Applications Engineer

Job Title:

Applications Engineer

Job Description

The Applications Engineer serves as the technical bridge between sales, engineering, and customers by translating complex requirements into clear, compelling solutions and proposals. This role owns the full proposal lifecycle, from interpreting customer specifications to delivering high-quality RFQ and RFP responses, while partnering closely with cross-functional teams. The position offers strong visibility to sales and leadership, a clear path into program management or broader business roles, and exposure to complex defense and engineering programs in a highly collaborative, hybrid work environment.

Responsibilities

+ Serve as the primary technical liaison between sales, engineering, and customers, ensuring that customer requirements translate into feasible and effective solutions.

+ Own the full proposal lifecycle, including technical writing, coordination, and final delivery of RFQ and RFP responses.

+ Review and interpret customer specifications, drawings, and statements of work to identify technical requirements, risks, and constraints.

+ Develop clear, accurate, and persuasive technical proposals that communicate solution design, technical approach, and value to the customer.

+ Partner with engineering, supply chain, and operations to gather technical inputs, cost estimates, and schedule timelines for proposals.

+ Build and maintain compliance matrices to ensure alignment with customer requirements, internal standards, and relevant industry regulations.

+ Perform preliminary thermal analysis on conceptual designs using Autodesk CFD or similar tools to support solution feasibility and performance assessment.

+ Coordinate across internal teams to validate technical content, ensure proposal accuracy, and meet submission deadlines.

+ Maintain and continuously improve technical content libraries, templates, and reusable proposal materials to drive consistency and efficiency.

+ Support sales by answering technical questions, participating in customer discussions, and helping position solutions effectively.

+ Contribute engineering analysis and insight to support electromechanical and ruggedized electronic system proposals, particularly in aerospace and defense applications.

+ Ensure that all proposal materials adhere to applicable compliance frameworks and reflect a thorough understanding of customer needs.

Essential Skills

+ Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.

+ 5+ years of experience in applications engineering, technical writing, or engineering design.

+ Proven experience creating or contributing to technical proposals, RFQs, or RFPs.

+ Strong ability to read and interpret technical drawings, specifications, and statements of work.

+ Experience working cross-functionally with engineering, operations, and supply chain teams.

+ Familiarity with compliance standards such as AS9100, ITAR, or similar industry frameworks.

+ Hands-on experience with engineering analysis and technical problem solving.

+ Proficiency in technical writing, with the ability to produce clear, structured, and accurate technical documentation and proposals.

+

Experience with thermal analysis and CFD tools, preferably Autodesk CFD.

+ Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

+ Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical content into clear, customer-focused narratives.

+ Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across functions and manage multiple proposals or projects simultaneously.

Additional

Skills & Qualifications

+ Exposure to electromechanical systems or ruggedized electronics, particularly in aerospace or defense environments, is preferred.

+ Experience working within or alongside organizations that follow AS9100, ITAR, or comparable compliance standards.

+ Prior involvement in aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated engineering programs is advantageous.

+ Experience using Autodesk CFD or similar analysis tools for preliminary thermal analysis is preferred.

+ Ability to build and maintain compliance matrices to track and demonstrate adherence to customer and industry requirements.

+ Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, especially in managing technical content libraries and reusable proposal materials.

+ Interest in progressing into program management or broader business roles over time.

+ Comfort working in a highly collaborative environment with frequent interaction across engineering, operations, and sales.

Work Environment

This role operates in a hybrid work environment, typically with three days onsite and two days remote each week. Onsite work is conducted in a professional engineering and office setting, with regular collaboration among engineering, operations, supply chain, and sales teams. The position involves frequent use of Microsoft Office tools and engineering analysis software such as Autodesk CFD, as well as working with…