Sr. Application Engineer - Food Manufacturing Equipment

Relocation Assistance Available for Ideal Candidate!

Our client is a rapidly growing provider of sanitary processing solutions for the food and beverage industry. In addition to distributing pumps, valves, and related equipment, the company delivers value-added technical expertise that helps manufacturers improve process performance, reliability, and efficiency.

The Senior Application Engineer will be the technical link between customers, equipment manufacturers, and the Outside Sales Team. This position is responsible for understanding each customer’s process, translating operating requirements into effective equipment solutions, and recommending the right pumps, valves, and system configurations.

The role encompasses the entire application process—from reviewing specifications and sizing equipment to developing quotations and presenting technical recommendations. Success requires deep knowledge of positive displacement pumps, sanitary fluid systems, and equipment selection, along with the ability to communicate confidently with customers and internal stakeholders.

This is an opportunity to:

• Take technical ownership of complex sanitary processing projects.
• Support leading food and beverage manufacturers, including Fortune 500 companies.
• Work across multiple industries within a stable, essential market.
• Contribute to a fast-growing organization where expertise, initiative, and customer service are highly valued.

• Act as the lead technical resource for customers from initial evaluation through project execution.
• Assess process conditions, application requirements, and customer objectives to develop practical, reliable equipment solutions.
• Size and select sanitary pumps, valves, and related components based on performance requirements, sanitary standards, and lifecycle considerations.
• Interpret customer specifications, P&IDs, and engineering drawings to identify operating parameters, limitations, and integration requirements.
• Determine appropriate pump technologies, equipment sizes, valve options, and system configurations.
• Explain equipment operation and application concepts clearly to engineers, plant personnel, consultants, sales professionals, and other stakeholders.
• Lead technical reviews and present recommendations to customers and internal teams.
• Partner with plant managers, engineers, project teams, and sales representatives to deliver efficient and cost-conscious solutions.
• Conduct product and application presentations for customers, system integrators, consultants, and engineering firms.
• Provide coaching and technical support to junior engineers and application team members.
• Visit customer facilities as needed, with anticipated travel of approximately 20-30%.

• Request and analyze vendor proposals for technical accuracy, completeness, and alignment with customer requirements.
• Develop detailed equipment and pricing quotations using supplier products and the company’s in-house value-added capabilities.
• Assist the Outside Sales Team with equipment selection, application questions, pricing, and proposal development.
• Help ensure that recommended solutions are technically sound, commercially competitive, and clearly communicated.
• Complete other responsibilities as business needs require.

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biological Systems Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Seven to ten years of relevant industry experience; 10 or more years of process engineering experience is strongly preferred.
• Substantial experience with sanitary processing equipment, fluid-handling systems, or a closely related field.
• Advanced technical expertise in positive displacement pumps
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• Working knowledge of sanitary valve applications and configurations.
• Hands-on experience selecting, sizing, pricing, and quoting pumps or other process equipment.
• Strong understanding of sanitary process design and the integration of equipment into manufacturing systems.
• Proven ability to guide customer projects from the concept stage through implementation.
• Effective written, verbal, and…