Applications Engineer

$92,000 - $95,000/Yr

Vaco - Oakland Park, FL

Full-time - Mid Level

Oakland Park, FL

Administrative and Support Services

About the position

Vaco is seeking an Applications Engineer to join our team in Oakland Park, FL. This role is pivotal in leading the creation and release of high-quality end-user and service documentation, while also providing essential support to Customer Service by ensuring successful product installations and resolving technical issues. The Applications Engineer will excel in all dimensions of technical and applications support and service for our customers, which includes installation, commissioning, and servicing of systems at customer facilities. This position requires effective training for end users, service/support staff, and customers, ensuring they are well-equipped to utilize our products effectively. The Applications Engineer will be responsible for onsite evaluations, installations, and repairs of current products and/or R&D field prototypes. This includes drafting and detailing for all application projects as needed, assisting in the preparation of engineering reports, letters, or memos to customers, and working closely with Customer Service to address customer questions and requests thoroughly and responsively. The role demands the ability to respond to emergencies on a 24/7 basis, 365 days a year, ensuring that customer needs are met promptly. In addition, the Applications Engineer will lead vehicle retrofit projects by reviewing and evaluating bid specifications, preparing recommendations, requirements, parts lists, and layouts using available information. This role also supports engineering with effective continuous improvement and evolution of existing products, creating, modifying, and reviewing technical drawings and specifications to ensure adherence to established standards. The engineer will assist with design reviews for existing and new products, specifications, and testing requirements, while developing consistent high-quality product documentation across the organization’s portfolio of products. Furthermore, the Applications Engineer will support the Product Development team to realize successful new product designs by researching and monitoring the market environment, new technologies, materials, and industry developments to identify potential new opportunities. Staying at the forefront of emerging industry practices is crucial, as is evaluating, recommending, and implementing continuous improvement ideas, methods, and processes. The role may also involve performing other duties according to business needs and as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Installation, commissioning, and servicing of systems at Customer facilities.
• Provide effective training to End Users, Service / Support staff, and Customers.
• Onsite evaluation, installation, and repair of current products and/or R&D field prototypes.
• Drafting and detailing for all application projects as needed.
• Assist with preparing engineering reports, letters, or memos to Customers.
• Work with Customer Service to thoroughly and responsively address Customer questions and requests.
• Ability to respond to emergencies on a 24/7 basis, 365 days a year.
• Lead Vehicle Retrofit Project by reviewing and evaluating bid specifications for all retro-fit projects.
• Prepare recommendations, requirements, parts list, and layouts using available information.
• Support Engineering with effective continuous improvement and evolution of existing products.
• Create, modify, and review technical drawings and specifications, ensuring adherence to established specifications and standards.
• Assist with design reviews for existing and new products, specifications, and testing requirements.
• Develop consistent high-quality product documentation across the organization’s portfolio of products.
• Research and monitor market environment, new technologies, materials, and industry developments to identify potential new opportunities.
• Evaluate, recommend, and implement continuous improvement ideas, methods, and processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in the seating/restraint related transportation field.
• 3+ years of experience in developing working relationships with customers and OEMs.
• Knowledge of transportation standards/regulations pertaining to device design is a plus.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient with SolidWorks, 3DVia Composer, and general computer applications (Microsoft Office).
• Demonstrated analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Safety-related product experience is a plus.
• Ability to travel internationally up to 25%, with heavy travel overall between 30%-40%.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in the transportation industry.
• Familiarity with customer service best practices.
• Knowledge of product development processes.