Applications Engineering Manager

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Full‑time Regular Rochester, NY, US

6 days ago Requisition

Salary Range: $ To $ Annually

Summary:

We are seeking an experienced and innovative manager in the Optics and Photonics space to guide QED’s Applications Engineering team. This leadership role requires strong skills in team management, mentoring, customer support, sales and product development. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams—including Sales, Customer Support, R&D, Quality, and Manufacturing—to ensure our customers are extracting as much value as possible from our products and that our products are meeting the needs of today’s – and tomorrow’s – customers.

At QED, Applications Engineers are the “expert users” of QED’s polishing and metrology products. They are customer‑facing, but also support internal development initiatives. They act as process engineers, teachers, and salespeople as they perform their various job functions. Their main activities can be separated into 3 main responsibilities:

• Provide process support for existing customers (including polishing/metrology validations during installation, basic & advanced training, process optimization and process troubleshooting)
• Provide Sales & Marketing with technical support (including tech support during customer meetings, capability analyses, product demonstrations, trade show support, and marketing material support)
• Provide R&D and Engineering with VOC input for new product developments (including defining customer requirements, testing support for new developments, and design review support)

Based in Rochester, New York, QED Technologies is a leading capital equipment manufacturer serving the global precision optics industry. Our innovative solutions enable the production of high‑quality optical components with superior accuracy. We are committed to driving future growth through innovation, excellence, and customer satisfaction.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage a global team of 6‑10 applications engineers and interns from varied backgrounds, providing guidance, coaching, and performance feedback.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative team environment, encouraging open communication and knowledge sharing.
• Set priorities and schedule activities that span Sales, Customer Support, Manufacturing and R&D, in a dynamic organization, often with competing demands.
• Develop/maintain departmental training and process documentation to ensure consistency and quality as new engineers are onboarded.
• Customer Experience Center (CEC) Management
  • Oversee the operation of QED’s demonstration and training center. This area is where Applications Engineers perform product demonstrations, and training sessions for our products. Ensure room/equipment is maintained in a clean and organized condition, compliant with all of QED’s SH&E guidelines, so as to create an efficient work area that is suitable to “show off” to visiting customers at all times.
  • Support/schedule machine time for Manufacturing & R&D activities. The CEC is a shared space that other groups use when they need to use or test equipment on our products.
• Technical Sales & Marketing Support
  • Work closely with the Sales team and potential customers – either directly, or through the team – to provide the necessary technical information they need to close opportunities. This can be through product demonstrations, capability analyses, customer meetings or trade shows.
  • Customer Demonstration Process Management:
    Ensure the team provides effective and efficient customer demonstrations, starting from gathering clear goals and requirements from the customer through defining the demonstration plan to maintain the equipment in top‑notch condition to effective report writing and customer communication.
  • Support technical content creation (e.g. white papers, case studies, social media posts, You Tube videos) for the QED’s marketing initiatives.
  • Publish/present technical papers – either directly, or through the team – at…