Applications Engineering Technician 1

Duravant•West Sacramento, CA

6d•$28 - $45

About The Position

The Applications Engineering Technician (Optical) conducts tests on food and non-food products using Key Technology’s optical sorting solutions, using both laboratory and customer equipment. The role determines suitable configurations and performance characteristics to optimize results for specific applications and makes recommendations to sales and marketing. The position works with development engineering and service teams to support new applications and optical sorting systems, provide technical support, and help develop or improve equipment and systems to meet customer needs. The technician plans and performs product tests, records and analyzes test procedures and results, and recommends equipment or method changes. The role also develops application-specific software solutions, creates performance specifications based on test data, researches company and competitor equipment capabilities, and provides equipment functionality and test reports to the sales force. The position relies on instructions and established guidelines; other duties may be assigned. The position is based at Key Technology’s Sacramento location in West Sacramento, California. Travel is stated as up to 25%, typically for less than one week and no more than two weeks at a time, though travel may increase during processing season or while developing new opportunities or systems. Weekend and holiday work may be required.

Requirements

One to two years of related experience and/or training, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
A valid vehicle operator’s license.
A valid passport.
Willingness and ability to travel 15%–25%.
Willingness to work weekends and holidays as needed.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from a four-year college or university preferred.
Computer or electronics experience preferred.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office, file compression, image processing, and Windows, UNIX, Linux, or other operating systems preferred.
Working knowledge of image-processing algorithms, a sound understanding of electronics, and ability to troubleshoot vision systems.

Responsibilities

Develop application-specific software solutions for customer needs.
Determine material handling, sensing and illumination, and algorithm requirements for optical sorters to meet application-specific guidelines.
Develop proposals for improving equipment performance, including recording data for development, standardization, or quality control.
Provide onsite and remote support for newly developed applications and optical sorting systems, working with development engineering and service teams.
Provide technical support to customers, service engineers, sales, and marketing on existing and new applications.
Plan, set up, and conduct equipment tests on customer products in the demonstration lab and at customer sites; recommend configurations and performance levels.
Record test procedures, numerical and graphical results, and recommendations for changes to products or test methods.
Complete trip reports and test reports thoroughly and promptly.
Analyze test results against design or rated specifications and objectives, and modify or adjust equipment to meet specifications.
Author standard equipment performance specifications based on test data.
Research, collect, and report information about the capability and capacity of company products and competing equipment.
Assist development engineering with equipment and systems design, development, and redesign to meet customer needs.
Provide equipment functionality and capability/test reports to the sales force and act as a technical liaison to the sales team.

Benefits

Medical coverage through a choice of high-deductible health plan or PPO plan, with prescription drug coverage.
Flexible spending accounts, when allowed by tax laws.
Health Savings Accounts, when allowed by tax laws, with a 2x match up to $1,000 annually.
Dental and vision coverage.
Paid life insurance and disability insurance, with options to purchase additional coverage.
Paid maternity leave.
Optional long-term care, accident, and critical illness insurance.
401(k) plan with a 100% match on the first 3% of employee contributions and 50% on the next 2% (a 4% match when contributing 5% of pay).
Educational assistance reimbursement.
Accrued paid time off.
10 paid holidays annually.