Sr. Applications Engineer

Senior Applications Engineer – High Vacuum SolutionsNederman Corporation is seeking a Senior Applications Engineer – High Vacuum Solutions to join our U.S. division, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. This position will serve as the technical applications lead for high-vacuum extraction solutions, with responsibility for the successful design, application, and on-site integration of sold systems.Nederman's high-vacuum solutions provide source capture of fumes, dust, and other airborne contaminants generated by industrial processes, as well as centralized housekeeping solutions for cleaning production areas and machinery.The Senior Applications Engineer will work closely with customers, Sales Managers, Project Management, Controls Engineering, Solutions Engineering, and other cross-functional teams to develop technically sound solutions and ensure successful implementation and customer acceptance of turnkey projects. The position will report directly to the VP, Technical Solutions & Business Development.The ideal candidate will have strong engineering fundamentals, extensive experience designing and applying industrial high-vacuum and source-capture systems, and the ability to translate customer requirements into practical, cost-effective solutions. This individual must be equally comfortable working with customers and sales teams, developing system designs and quotations, troubleshooting field applications, and providing technical leadership throughout the project lifecycle.The Senior Applications Engineer will also provide technical expertise and guidance to channel partners, consulting engineers, contractors, and internal teams to ensure the proper selection and application of Nederman's industrial air pollution control and clean-air solutions.Nederman is committed to providing customers with leading engineering, design, and turnkey air filtration and exhaust solutions and services. We value highly motivated, organized, and collaborative employees who enjoy solving challenging problems and working in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.The successful candidate will be a proactive self-starter who can manage multiple priorities while maintaining ownership of technical details and project requirements. They will be comfortable working directly with customers, traveling to industrial facilities, evaluating applications in the field, and developing solutions that meet or exceed customer expectations.Responsibilities and DutiesApplications Engineering & Solution DevelopmentServe as the technical applications lead for complex high-vacuum extraction and source-capture applications, providing guidance from initial customer requirements through final system integration and acceptance.Work closely with the Field Sales organization, Product Management, Engineering, and Project Management teams to address application, sizing, product selection, and system design requirements.Develop solution concepts and sales proposals for complex projects using ProQuote and other engineering tools to design, model, and estimate complete systems.Define project scope, technical requirements, budget costs, system performance requirements, and implementation timelines in collaboration with Sales and Technical Solutions teams.Evaluate alternative technologies, system configurations, and operating approaches to develop solutions that provide the appropriate technical performance, value, and total cost of ownership.Apply comprehensive knowledge of engineering principles, industrial ventilation, high-vacuum systems, product capabilities, and application requirements to ensure technically valid and commercially viable solutions.Technical Leadership & Project IntegrationServe as the technical lead for complex solutions, providing direction to Solutions Engineering and Controls Engineering teams regarding system architecture, operating sequences, control requirements, and critical design parameters.Oversee technical development of complex systems to ensure compliance with applicable engineering, safety, regulatory, and customer requirements.Collaborate with Project Management and Operations to ensure the final system is consistent with the approved design, scope, and customer requirements.Support development of system documentation, including Basis of Design (BOD), technical specifications, operating sequences, and operation and maintenance documentation for specialized applications.Participate in site evaluations, commissioning, startup, troubleshooting, and customer acceptance activities as required.Customer & Sales SupportAct as the technical liaison between Nederman and the customer throughout the sales and project development process.Communicate directly with customers, consulting engineers, contractors, and channel partners to understand application requirements and develop technically appropriate solutions.Support the Sales organization during customer meetings, site visits, technical presentations, and solution development activities.Conduct field evaluations of existing systems and provide recommendations for upgrades, modifications, performance improvements, and replacement solutions.Provide technical support through phone, email, virtual meetings, and in-person customer interactions.Assist channel partners, consulting engineers, and contractors with proper product selection, system application, and technical requirements.Troubleshooting & Continuous ImprovementAnalyze complex application problems and develop practical, creative solutions that address customer and project requirements.Conduct detailed root-cause analysis to understand how application, product, or process issues occur and identify opportunities to prevent recurrence.Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues associated with production applications, products, and processes.Utilize DFMEA (Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) and other structured problem-solving methodologies to identify and mitigate risks associated with new or modified designs.Develop, refine, and maintain internal application tools, calculators, monitoring methods, and other resources that improve application engineering effectiveness and system performance.Monitor application and system performance and make recommendations to improve reliability, efficiency, and overall customer value.Product Development & StandardizationParticipate in product localization, standardization, and development initiatives to ensure Nederman's product portfolio meets the requirements of key North American markets.Develop and maintain Basis of Design (BOD) standards and application guidelines for high-vacuum and source-capture solutions.Coordinate and prioritize BOD development for strategic applications and target markets.Work with Product Management and Engineering to identify product gaps, market requirements, and opportunities for new or modified solutions.Contribute to the company's technical knowledge base and develop application guidance to improve knowledge sharing across Sales, Engineering, Project Management, and other teams.Cross-Functional CollaborationWork collaboratively with Sales, Engineering, Controls Engineering, Purchasing, Project Management, Operations, Technical Support, Product Management, and General Management to deliver successful customer solutions.Provide technical support to Purchasing and suppliers to ensure components and equipment meet specified technical and performance requirements.Coordinate with internal teams to develop Special Quotes for unique applications or requirements that fall outside standard product offerings.Track and communicate the status of special applications, technical requests, and other activities to internal and external stakeholders as required.Utilize and maintain the company's CRM system to document customer requirements, technical discussions, application information, and other relevant customer data.Qualifications & SkillsRequiredBachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related engineering discipline.8–10+ years of relevant experience in applications engineering, product engineering, or solutions engineering involving high-vacuum extraction, industrial ventilation, source capture, or related industrial air pollution control systems.Advanced knowledge of industrial ventilation, high-vacuum systems, source capture, and industrial air pollution control applications.Demonstrated ability to develop system concepts, perform engineering calculations, size equipment, and select appropriate components for complex industrial applications.Proficiency with AutoCAD/Autodesk design software and Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving capabilities.Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate technical concepts effectively to customers, sales professionals, engineers, contractors, and other stakeholders.Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and take ownership of technical assignments and customer requirements.Willingness and ability to travel approximately 30% or more, including domestic and international travel, to support customers, sales activities, project execution, product development, and industry events.PreferredExperience with ERP and CRM systems.Experience performing DFMEA (Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis).Experience with industrial dust and fume extraction, centralized vacuum systems, pneumatic conveying, or related material handling applications.Experience working with industrial equipment manufacturers, OEMs, engineering firms, contractors, or industrial end users.Experience developing technical specifications, Basis of Design documents, system layouts, and application standards.Experience supporting equipment commissioning, startup, troubleshooting, and customer acceptance.Key AttributesTechnical Leadership –