Application Engineer

Spirax Group•Cary, IL

10d

About The Position

Electrical Thermal Solutions (ETS), part of Spirax Group, is comprised of Chromalox, Durex Industries, Vulcanic, and Thermocoax businesses. ETS creates electrical process heating and temperature management solutions, including industrial heaters and systems, heat tracing, and a range of component technologies. Durex Industries, with over 40 years of expertise in the thermal control business, is a trusted custom thermal solutions supplier and engineering design partner for customers across various industry sectors. They offer engineering, manufacturing, testing, laboratory, and quality assurance services, serving sectors such as process industries, life sciences, plastics processing, food and packaging, aerospace, defense, and security. Durex is known for its innovative bespoke solutions, like retrofitting heating elements to prevent outdoor beverage dispensers from failing in low temperatures and custom-made circulation heaters for large ship engines. The Application Engineer role, under the supervision of the Manager of Application Engineering, is responsible for analyzing customer heating and temperature control requirements to develop innovative, technically sound, and commercially competitive solutions. This role acts as a key technical liaison among customers, sales, engineering, estimating, purchasing, and manufacturing. The Application Engineer develops cost-effective quotations, provides application and order support, and guides custom thermal solutions from initial inquiry through order execution.

Requirements

3+ years of experience in applications engineering, product engineering, process engineering, technical sales support, or a related industrial manufacturing environment.
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Manufacturing, or a related engineering discipline preferred; equivalent relevant technical education and experience will be considered.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, and customer requirements.
Demonstrated ability to apply engineering principles to customer-specific products or applications.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and related business applications.
Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and time-management skills, with attention to detail in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate technical information effectively to customers and internal audiences.
Strong customer service skills and the ability to manage multiple quotations, priorities, and deadlines.

Nice To Haves

Experience with heat transfer, temperature measurement, process heating, electric heaters, or industrial thermal systems is preferred.
Experience supporting custom-engineered products in a manufacturing environment is preferred.
Experience with ERP, CRM, product configuration, or quotation tools is preferred.

Responsibilities

Design and quote technically sound, commercially competitive solutions for standard and customer-specific thermal applications, including electric heaters, temperature sensors, controls, and integrated process heating systems.
Interpret customer specifications, engineering drawings, process requirements, and terms and conditions to identify technical, commercial, quality, and delivery requirements.
Serve as a primary technical point of contact for customers, representatives, and sales engineers throughout the quotation and order process.
Coordinate quotation, sample, approval-drawing, and order-entry activities with sales, estimating, engineering, purchasing, project management, and plant personnel.
Apply knowledge of customer applications, served markets, and competitive alternatives to recommend optimal thermal solutions.
Determine material, labor, tooling, testing, and related cost requirements by collaborating with engineering, estimating, purchasing, and manufacturing.
Manage pricing and margin targets for key accounts and new business opportunities in alignment with commercial objectives.
Evaluate manufacturability, technical risk, lead time, and compliance considerations before finalizing proposed solutions.
Use product design, configuration, ERP, CRM, and pricing tools accurately and efficiently.
Assist customers and representatives in troubleshooting equipment, product, and application issues.
Lead cross-functional reviews for complex or high-value opportunities to align scope, technical requirements, cost, capacity, and delivery commitments.
Communicate quotation status, technical clarifications, risks, and anticipated delivery dates clearly to internal and external stakeholders.
Document, analyze, and improve application engineering and quotation processes to increase efficiency, accuracy, and customer satisfaction.
Support continuous improvement and strategic projects as required and provide technical guidance to less-experienced team members as appropriate.