Product Application Engineer

Product Application Engineer (PAE) – Drives

The Product Application Engineer (PAE) – Drives serves as the technical owner for motor control and variable frequency drive (VFD) solutions, supporting opportunities from pre-sales through early project execution. This role ensures Drive system architectures are safe, compliant, properly sized, and executable, acting as the technical bridge between Sales, Project Management, and Engineering. The PAE protects the customer, project execution, and Drives portfolio by ensuring only buildable, technically defensible solutions progress into execution.

Key Accountabilities Drives Technical Ownership

Own end-to-end Drives system architecture, including:

• LV and MV VFDs
• Transformers, line reactors, and filters
• Bypass schemes and control architectures

Validate application suitability based on process conditions, environment, and duty cycle

Own technical assumptions, risks, exclusions, and deviations related to Drives scope

Ensure compliance with:

• Customer specifications
• IEC / IEEE standards (harmonics, EMC, insulation, etc.)
• Schneider Electric Drives application and portfolio rules

Primary Responsibilities Pre-Sales Technical Support

Review customer technical specifications and process requirements

Validate:

• Drive and motor compatibility
• Constant/variable torque duty cycles
• Environmental conditions (ambient temperature, altitude, enclosure type)

Assess application-specific risks, including:

• Harmonics
• Motor compatibility
• Bypass, redundancy, and cooling requirements

Solution Design & Architecture Ownership

Define overall Drives solution architecture, including:

• Drive topology
• Input/output filtering
• Control philosophy and communication approach

Ensure alignment with standard and approved Schneider Electric Drives offerings

Review and approve concept-level documentation:

• Functional descriptions
• Single-line and concept diagrams
• Control and interlock philosophies

Handover to Project Execution

Lead or support the technical handover for Drives scope

Document and communicate:

• Application constraints
• Technical assumptions and exclusions
• Known risks (harmonics, motor stress, cooling, bypass design)

Support early execution phases to prevent rework and late-stage changes

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Governance

Collaborate closely with:

• Sales: Enable feasible, win-ready technical solutions
• Project Managers: Provide clear scope definition and risk visibility
• Engineering & Factories: Promote standard, repeatable Designs

Challenge non-standard or high-risk Drive applications

Capture and share lessons learned within the Drives community

Out of Scope / Not Accountable For

Detailed electrical schematics or CAD drafting

Day-to-day project management

Commercial negotiations, pricing, or margin ownership

Factory expediting or order management (The PAE provides guidance and technical ownership; execution is performed by delivery teams.)

Success Metrics

Reduction in Drives-related execution changes

Fewer technical escalations during commissioning

Positive feedback from Project Management and Engineering

Adherence to Drives standards and best practices

First 90 Days Expectations

0–30 Days: Learn product ranges, standards, and common Drive applications

31–60 Days: Support opportunities with increasing technical ownership

61–90 Days: Independently own Drives solutions end-to-end for assigned scope

LV and/or MV VFD systems and motor control applications

Industrial applications and process understanding

IEC / IEEE standards related to drives and power quality

Strong technical communication and stakeholder management skills

Professional Mindset

"If the motor, drive, and process don't work together, the solution isn't finished."

Let us learn about you! Apply today.

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