't take themselves seriously. Our Work Hard, Play Hard, Move Fast culture recognizes our employees for their innovation, perseverance, and hard work in a fun and rewarding environment. We value in-person team collaboration, while offering remote workplace flexibility up to two days a week, depending on the role.

This candidate can be remote and located in Grand Rapids, Detroit, Michigan, Indianapolis, Indiana, or within driving distance of one of those offices.

Job Summary

We are looking for a skilled Technical Trainer to join our team. This role focuses on training delivery, technical expertise, and customer engagement.

Essential Functions

• Deliver advanced technical training sessions to customers and resellers onsite, online, and at Cognex facilities
• Facilitate hands-on lab exercises, providing expert guidance and feedback to ensure participant success
• Develop and customize presentations and training materials that simplify complex engineering topics for diverse audiences
• Manage training logistics, including scheduling, travel arrangements, and coordination with clients or facilities
• Maintain and manage classroom hardware and software for effective training sessions
• Utilize the Learning Management System (LMS) to register students, track progress, and generate completion certificates
• Provide input to improve training content, instructional delivery, and course workflows
• Contribute to content development, including creating videos and tutorials for self-guided learning
• Travel frequently (up to 50% overnight travel) to deliver onsite trainings at customer facilities and regional Cognex offices

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• 2–5 years of experience delivering technical training or experience presenting/explaining technical products in front of an audience
• Experience in an engineering‑related industry or a degree in an engineering/technical field (e.g., Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science) is preferred
• Proficiency with PCs, Microsoft 365 Suite, and strong networking knowledge
• Exceptional communication and public speaking skills, with the ability to explain complex engineering topics in simple, accessible terms
• Knowledge of vision systems, cameras, and optics is highly preferred
• Familiarity with Visual Studio .NET (WinForms and WPF frameworks) and the ability to develop graphical user interfaces is a plus
• General understanding of how machine learning and artificial intelligence are applied in industrial image processing (e.g., scene classification and segmentation) is a plus

Minimum Education and Work Experience Required

• 2+ years of experience in technical training or a similar customer-facing technical role, ideally with a focus on engineering applications
• Field Service or Technical Support experience installing supporting or configuring complex industrial systems in factory environments is a plus
• Experience in managing schedules and travel independently, with excellent organizational and multitasking abilities