Application Engineer

Location: Mediapolis

About Us:

Afinitas, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a global leader in equipment, forming systems, and essential accessory products that support transportation, water, and utility precast concrete infrastructure worldwide. We provide industry-leading production equipment; highly engineered formwork; and a broad portfolio of precast concrete, electrical, and construction accessories, along with structural products and systems designed for bridge, highway, and heavy construction applications.

Afinitas is part of BW Forsyth Partners, LLC, the investment group of global manufacturing and engineering consulting firm Barry-Wehmiller, a $3 billion organization with nearly 12,000 team members, united by a common belief: to use the power of business to build a better world.

Job Description:

OVERVIEW Our Applications Engineer serves as the critical bridge between our customers, our external sales team, and our engineering department, translating complex customer requirements into fully specified, accurately costed plant layouts and equipment configurations. The Applications Engineer will own the full pre-sale technical process: from initial concept development and layout design through to quotation preparation, margin analysis, and post-sale revisions.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES Understand customer requirements and correctly specify standard and custom equipment to solve client needs, working closely with the Engineering team and Engineering Product Line Leaders Own the plant layout from initial concept through post-sale revisions; produce detailed drawings in AutoCAD showing appropriate equipment and process flows, updating as designs and building details are finalized

Drive product standardization by working with Product Line Leaders to utilize preferred equipment and machine configurations in new equipment layouts

Provide technical details pre-sale to the outside sales team and customers, such as preliminary foundation drawings, service requirements, crane specifications, and concrete consumption

Provide technical expertise and support to the outside sales team to communicate products, services, and client needs; collaborate to ensure customer requirements are met, including product modifications when necessary

Develop and maintain deep technical knowledge of the company's product line and the complete concrete production process

Document layout procedures and design guidelines; standardize and organize layouts and common machine CAD blocks for quick access

Prepare quotations including estimated equipment costs and detailed margin analysis; ensure accuracy of quotations before sending to outside sales team and customers

Provide technical expertise and support to Quotation Specialists to ensure the correct equipment is quoted based on what is specified

Analyze costs from completed projects and adjust standard costing assumptions for equipment based on actual data Assist with creating technical marketing and sales support materials as needed

Manage change orders and make necessary updates and modifications to plant layouts

Surface product gaps and unmet customer needs encountered during the pre-sales process, serving as a key source of market intelligence to inform new product development

Travel as needed to site locations to gather information about building, site, and customer requirements

All other duties as assignedQUALIFICATIONSBachelor's Degree in Engineering with 1 - 2 years of experience, or Bachelor's degree in Business or Technology with 3 - 5 years of experience, or an Associate's degree with 5 - 7 years of experience

Previous experience as a Sales Engineer, Quotation Specialist, Technical Sales, Mechanical Engineer, or equivalent role preferred

Technical aptitude with strong ability to learn and apply technical knowledge related to products and processes

Proficiency in AutoCADUnderstanding of manufacturing processes, preferably in the concrete or heavy equipment industry

Experience with cost estimation or technical quoting preferred

Ability to read engineering drawings

Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail

Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and adapt to shifting priorities

Strong verbal and written interpersonal/communication skills required

Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
WORK ENVIRONMENT This is an office position associated with a manufacturing facility. The employee must be able to correctly wear and use any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required by the…