JOB PURPOSE AND REPORTING STRUCTURE:

Under the direction of the Site Manager, the Applications Engineer provides the best possible customer support to improve company sales, to include developing specifications for machine tools/tooling, installing and programming the machine tools/tooling, training customers on the best use, and designing fixtures, in accordance with company policies and procedures.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develop cohesive interaction and communication with assigned customer from management to shop employees.  Coordinate with engineers and operators to develop processes and tooling.  Represent the organization in a positive and professional manner. Define customer specifications to identify the best application of machine tools and/or tooling to meet their needs.  Develop quotes for the systems, from complete turn-key packages, to machines, to tooling. Assist in the design of fixtures for the systems. Assist in the selling process to obtain customer orders for machine tools and tooling, to include performing machine demonstrations when needed. Oversee the installation of the purchased products, and any components.  Program machines as needed and prove out the programs.  Install electric, hydraulic and/or pneumatic systems as required. Perform any needed time studies. Train customer employees in the best use of the products for maximizing productivity. Act as a technical resource to sales and customers to address and resolve inquiries, issues and/or problems. Travel to customer sites to perform needed repairs or maintenance when required. Participate on cross-functional teams to ensure the continuous, on-going improvement of processes, methods, productivity and quality, while reducing costs. Develop and maintain positive working relationships with vendors.   Coordinate with vendors to design/develop solutions to customer manufacturing opportunities. Complete special projects as assigned. Complete and maintain all required paperwork, records, documents, etc. Follow and comply with all safety and work rules and regulations.  Maintain departmental housekeeping standards.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Requires a college degree with a job related major and three to five years of related experience;

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, blueprints, or schematics.  Ability to prepare reports, business correspondence, quotes, and training manuals.  Ability to effectively communicate with vendors, customers and other employees of the organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as the fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry.  Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Requires a valid driver’s license.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Requires the ability to operate a variety of small hand and power tools, precision measuring devices, machines tools, cranes, lift equipment, optical comparators, and CNC controls.  Requires the ability to program machine tools. Requires the ability to operate a variety of standard business machines, such as a computer and the job related software, a keyboard, calculator, telephone, FAX, photocopier, etc.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel.  The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. 

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts and fumes or airborne particles.  The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; high, precarious places; toxic or caustic chemicals; outside weather conditions; risk of electrical shock; and vibration.  The employee occasionally performs work-related travel.

The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.