Application Engineer

With direction from a Senior Applications Engineer or Manager, provides technical expertise to internal/external customers ensuring customer development, retention, and satisfaction. Performs basic to moderate customer machine set-up, programming, and run offs. Designs and develops machine programming processes to create parts.  Responsible for customer machine operation and program training to ensure optimum efficiency and equipment utilization.  Provides applications troubleshooting phone support as required. Works as a member of the Service and Sales Teams ensuring total customer satisfaction.

Essential Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Builds internal/external customer and vendor relationships to ensure teamwork environment.
• Performs pre-sale technical sales support to sales team and customer.
• As a member of the machine set-up team, performs tooling and fixturing set-ups, programming, and run off ensuring optimum cycle time based on established acceptable criteria.
• Interprets part prints and utilizing tooling and fixturing knowledge, designs and develops machine programming process to create parts.
• Performs customer phone support for Applications troubleshooting i.e., program errors. Tracks unresolved open customer technical issues.  Works closely with the Service Team in providing timely and quality technical troubleshooting and support to customers.
• Provides on-site and in-house customer training on machine operations and basic troubleshooting.  Ensures operators are trained to perform machine operations in an efficient manner.
• Provides customer machine specific Application Program Training for machine set-up functions and program modifications for custom attachments.
• Travels to customer site, locally and as required, out-of-state and out-of-the country, to support customers.
• Aids, supports, and works at trade shows and company sponsored technical training seminars.
• Creates and maintains records including documentation and reporting for machine and programming processes.
• Assists in project management ensuring timely follow-up and follow through on all assigned tasks and projects.
• Performs projects and tasks within assigned timeframes.
• Attend and participate in sales, service, company, and customer meetings as requested.
• Responsible for maintaining current technical, interpersonal, and communication skills through continuous development.  Progressive development of skills should be cultivated through further education, seminars, company training and other external resources such as reading material.
• Based on business need, assists, supports and/or performs other duties within scope and ability. Assumes accountability and responsibility for assigned projects and programs.

Essential Qualifications:

• Two-year Degree or formal coursework and/or basic or moderately experience in applications.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of machine tool products, options, and functions.
• Must have experience and application of Machine Tool programming, program modification, and set-up, statistical process, and evaluation criteria i.e., CPK, well versed in geometric tolerances, ability to read and interpret blueprints, design, and develop processes for machine tool equipment.
• Must have a valid driver's license and the ability to drive a vehicle. Bureau of Motor Vehicle Background Checks are a requirement. 
• Demonstrated business writing and documentation skills.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated self-starter and effective use of organization and planning skills. 
• Demonstrated Project Management Skills.
• PC literate and skill efficiency in job related software/programs.
• Ability to participate as a member of a team, crossing department and divisional lines.
• Must be able to travel in support of training, out-of-state or out-of-country customers, and assist other divisions as required to support business demand.   Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid Passport.
• Must be able to drive an Automobile and maintain a valid Driver License and a good driving record.

Working Conditions:

• Office and manufacturing work environment which includes moving mechanical machine parts, potentially loud equipment, with exposure to a variety of non-hazardous and hazardous chemicals and airborne particles.
• Hands on work with machine tool equipment.
• CRT viewing and key entry.
• Internal/external customer communications with vendor contact
• Frequent overnight travel to customer sites.
• Travel by Automobile or Airplane
• Frequent Standing