Product Application Engineer

Product Application Engineer

The Product Application Engineer partners with customers, suppliers, Sales, Product Management, and technical teams to expand the use of U. S. Steel products in industrial and non-automotive applications. This role supports new product introduction, identifies customer-driven innovation opportunities, and helps shape the product development roadmap through market and application insight.

Top Candidate Profile

• Balances technical depth with customer-facing communication skills.
• Understands steel products, material specifications, and industrial application needs.
• Can translate customer problems into practical products or process solutions.
• Builds credibility across customers, Sales, Product Management, R&D, and manufacturing teams.
• Shows curiosity, ownership, and a growth mindset in identifying new market opportunities.
• Key Focus Areas
• Customer Application Support: Work with customer engineering teams to match U. S. Steel products to application and specification needs.
• Innovation and Growth: Lead application engineering initiatives in infrastructure, industrial, energy, and adjacent markets.
• Voice of the Customer: Translate customer needs and industry trends into product development opportunities.
• Technical Collaboration: Partner with R&D, joint ventures, Sales, Product Management, and manufacturing teams to refine product offerings.
• Launch and Problem Solving: Support manufacturing start-up, formability assessment, and root cause analysis as needed.

Primary Responsibilities

• Support customer material selection, specification reviews, and new product introduction timing.
• Identify new applications and business cases for U. S. Steel products in volume production.
• Facilitate technical exchanges with customers to promote product understanding and adoption.
• Represent customer requirements in internal product and technology reviews.
• Review customer orders for alignment with qualified material specifications.
• Monitor industry trends and recommend additions to the product development roadmap.
• Serve as a technical resource for Sales and Product Management in customer discussions.
• Complete additional projects as assigned.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, Metallurgy, Materials Science, or a related technical field required.
• 3-5 years of relevant experience in industrial applications, product application engineering, technical service, manufacturing, infrastructure, OEM, or adjacent markets preferred.
• Knowledge of steel products, material specifications, sheet metal forming, customer applications, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience using CAD tools such as CATIA V5 or UGNX preferred; proficiency with Microsoft Office required.
• Strong analytical, communication, presentation, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to build business cases, prepare technical reports, and work effectively with customers and cross-functional teams.

Work Environment

• Work may be performed in offices, steel mill, processor, and customer manufacturing environments.
• Requires interaction with customers, suppliers, Sales, Product Management, R&D, and manufacturing teams.
• Travel may be required to customer sites, processing locations, and North American steelmaking facilities.
• Must be able to follow all site-specific safety requirements, including required personal protective equipment.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and move through office, plant, and customer facility environments.
• Ability to use a computer, phone, and other standard office equipment for extended periods.
• Ability to occasionally climb stairs, walk through production areas, and wear required personal protective equipment.
• Ability to travel as needed for customer visits, technical reviews, plant support, and project meetings.

Competency Summary

At U. S. Steel all employees are expected to display the following core competencies every day to advance corporate, team and individual goals:

Think: Think Critically and Drive Change

Lead: Develop Talent and Collaborate

Do: Empower Performance and Deliver Results

Company Overview

Since 1901, U. S. Steel has been a recognized leader in steel production. Today, as the first North American steel company to have declared a 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goal, we remain as innovative as ever, leading transformation across our industry while continuing to make products for everyday life - from industries as far ranging as automotive, construction, containers and packaging, appliances, and energy.

Underneath it all is our Culture of Caring, which shows up in our community partnerships, charitable contributions, company-sponsored employee volunteer initiatives, scholarship programs, leadership training, and much more. And of course, it takes shape in a steadfast commitment to safety first in our workplaces and respect for our employees, who are United by Steel.

We are honored to have earned accolades and awards from well-regarded organizations, including the following:

• Ethisphere's World's Most Ethical Companies® 2022, '23, '24
• Disability: IN's Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion 2021, '22, '23, '24
• Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Equality 100 Award 2020, '21, '22, '23-24, '25
• Military Times' Best for Vets: Employers 2023, '24

Conducting business with integrity and with the highest ethical values has underpinned U. S. Steel's success for over 100 years, and it remains critical to our company's success in the future. U. S. Steel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) according to job qualifications without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, genetics, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, disability status or status as a protected Veteran or any other legally protected group status. (California residents may visit regarding collection of personal information and U. S. Steel's privacy practices.)