Senior Application Engineer

JTEKT North America•Arlington Heights, IL

About The Position

The Senior Application Engineer provides technical support to original-equipment industrial customers in the North American market. The role applies engineering skills to bearing analysis, failure investigation, statistical analysis, and design-related activities, using calculation methods and computer modeling programs to select suitable bearings for customer requirements. The engineer also supports drawing and test requests, sample orders, customer drawing reviews, value analysis/value engineering (VA/VE), warranty investigations, technical training, and service engineering. Identifying new business opportunities and developing innovative solutions are important to success. The role requires organization and project management to meet multiple milestones, along with the ability to work independently without close supervision. Approximately 25% travel is required to serve customers. The engineer works with customer engineers and internal design engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams to develop and validate bearing solutions. Responsibilities span projects from initial requirements and analysis through testing and receipt of orders. The role also supports product and technology development, shares application knowledge with colleagues, assists technicians and other engineering staff, and works with global company resources to address technical problems and opportunities. The position has no supervisory responsibilities. Work is mostly performed in a normal office setting, with substantial computer use and minimal exposure to health or safety hazards. Occasional work in manufacturing areas may require safety glasses with side shields and mandatory hearing protection. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Three to five years of experience in the bearing or related industries.
Strong mechanical aptitude and a good understanding of rotating machine dynamics in off-highway equipment.
Good multitasking, time management, and project management skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Familiarity with or training in formal problem-solving methodologies such as Red X, DOE, and 8D.
Familiarity with or training in failure analysis.
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, including knowledge of GD&T.
Understanding of basic gage use and inspection techniques and their limitations, including dimensional, noise/vibration, surface finish, hardness, and torque inspection.
Familiarity or experience with DFMEA/PFMEA processes.
Self-starter willing to learn new applications and analysis techniques.
Superior computer skills, including Word and Excel.
Ability to work independently without close supervision.
Willingness and ability to travel approximately 25% by automobile and plane.

Responsibilities

Meet with customer engineers to understand bearing requirements, application specifications, and project details.
Select and analyze bearings for complex applications using proprietary and commercial engineering software, including life and stress analysis, interface checks, and guidance on product application, fitting practices, and validation.
Write reports and present analysis results to customers.
Coordinate with design engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams to develop bearing designs, support sample production, and meet customer technical and quality requirements.
Develop test plans, analyze test results, and prepare final test reports to validate product proposals.
Conduct failure analysis, root-cause analysis, and problem solving for internal or customer testing and field application issues.
Visit customers regularly for maintenance, design, and VA/VE projects.
Complete detailed customer visit reports with actionable items within required time constraints.
Build customer rapport through excellence, responsiveness, and support.
Manage projects from conception through analysis and testing until orders are received.
Conduct technical training seminars for customer personnel as needed.
Support development of new products and technologies.
Share knowledge of interdisciplinary aspects of bearing application technology with colleagues.
Assist technicians and other engineering staff as necessary.
Update supervision and assist with inquiries from internal and external sources.
Support global company resources in identifying corporate solutions to problems or opportunities.
Adapt emerging technology to enhance application engineering capabilities and services.
Continuously improve execution of responsibilities as part of personal development and growth.
Issue drawing requests, process investigation and test requests, order samples, review customer drawings, generate VA/VE ideas, investigate warranty issues, and provide service engineering.
Identify new business opportunities and innovative solutions.
Travel to customer locations as required, approximately 25% of the time.