Applications Engineering Manager

RFA Engineering ( is an engineering service provider dedicated to delivering our clients with timely engineering support and expertise. We are currently supporting one of our clients in the industrial equipment and hydraulics space in their search for an Engineering Manager.

This is a direct hire opportunity where the selected candidate will join our client's engineering team and work closely with both engineering and sales functions to support customer applications and deliver technical solutions.

Applications Engineering Manager

The Applications Engineering Manager is responsible for leading and developing a team of application engineers while providing hands-on technical leadership for hydraulic systems and applications.

This role is a blend of team leadership, technical execution, and operational development, requiring a strong hydraulics background along with the ability to mentor engineers, improve workflows, and support collaboration across global teams.

In the near term, this role will be primarily focused on building team capability, establishing processes, and strengthening coordination with global engineering teams. As the North American organization continues to grow, the role will evolve to include increased involvement in customer engagement and application support.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who is comfortable working directly in technical details while guiding a developing team toward long-term success.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of application engineers
• Manage project assignments and ensure efficient execution across the team
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to engineering and sales support teams
• Establish and improve engineering workflows, processes, and best practices
• Collaborate with global engineering teams to align on technical standards and product knowledge
• Support complex technical problem-solving related to hydraulic systems and applications
• Assist in development of technical presentations for internal teams and customer engagement
• Work with sales leadership to support account strategies and opportunity development
• Review and validate proposals for technical accuracy and quality
• Conduct performance evaluations and support development of engineering staff
• Travel as needed to support team alignment and global coordination (~30%)

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• 10+ years of engineering experience, with a strong application engineering background
• 5+ years of leadership or team management experience
• Strong hydraulics experience REQUIRED (cylinders, valves, pumps, motors, or similar systems)
• Proven ability to lead technical teams and manage engineering workflows
• Experience working in cross-functional and global team environments
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills
• Ability to balance hands-on technical work with leadership responsibilities

Desired Attributes

• Experience in construction, agriculture, mining, or mobile/off-highway equipment industries
• Experience building or developing engineering teams in a growing organization
• Prior experience supporting sales teams or commercial initiatives
• Familiarity with CRM tools (Salesforce preferred)
• Experience with CAD tools (SolidWorks or similar)
• Experience working with global teams
• Mandarin language capability is a strong plus

Additional Details

• Preferred location in the greater Chicago area; remote candidates will be considered
• Remote candidates should expect increased travel to support team integration
• Approximately 30% travel required , including domestic and international travel
• Role is more internally focused initially, with increased customer interaction over time
• Flexible schedule with coordination needed for global teams

About the Client

Our client is a global provider of hydraulic components and systems supporting OEMs across industries such as construction, agriculture, mining, and heavy equipment. With a growing presence in North America, the organization is focused on expanding its engineering and application support capabilities.

This role is a key part of that growth, focused on building team capability, improving engineering processes, and strengthening collaboration across global operations.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary ($160,000 - $200,000), based on experience

• Competitive salary
• Bonus opportunity for team and individual performance
• Insurance options include Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability plans
• Employer paid life insurance
• Health Savings option available with employer contribution
• Paid vacation, sick days, and holidays
• Monthly allowances for phone, car, home office use
• 401(k) match - 100% match for 4% salary
• Company credit for work expenses

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.