Applications Engineer

AFL manufactures industry-leading fiber optic cable, connectivity and accessories and provides engineering and installation services for some of the largest telecom customers in the world. Founded in 1984, AFL now manufactures thousands of products, generates over $3B in revenue, and employs approximately 12,000 associates worldwide. We invest in our employees to ensure success in their careers, offering professional development and growth opportunities.

What We Offer

• Hybrid in-office schedule for qualifying employees/positions
• Flexible time off policy
• 401K company match (up to 4% - dollar for dollar)
• Professional development, training, and tuition reimbursement programs
• Excellent medical, dental, vision, and life insurance policy options

About the Role

The U.S. transmission grid is being rebuilt for a new era, with utilities upgrading aging infrastructure, extending high-voltage corridors, and addressing unprecedented load growth from electrification, reshoring, and AI-driven data center expansion. EHV (345kV+) systems are central to this investment, driving demand for technically sophisticated field support. AFL seeks a Transmission & Distribution Application Engineer to serve as the technical face of our conductor accessories portfolio in the field. This role is ideal for an engineer comfortable in utility planning meetings, high-voltage qualification testing labs, and hands-on training sessions with line crews. The successful candidate will enhance AFL's technical credibility by helping customers navigate EHV product selection, guiding installation best practices, and building trusted relationships. In addition to T&D conductor accessories, this role includes responsibility for secondary product lines, most likely Alumoweld and substation products.

Responsibilities

• Technical Field Presence & Customer Support
  • Represent AFL at customer sites, training events, and industry conferences (up to 50% domestic travel)
  • Provide pre- and post-sale technical support to utility customers, EPCs, contractors, and AFL sales teams
  • Conduct product demonstrations and technical training for utility engineers, customers, and sales teams
  • Serve as the technical resource for Field Engineers on installation issues, troubleshooting, and problem resolution
  • Present at industry technical forums and conferences as AFL's subject matter expert in Transmission & Distribution conductor accessories
• EHV Product Expertise & Qualification Testing
  • Provide technical leadership and guidance for EHV (345kV+) product development and commercialization
  • Lead and participate in qualification testing programs for EHV products, coordinating with external labs, utilities, and standards bodies
  • Engage directly with utility transmission engineers on EHV product specifications, application requirements, and technical procurement discussions
  • Develop EHV-specific application notes, technical guidelines, and product documentation
• Technical Content Development
  • Create and maintain installation instructions, application notes, product guidelines, and customer training materials
  • Lead technical RFx (RFQ/RFP/specification) response efforts
  • Support new product introductions and market launches for the first 6+ months post-launch
  • Stay current on competitor product offerings, industry standards, and emerging utility technology requirements
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Standards Participation
  • Serve as Application Engineer for secondary product lines (most likely Alumoweld and substation products)
  • Act as the voice of the customer—provide field and application feedback to engineering, R&D, and product line management
  • Collaborate with manufacturing, sales, and research teams to support product development and market positioning
  • Represent AFL in industry standards committees and working groups (IEEE, NESC, CIGRE)
  • Maintain awareness of competitor products, emerging T&D technology, and relevant regulatory/standards activity

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a closely related engineering discipline; other engineering degrees considered with directly relevant electric power industry experience
• 3–5+ years of experience in the electric power industry, with direct exposure to transmission and distribution systems
• Demonstrated experience leading product and technical training for customers, EPCs, or contractors
• Working knowledge of transmission conductor hardware, accessories, and installation practices
• Strong written and verbal communication skills—able to translate complex technical content for diverse audiences
• Proficiency in MS Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% domestically

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of EHV (345kV+) transmission systems: design considerations, conductor selection, clearances, sag-tension, and hardware requirements
• Experience with EHV or high-voltage product qualification testing, factory acceptance testing, or IEEE/IEC type testing protocols
• Familiarity with applicable industry standards: IEEE, NESC, IEC, CIGRE
• Experience at a T&D hardware OEM, utility, or EPC in a technical advisory or application engineering capacity
• Prior participation in standards bodies or industry technical committees

Who You Will Work With

• Internal Interfaces
  • Applications Engineering Manager (reporting line)
  • Applications Engineering peers
  • Field Engineers (technical backstop on installation issues and troubleshooting)
  • Product Line Management (Conductor Accessories / Energy)
  • R&D and Engineering teams
  • Sales leadership and field sales representatives
  • Manufacturing and Quality teams
• External Interfaces
  • Investor-owned utilities, public power, and cooperatives (transmission planning, T&D engineering, and standards teams)
  • EPCs and system integrators
  • Contractors and field installation crews
  • Industry standards bodies: IEEE PES, NESC, CIGRE, ANSI
  • External high-voltage qualification testing laboratories

Schedule

• Hybrid: 3 days in office (Duncan, SC), 2 days remote
• Travel up to 50%, primarily domestic (utility customer sites, training events, industry conferences, and field locations)

Working Conditions

Office and manufacturing floor environment