Senior Application Engineer

JTEKT North America•Arlington Heights, IL

About The Position

The Senior Application Engineer provides technical support to original equipment (OE) industrial customers in the North American market. The role uses engineering analysis, calculation methods, and computer modeling to select suitable bearings and address customer requirements. Work includes bearing analysis, failure investigation, statistical analysis, design-related activities, and support for product validation and application issues. The position also supports customer service engineering, technical training, warranty investigations, and the identification of new business opportunities and innovative solutions. The engineer manages projects from conception through analysis and testing, coordinating with customers and internal design engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams. Success requires strong mechanical aptitude, an understanding of rotating machine dynamics in off-highway equipment, effective communication, organization, and project management. The role requires approximately 25% travel and the ability to work independently.

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 or training in formal problem-solving methodologies such as Red X, DOE, or 8D.
Familiarity or training in failure analysis.
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and knowledge of GD&T.
Understanding of basic gage usage 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.
Willingness 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 and interface checks.
Advise customers on applying Koyo products, fitting practices, and validation recommendations.
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, review and analyze test results, and prepare final test reports to validate product proposals.
Conduct failure analysis, root cause analysis, and problem solving for internal tests, customer tests, and application field issues.
Visit customers to support maintenance, design, and VA/VE projects, and provide customer visit reports with actionable items within required time constraints.
Build customer rapport through responsive technical 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 interdisciplinary bearing application technology knowledge with colleagues and assist technicians and other engineering staff.
Update supervision and help answer inquiries from internal and external sources.
Support global company resources in finding corporate solutions to problems and opportunities.
Adapt emerging technology to improve application engineering capabilities and services.
Continuously improve execution of responsibilities and pursue personal development and growth.