Application Support Engineer - Manufacturing Systems

///W2 Contract, Onsite Position in Liberty NC///

One of our clients, International IT Solution Company is seeking a technically skilled Application Support Engineer with a strong background in C#, .NET, SQL Server, and enterprise application integration to support and maintain business-critical manufacturing applications.

This is a hands-on engineering role focused on application troubleshooting, root cause analysis, code-level debugging, database investigation, and system reliability rather than new application development.

The ideal candidate has a software engineering background and can independently investigate complex application issues, analyze existing source code, troubleshoot database and integration problems, and implement technical solutions to maintain stable manufacturing operations.

Key Responsibilities

Application Maintenance & Code-Level Troubleshooting

• Maintain and support existing manufacturing applications developed using C#, .NET Framework, and .NET Core.
• Analyze application source code, debug errors, and identify root causes of software defects and system failures.
• Troubleshoot complex application issues involving business logic, backend processes, and system integrations.
• Implement bug fixes, configuration changes, and minor code modifications to maintain application stability.
• Investigate application performance issues and recommend technical improvements.
• Support application upgrades, patches, deployments, and regression testing.

Database Engineering & SQL Troubleshooting

• Investigate and resolve database-related application issues using Microsoft SQL Server.
• Write and analyze complex SQL queries, stored procedures, functions, and scripts to identify data and application issues.
• Troubleshoot SQL performance problems, data inconsistencies, and database connectivity issues.
• Analyze data flow between applications and databases to identify integration failures.
• Support existing SQL-based automation and data processing scripts.
• Collaborate with database and infrastructure teams to resolve complex technical issues.

Manufacturing Application & MES/MOM Support

• Provide advanced technical support for manufacturing applications, including MES/MOM systems.
• Investigate application failures affecting manufacturing execution, production data, and shop-floor operations.
• Analyze application behavior, system logs, database transactions, and integration processes to identify root causes.
• Troubleshoot data flow and connectivity issues between MES/MOM, ERP, and other enterprise systems.
• Work with manufacturing and engineering teams to resolve production-critical application issues.
• Maintain application stability, performance, and reliability in a manufacturing environment.

System Integration & Technical Troubleshooting

• Troubleshoot existing REST API integrations and communication between enterprise applications.
• Investigate API failures, data synchronization issues, and backend processing errors.
• Analyze integration scripts, services, and application logs to identify technical issues.
• Maintain and troubleshoot existing automation scripts developed using C#, Python, VB, or similar technologies.
• Implement minor technical enhancements and fixes to improve system reliability and performance.

Root Cause Analysis & System Reliability

• Perform in-depth technical investigations of recurring application and integration issues.
• Identify underlying software, database, and system-level causes of application failures.
• Develop and implement corrective actions to prevent recurring incidents.
• Collaborate with software developers, database engineers, infrastructure teams, and external vendors on complex technical issues.
• Maintain technical documentation covering application architecture, troubleshooting procedures, and system dependencies.
• Contribute to continuous improvement (Kaizen) initiatives focused on application stability and operational efficiency.

Collaboration & Communication

• Work closely with manufacturing operations, software engineering, IT infrastructure, and global teams, including counterparts in Japan.
• Translate manufacturing system issues into technical investigations and actionable solutions.
• Communicate technical findings, root causes, and resolutions to engineering teams and business stakeholders.
• Other related tasks
• While performing the duties of this job you may be required to intermittently sit, stand, walk, lift 10-25 pounds if needed. You may also be required to use close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and peripheral vision and hearing.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor Degree in Computer Science or related field.
• 5+ years of professional experience in software engineering, application maintenance, or advanced technical application support.
• Strong hands-on experience with C#, .NET Framework, and/or .NET Core, including source code analysis, debugging, and troubleshooting.
• Strong SQL Server skills, including complex SQL queries, stored procedures, database troubleshooting, and performance analysis.
• Experience troubleshooting REST APIs, backend services, and enterprise system integrations.
• Ability to independently investigate and resolve complex application issues involving source code, databases, and system interfaces.
• Experience with debugging tools, application logs, and root cause analysis.
• Experience supporting enterprise applications in production environments.
• Strong understanding of application architecture, data flow, and system dependencies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to resolve complex technical issues.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting manufacturing applications, including MES/MOM systems.
• Experience integrating MES/MOM with ERP and other enterprise systems.
• Familiarity with Python, VB, or other scripting languages used for application maintenance and automation.
• Knowledge of Linux or Raspberry Pi environments.
• Experience with application deployments, version control, and release management.
• Experience supporting business-critical applications in manufacturing environments.
• Experience working with global or cross-cultural engineering teams.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Japanese.

Activ8 Recruitment & Solutions / Renaissance Resources Inc. has been a trusted leader in North American recruiting for Japanese businesses for over 25 years. We specialize in connecting top talent with companies in the Automotive, Electronics, Food & Beverage, Logistics, Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Banking & Finance, and Entertainment industries. Our client-focused approach ensures that we understand your unique needs, whether you're a company seeking skilled professionals or a candidate looking for the right career opportunity. By working closely with each individual, we provide tailored solutions that drive success.

We screen ALL Candidates to verify the validity of each applicant's provided information. Upon submitting your resume, we will contact only those candidates that we deem qualified for our client. If we do not contact you, we do not see the fit for the position. If we are unable to reach you in a reasonable timeframe, you will be eliminated from the pool of potential candidates.