Application Engineering Manager

Location: Union, New Jersey | Department: Application Engineering / Sales Support | Work Arrangement: Onsite (Hybrid may be considered for highly qualified candidates)

About the Company

At Lincoln Electric Products Co. Inc., we specialize in the design, manufacture, and distribution of custom equipment tailored to meet the specific applications and requirements of our customers. Our product range includes:

• Panelboards: Up to 2000A
• Service and Distribution Switchboards: Up to 8000A
• Generator Connection Boxes
• Generator Output Switchboards
• Single and Double-Ended Substations

We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality, custom-designed solutions that address the unique needs of our clients across various industries.

About the Role

Lincoln Electric Products Co., Inc. is seeking an experienced Application Engineering Manager to lead the application engineering function supporting the company's switchgear, switchboard, panelboard, and electrical power distribution equipment business. This position will serve as a key technical link between Sales, customers, Engineering, Project Management, and Manufacturing, ensuring proposed solutions are technically compliant, commercially competitive, and aligned with the company's manufacturing capabilities.

The ideal candidate will bring extensive, direct experience in the switchgear/switchboard manufacturing industry, strong knowledge of electrical distribution equipment and applicable industry standards, and demonstrated leadership experience managing engineers or technical professionals. This individual must be capable of independently reviewing complex customer requirements, providing technical direction to the Application Engineering team, and resolving application-related issues with minimal supervision.

For highly experienced candidates capable of working independently, a hybrid work arrangement may be considered following successful completion of up to eight weeks of initial onsite training in Union, New Jersey.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, mentor, and develop the Application Engineering team.
• Establish priorities, assign workload, and ensure quotations and technical proposals are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Review complex customer specifications, one-line diagrams, electrical drawings, bid documents, and technical requirements.
• Provide technical oversight and guidance on switchboard, panelboard, and related electrical distribution applications.
• Review and approve equipment configurations and application solutions developed by the team.
• Ensure proposed equipment complies with customer specifications, applicable UL/NEC requirements, and company manufacturing capabilities.
• Oversee the selection and application of circuit breakers, bus systems, metering, controls, protective devices, enclosures, and other major electrical components.
• Partner closely with Sales to develop technically accurate, competitive, and commercially viable proposals.
• Support Sales during technical discussions and customer presentations when required.
• Identify specification exceptions, clarifications, deviations, technical risks, and potential cost impacts prior to order acceptance.
• Ensure technical requirements and assumptions are clearly documented during the quotation process.
• Lead the technical handoff of awarded projects from Sales/Application Engineering to Project Management and Engineering.
• Work closely with Electrical and Mechanical Engineering to validate non-standard or complex customer applications.
• Collaborate with Project Management and Manufacturing to resolve application-related issues identified after order acceptance.
• Develop and maintain application engineering standards, processes, tools, templates, and best practices.
• Identify opportunities to standardize equipment configurations and improve quotation accuracy and turnaround time.
• Support value-engineering and cost-reduction initiatives while maintaining technical compliance and product quality.
• Develop the technical capabilities of Application Engineers through training, coaching, and mentoring.
• Monitor team workload, performance, response times, and quality.
• Maintain current knowledge of applicable electrical codes, standards, products, components, and industry developments.
• Build effective working relationships with customers, vendors, Sales, Engineering, Project Management, and Manufacturing.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline preferred; equivalent extensive directly relevant industry experience may be considered.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in switchgear, switchboard, panelboard, or electrical power distribution equipment.
• Previous leadership, supervisory, or management experience within Application Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Sales Engineering, or a comparable technical function.
• Strong knowledge of UL 891, UL 67, UL 508A, NEC, and other applicable electrical standards.
• Extensive experience reviewing customer specifications, one-line diagrams, electrical schematics, and technical drawings.
• Strong knowledge of circuit breakers, bus systems, metering, controls, protective devices, and electrical distribution equipment.
• Demonstrated experience developing or reviewing technical quotations, equipment configurations, and customer proposals.
• Ability to independently evaluate complex technical requirements and make sound engineering/application decisions.
• Strong leadership, coaching, communication, and organizational skills.
• Strong customer-facing communication and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and lead a team in a fast-paced, engineered-to-order environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience working for a switchgear, switchboard, or panelboard manufacturer.
• Experience with Schneider Electric, Eaton, ABB, Siemens, or comparable electrical distribution products.
• Experience with manufacturer configuration and selection tools.
• Experience with ERP, estimating, quotation, or product-configuration systems.
• Experience supporting engineered-to-order electrical equipment.
• Demonstrated experience improving application engineering processes, quotation accuracy, and response times.

Hybrid Work Consideration

Highly qualified candidates with extensive directly relevant switchgear/switchboard industry experience who demonstrate the ability to lead the function effectively and work independently may be considered for a hybrid work arrangement. Candidates must be willing and available to complete up to eight weeks of initial onsite training in Union, New Jersey prior to transitioning to an approved hybrid schedule.