Applications Engineer

Position Summary / Essential Function

The Applications Engineer serves as a primary technical resource for the Sales team, providing engineering support during the evaluation, recommendation, and quotation of products and custom solutions. This role partners closely with Sales, Engineering, Quality, and Manufacturing to ensure customer requirements are accurately interpreted and translated into technically sound, commercially viable solutions.

The Applications Engineer acts primarily as an internal technical consultant, supporting the sales organization by answering product capability questions, recommending appropriate solutions based on customer applications, developing cost estimates and quotations, and identifying opportunities requiring more advanced engineering or product management involvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary technical resource for the Sales team by providing timely guidance on product capabilities, specifications, applications, and feasibility. 
• Evaluate customer requirements and recommend appropriate products or custom solutions based on the intended application. 
• Support the development and quotation of custom cable assemblies, fittings, seismic bracing, and other Rope & Assemblies products.
• Prepare product cost estimates, including Bills of Material (BOMs), labor estimates, and supporting technical documentation.
• Assist Sales with technical reviews of RFQs, drawings, specifications, and customer requirements.
• Determine when customer requests require advanced engineering analysis or product development and coordinate handoff to the Technical Sales & Product Manager or Engineering team. 
• Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Customer Service, and Engineering to resolve technical questions and support successful product implementation.
• Assist with new product introduction activities, including item creation, routing development, and manufacturing documentation as required. 
• Maintain a strong working knowledge of company products, manufacturing capabilities, and applicable industry standards.
• Monitor competitive products, emerging technologies, and market trends to support product positioning and solution recommendations.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to quoting efficiency, technical documentation, and engineering support processes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies

• Strong mechanical aptitude and technical problem-solving skills.
• Ability to interpret customer needs and translate them into practical engineering solutions.
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills with a solutions-oriented mindset. 
• Ability to communicate complex technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative approach with the ability to build effective working relationships across Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Customer Service.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong technical writing and documentation abilities. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications. 
• Strong mathematical and analytical skills. 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related engineering discipline. 
• Experience interpreting mechanical drawings, engineering specifications, and GD&T.
• Experience supporting technical product selection, application engineering, manufacturing engineering, or similar engineering functions.
• Ability to develop Bills of Material, labor estimates, and technical cost analyses.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes and mechanical assemblies.
• Strong understanding of engineering principles and product application.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting industrial or engineered products in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience working closely with sales or customer service teams in a technical support capacity.
• Experience with CAD software (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or similar). 
• Experience with ERP systems and product configuration.
• Experience with new product development, prototyping, or manufacturing process development. 
• Experience with wire rope, cable assemblies, mechanical fittings, or related mechanical products.

A successful Applications Engineer will become the trusted technical resource for the Sales organization by providing accurate, timely, and practical engineering guidance that enables the team to respond quickly to customer inquiries. They will balance technical expertise with commercial awareness, helping Sales confidently recommend solutions while recognizing when more complex opportunities should be escalated for advanced engineering or product management support.

Physical / Work Environment

• Primarily office-based with regular interaction in a manufacturing environment
• Frequent collaboration across departments and customer-facing engagement (on-site or virtual)
• Ability to travel as needed to customer sites, sales meetings, and CWI locations
• May require occasional standing, walking the plant floor, and exposure to typical manufacturing conditions (PPE required as applicable).