Applications Engineer

Vaco is hiring for an Applications Engineer

located in Oakland Park, FL

Salary: $92-125k based on experience

Purpose of the Role

This position combines technical applications support, field service, customer support, engineering documentation, and vehicle retrofit project support .

The individual will work directly with customers and OEMs to support product installations, commissioning, troubleshooting, repairs, training, and technical documentation. The role also partners with Engineering and New Product Development on product improvements and new designs.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Technical & Applications Support

• Provide technical and applications support directly to customers.
• Partner with Customer Service to quickly and thoroughly resolve technical questions and requests.
• Develop strong working relationships with customers and OEMs.
• Assist with engineering reports, technical letters, and customer communications.
• Provide training to:
  • End users
  • Customers
  • Service/support teams

Installation, Commissioning & Field Service

• Install, commission, service, and troubleshoot systems at customer facilities.
• Perform onsite evaluations, installations, and repairs of existing products.
• Support field testing and installation of R&D prototypes .
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical/product issues in the field.
• Must be able to respond to emergencies 24/7/365 when needed .

Vehicle Retrofit Projects

• Lead vehicle retrofit projects.
• Review and evaluate bid specifications for retrofit opportunities.
• Develop:
  • Recommendations
  • Technical requirements
  • Parts lists/BOMs
  • Layouts
• Use available vehicle/product information to determine appropriate retrofit solutions.
• Provide drafting and detailing support for application projects.

Engineering & Product Support

• Support Engineering with continuous improvement of existing products.
• Create, modify, and review technical drawings and specifications.
• Ensure designs and drawings meet established engineering specifications and standards.
• Participate in design reviews for existing and new products.
• Assist with specifications and testing requirements.

Technical Documentation

• Lead the creation and release of high-quality:
  • End-user documentation
  • Service documentation
  • Technical drawings
  • Product specifications
• Help establish consistent documentation across the organization's product portfolio.

New Product Development

• Partner with the New Product Development team to support successful product launches.
• Research:
  • New technologies
  • Materials
  • Industry developments
  • Market trends
• Identify potential product and process improvement opportunities.
• Stay current on emerging industry practices.
• Recommend and implement continuous improvement initiatives.

QualificationsEducation & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in the seating/restraint-related transportation industry OR an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 5+ years working directly with customers and/or OEMs.
• Experience supporting technical products in a customer-facing environment.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency with SolidWorks .
• Experience with 3DVIA Composer .
• Ability to create/read/modify technical drawings and specifications.
• Strong general computer skills, including Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of transportation standards and regulations related to product/device design is a plus.
• Safety-related product experience is a plus.

Soft Skills

• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Strong customer-facing skills.
• Analytical and technically minded.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving ability.
• Comfortable independently troubleshooting issues in the field.
• Able to communicate technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Travel & Schedule

This is a travel-heavy position :

• Approximately 30-40% overall travel .
• Up to 25% international travel .
• Travel to customer/OEM facilities for installations, commissioning, repairs, troubleshooting, and project support.
• Must have flexibility to respond to urgent customer situations on a 24/7/365 basis when required .

By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions.

EEO Notice

Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io.

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada: Based on Highspring's discussions with its Client, Highspring's understanding is that this position for employment is a current vacancy (either through Highspring as a contractor or with the client directly).

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here ( Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations;
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.