Applications Engineer

Purpose:

The Applications Engineer serves as a technical resource for all project related teams. Their main objective is to drive and manage the technical evaluation stage of the sales process. Working in conjunction with all project teams as the key technical advisor and product advocate, the Applications Engineer must be able to identify and provide reliable solutions for all technical issues to assure complete customer satisfaction through all stage of the pre- and post-sale process.

Key Role Areas:

KRA #1 – Develop innovative technical solutions to address the needs of our diverse customer base.

Tasks:

1. 1. Collaborate with the engineering department to provide customized, complete, accurate design solutions and improve upon existing ones.
   2. Review all incoming requests for quotation (RFQs)
   3. Complete conceptual layout drawings
   4. Review and apply URS (user requirement specification) documentation to systems design and process.
   5. Coordinate with proposal coordinators and engineering to obtain quotations from vendors.
   6. Respond to functional and technical elements of request for proposal.
   7. Coordinate with engineering in performing sizing and optimization analysis for making design recommendations.
   8. Perform sizing calculations or other analytics as needed in the design or modification of equipment
   9. Maintain expert level of product, process, and application knowledge for our products
   10. Evaluate technical proposals for systems performance

Output:

1. Solutions that adequately address the customer’s root cause while remaining on budget and on schedule with minimal scope creep.

KRA #2 – Effectively communicate integral design intent to other departments/functions.

Tasks:

1. Lead the Conceptual Design Review which serves as the transition from Sales to Project Management
2. Manage and organize all pre-sale project details in company approved databases.
3. Maintain accurate records of technical product and machine data, projects, supplier quotations, contacts and correspondence in company approved databases.
4. Provide OEM equipment and commercial item specifications.
5. Determine and communicate supplier requirements for order placement.

Output:

1. Seamless transition of project ownership from Sales to Project Management with minimal need for post-sale reconfiguration.

KRA #3 – Continually improve upon systems functionality both before and after installation.

Tasks:

1. Technically qualify new suppliers.
2. Research new technologies to help distinguish our product offering.
3. Accurately and consistently apply engineering and manufacturing standards.
4. Coordinate with engineering and process techs to define and carry out testing to determine relevance of a given design to a customer’s need or product design.
5. Become intimately familiar on a functional level with machine – will be spending 3 months on production floor with the assembly and process technician teams.

Output:

1. Highly technical, innovative solutions that distinguish Viking Masek’s product offering from the competition.

KRA #4 – Co-Sell the Viking Masek brand with outside sales.

Tasks:

1. Serve as the technical lead during communications with the customer (as needed)
2. Travel with the sales team to evaluate onsite technical details.
3. Evaluate existing equipment for process/technical inefficiencies and recommend alternatives to correct said inefficiencies.
4. Document and manipulate site details such as room layouts, utilities, climate, and existing equipment.

Output:

1. Industry leading technical guidance to assist in maintaining high close ratios with maximum profitability.

Desired Skillsets:

• Education generally equivalent to a (2-4) year degree in Engineering, Product Management, Quality, Continuous Improvement, related discipline or equivalent experience and specialized training
• 3-5 years of applications experience or equivalent
• Experience in client facing interactions
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively communicate design intent
• Ability to use Microsoft Office software, Salesforce, AutoCad, PDM and various VikingMasek systems

Other Misc.

• Always sell the Viking Value Proposition and adhere to company and departmental SOP’s
• Attend Tradeshows
• Continuous improvement and industry training upkeep
• May occasionally travel on company business, as needed (5%-10% travel annually)
• Willing to work with cross functional teams to troubleshoot problems
• Team player that is a highly disciplined, problem-solver with a strong work ethic

Business Hours: Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or until the demands of the job are met. A ½ hour unpaid lunch (can be flexible). Travel as required.