Application Engineer

Gasser Chair Company•Youngstown, OH

About The Position

The Application Engineer will report directly to the Engineering Manager and will work closely with cross-functional teams across functional teams. This position will collaborate regularly with production leadership and team members across operations to ensure designs are practical, manufacturable, and aligned with customer requirements. The purpose of the Application Engineer at Gasser Chair is to bridge the gap between engineering design and real-world manufacturing application. This role is responsible for translating product concepts, customer requirements, and engineering direction into practical, production-ready solutions that can be efficiently manufactured. This position focuses on applying engineering principles to existing products and new product development, ensuring designs are functional, manufacturable, cost-effective, and aligned with operational capabilities. The Application Engineer plays a key role in supporting production, resolving design challenges, and driving continuous improvement across operations.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably supporting product design, application engineering, or process engineering.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes such as metal fabrication, welding, machining, and assembly.
Proficiency in CAD software (Autodesk Inventor preferred; SolidWorks acceptable).
Ability to translate engineering concepts into practical, production-ready solutions.
Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot design and production challenges.
Experience working cross-functionally with engineering, production, and supply chain teams
Understanding of materials, tolerances, and design for manufacturability (DFM) principles
Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization.
Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

Product Application: Apply engineering principles to develop and modify product designs based on customer specifications, internal requirements, and manufacturing capabilities.
Design Implementation: Translate engineering concepts into practical, manufacturable solutions, ensuring alignment with production processes and materials.
Production Support: Partner with manufacturing teams to troubleshoot design-related issues, resolve production challenges, and implement design improvements.
New Product Support: Assist in the development and launch of new products by supporting prototyping, testing, and validation of designs.
Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve product performance, manufacturability, and cost efficiency through design enhancements.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with cross functional teams to ensure alignment across all stages of product development and manufacturing.
Technical Problem Solving: Analyze and resolve technical issues related to product design, materials, and manufacturing processes.
CAD & Documentation Oversight: Support or guide the development of CAD models, drawings, and technical documentation to ensure accuracy and usability for production.
Process Integration: Ensure designs are compatible with existing manufacturing processes, equipment, and capabilities across operations.
Customer Requirements: Interpret and apply customer specifications to ensure final products meet expectations and performance requirements.
Testing & Validation: Participate in product testing and validation activities to confirm design integrity and performance.
Standardization: Support the development and maintenance of engineering standards, best practices, and documentation consistency.