Aftermarket Applications Engineer

Blue Bird Corporation•Macon, GA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Blue Bird is hiring an Aftermarket Applications Engineer as a key member of its Parts Team. Reporting to the Director, Product Support, this role works closely with the Aftermarket Purchasing Team and with purchasing, operations, engineering, field service, and manufacturing to represent projects and programs supporting Blue Bird’s parts initiatives. The position identifies, validates, and determines parts for Blue Bird equipment; maintains technical documentation; recommends alternative parts and suppliers; supports Product Life Management (PLM) projects; and provides engineering design support for retrofit solutions. It also supports timely communication of changes and evaluation of technical source material used for production of service, training, and parts publications. The position is based in office and production environments, including manufacturing areas with exposure to heat, cold, noise, moving objects, and sheet metal. Appropriate PPE must be worn when and where required. The role may involve extended periods of standing or sitting, frequent communication throughout the day, frequent weeks of 40+ hours, and up to 10% travel for supplier and dealer visits related to part qualification and investigation of chronic field issues.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related discipline.
At least 5 years of engineering-level activity and support within a bus, automotive, or heavy-duty manufacturing OEM environment.
At least 5 years of project management experience.
Comprehensive knowledge of automotive engineering fundamentals across chassis, body, electrical, and powertrain domains.
Robust understanding of mechanical and electrical components and their real-world vehicle applications.
Extensive knowledge of manufacturing engineering practices and systems, including PLM, ERP, and CAE programs.
Critical-thinking ability in selecting service parts and understanding downstream supply-chain and serviceability implications.
Strong analytical and rational decision-making abilities.
Ability to work independently, follow through on initiatives, and resolve technical hurdles and problems quickly.
Detail orientation and a high degree of accuracy.
Ability and desire to collaborate as part of a team.
Experience working with technical documentation, drawings, and specifications.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and authorized to work in the United States; proof of employment eligibility is required at hire.

Nice To Haves

Exposure to difficult or complex projects.
Ability to anticipate and understand customer needs and provide guidance.
Excellent interpersonal and customer relationship skills, including handling difficult and sensitive matters.
Ability to influence stakeholders.
Effective communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex details clearly.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage Aftermarket Parts Engineering projects in the PLM system, ensuring timely execution and tracking.
Research, evaluate, and recommend alternative parts and suppliers to improve cost, lead time, and quality.
Ensure alternative parts and kits comply with applicable industry standards, including FMVSS and DOT requirements.
Collaborate with Design and Service Engineers to identify and structure service-only parts and comprehensive parts kits.
Identify parts catalogs affected by new product launches and product design changes that require publications to be created or revised.
Provide engineering-level technical support and direction to sales and purchasing team members to resolve dealer-submitted support tickets.
Support the Parts Sales team in identifying alternative service parts or repair processes for obsolete or unavailable parts.
Support new part setup requests from CSR cases.
Work with relevant teams to communicate changes in a timely manner and evaluate technical source material for service, training, and parts publications.
Provide engineering design support for retrofit solutions.