Applications Engineering Technician 1

Duravant•West Sacramento, CA

2d•$26 - $33

About The Position

The Applications Engineering Technician (Optical) conducts tests on food and non-food products using Key Technology optical sorting solutions, both on laboratory equipment and customer equipment. The role determines suitable configurations and performance characteristics to optimize results for specific applications and makes recommendations to sales and marketing teams. The technician develops application-specific software solutions and helps determine the material handling, sensing, illumination, and algorithm requirements needed to meet application guidelines. The position supports new applications and optical sorting systems onsite and remotely, collaborating with development engineering and service teams. It also provides technical support to customers, service engineers, sales, and marketing for existing and new applications. The role plans and conducts product tests in the demonstration lab and at customer sites; records procedures, results, data, and recommendations; analyzes performance against specifications and test objectives; and modifies or adjusts equipment as needed. Other work includes authoring standard equipment performance specifications, researching company and competing products, assisting with equipment and systems design or redesign, and providing functionality and capability reports to the sales force. The position relies on instructions and established guidelines, and other duties may be assigned. The role is based at Key Technology’s Sacramento-area location in West Sacramento, California. It is a full-time, day-shift position with travel of up to 25%. Travel is often less than one week and typically no more than two weeks at a time, but may increase during processing season or development of 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 working knowledge of assorted image-processing algorithms.
A sound understanding of electronics and the ability to troubleshoot vision systems.
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 from a four-year college or university preferred.
Computer or electronic experience preferred.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office, file compression, image processing, and Windows or other operating systems such as UNIX or Linux preferred.
Knowledge of machine and computer vision, including lighting, cameras, lasers, and other sensing equipment.

Responsibilities

Develop application-specific software solutions for customer needs.
Determine material handling, sensing and illumination, and algorithm requirements for optical sorting applications.
Develop proposals to improve equipment performance, including recording data for development, standardization, or quality control.
Support newly developed applications and optical sorting systems onsite and remotely, working with development engineering and service teams.
Provide technical support to customers, service engineers, sales, and marketing for 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 and results, numerical and graphical data, and recommendations for product or test-method changes.
Complete trip 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 ability and capacity of company products and competing equipment.
Assist the development engineering team with equipment and systems design and development, and redesign existing systems 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.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical coverage with a choice of a high deductible health plan or PPO plan; all plans include prescription drug coverage.
Flexible spending accounts, when allowed by tax laws.
Health Savings Account, 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.