Application Engineer 2
About the role
Working at Watlow, a global technology and manufacturing leader, provides world‑class engineering expertise through innovative thermal products and systems that enable customers to thrive. Watlow makes a positive impact daily, enriching lives worldwide, and has delivered breakthrough thermal solutions for over 100 years. Guided by corporate values to always do the right thing, continually learn and improve, respect everyone, and lead with service and humility. The Application Engineer II provides technical support to customers, distributors, and sales partners by advising on product selection, application, setup, and programming. The role develops standard and modified quote proposals, supports smaller customer projects and product investigations, serves as a technical liaison between customers, Sales, Engineering, and Operations, prepares drawings and documentation, creates bills of material and routings, supports prototypes and rework orders, and conducts experiments and tests to help deliver practical, manufacturable solutions.
Responsibilities
- Provide technical advice to sales agents, customers, and distributors, including training when needed.
- Advise on product selection, application, setup, and programming for control products.
- Prepare and present quotes for standard and modified products and services within pricing guidelines.
- Convert customer needs into clear instructions for production and support orders generated from quotes.
- Serve as a post‑sale technical resource and maintain productive relationships with established customers.
- Support sales efforts to develop new customers and contribute to product growth strategies.
- Provide feedback on customer needs, product gaps, market trends, competitors, sales volume, and forecasts.
- Modify product and process designs.
- Create drawings and documentation supporting product and process design and development.
- Prepare CAD drawings for new parts and assemblies.
- Read and interpret customer drawings and specifications.
- Assemble bills of material and routings for standard or modified standard products.
- Process rework and prototype orders for standard and non‑standard products.
- Partner with Engineering on smaller customer projects, product investigations, and technical information requests.
- Prepare tools, equipment, and prototypes and conduct experiments and tests as needed.
- Assist with returned‑material issues and product investigations.
- Participate in quality investigations, failure analysis, and support corrective actions.
- Work effectively with Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Operations, customers, suppliers, and distributors.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering; or a two‑year degree with related experience; or equivalent experience.
- Typically 5–8 years of related technical, applications, engineering, manufacturing, or customer‑support experience.
- Knowledge of products, applications, and processes, with the ability to identify improvement opportunities.
- Strong customer‑facing communication, interpersonal, listening, and conflict‑resolution skills.
- Ability to assess business fit and recognize when additional evaluation or support is needed.
- Ability to develop quotations and work within established pricing guidelines.
- Ability to support presentations and other customer‑facing activities.
Skills
- Manage assigned activities.
- Solve problems and contribute as a team member or project lead on customer or internal projects.
- Demonstrate behaviors consistent with Watlow’s culture and values.
- Understand how decisions affect customers, quality, delivery, and expenses.
Benefits
- The health, well‑being and financial stability of you and your family is a high priority.
- The Watlow Total Rewards Plan includes competitive compensation and a full range of life and career enhancing benefits:
- Annual Incentive Program
- 401(k) plan that includes a company match on your contribution and an annual company contribution tied to company performance
- Wellness incentives
- Employee Personal Assistance Program
- Dental, medical, vision and short‑term and long‑term disability insurance
- Paid holidays, personal time, and vacation
- Parental leave
- Tuition reimbursement