Parker Hannifin - Elyria, OH
posted 5 months ago
The Applications Engineer is a pivotal role within the organization, primarily responsible for field applications, system design, and customer product development and enhancement. This position plays a crucial part in providing sales, marketing, and design direction to support the Division's growth initiatives. The Applications Engineer may also manage specific key accounts within the Division, ensuring that customer needs are met effectively and efficiently. This role is designed to bridge the gap between technical expertise and commercial acumen, with a focus on delivering exceptional customer service and innovative solutions. In this role, the Applications Engineer will engage in a variety of tasks that include supporting customers who manufacture and service industrial and mobile equipment. Acting as the division's subject matter expert, the engineer will conduct New Product Blueprinting and Voice of Customer interviews to gather insights that will inform product development. The engineer will also create business cases to justify new product development and provide pricing recommendations to the division staff. A significant aspect of the role involves traveling to customer sites to gain a deeper understanding of their equipment and needs, which will inform the development process. The Applications Engineer will provide hands-on support in the R&D laboratory and collaborate closely with the engineering team during the development process. This includes managing large OEM accounts, ensuring effective communication, pricing, quality reports, and engineering support. The engineer will conduct market research through various channels, including trade associations and internet investigations, to stay informed about industry trends and competitive products. Additionally, the engineer will assist field sales and distributors to maintain the Division's premier customer service position, adapting current and new products to meet customer satisfaction. The role also requires the engineer to provide technical expertise on products to facilitate closing sales, assist in the development of new or revised products according to customer requirements, and provide timely reports summarizing findings on products, projects, or territories. Training customers and distributors on Division products may also be required. The Applications Engineer will develop and maintain comprehensive knowledge of competitive products and their market activities, keeping management informed of any changes that could impact the distribution of Parker products. Furthermore, the engineer will participate in the development and implementation of response strategies and customer communication programs, as well as special marketing plans to drive product sales and market growth.