Sr. Applications Engineer

Nextpower•San Rafael, CA

19h

About The Position

Nextpower is seeking a hands-on Sr. Applications Engineer to help transition newly designed construction equipment from engineering prototypes to reliable, field-ready products. The role combines mechanical expertise, prototype installation and modification, field validation, equipment operation, troubleshooting, commissioning, and collaboration across engineering and operational teams. The engineer works with mechanical, electrical, controls, manufacturing, service, field operations, suppliers, customers, and technical publications teams. Work is divided among office, manufacturing, shop, and outdoor construction-site environments. The position requires significant travel, up to 20 weeks per year, and involves demanding field conditions around heavy equipment and prototype machinery. Success means helping new equipment become safe, reliable, installable, maintainable, and usable in real-world construction environments. The position serves as a practical connection between design teams and the people who build, install, operate, service, and document the equipment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, or 12 years of hands-on experience without a degree.
Eight years of hands-on experience with heavy equipment, construction machinery, agricultural equipment, industrial machinery, military equipment, or similar complex mechanical systems.
Strong mechanical troubleshooting and repair skills.
Experience with mechanical systems such as hydraulics, power transmission, structural assemblies, bearings, cylinders, fasteners, and mobile equipment.
Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, hydraulic schematics, electrical schematics, and equipment manuals.
Ability to identify practical design problems and recommend effective improvements.
Comfort installing, modifying, testing, and troubleshooting prototype equipment.
Experience operating construction equipment and working safely around large mobile machinery.
Ability to drive trucks and tow equipment or trailers as required.
Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively with field personnel and office-based technical teams.
Ability to work independently in changing and sometimes incomplete prototype environments.
Willingness and ability to travel significantly, up to 20 weeks per year, and work at active construction sites.
Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record.
Ability to meet field-work physical demands, including standing, walking, climbing, bending, lifting up to 50 pounds, and working outdoors in varying weather conditions.

Nice To Haves

Experience with New Product Introduction, prototype development, commissioning, product validation, or sustaining engineering.
Experience working directly with design engineers to improve equipment based on field observations.
Experience with construction equipment used for drilling, pile driving, grading, material handling, lifting, or solar installation.
Welding, fabrication, machining, or field modification experience.
Experience with diesel engines, mobile hydraulics, electrohydraulic systems, sensors, and machine controls.
Experience writing or reviewing service procedures, installation instructions, inspection checklists, or operator manuals.
Experience training mechanics, operators, field technicians, or customers.
Technical degree, vocational training, military technical training, or equivalent practical experience.

Responsibilities

Review new equipment designs for serviceability, installation practicality, safety, and field performance; participate in design reviews and recommend practical improvements.
Inspect newly built prototypes and identify mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, controls, and assembly issues.
Install, assemble, modify, and commission prototype construction equipment.
Recommend design improvements to increase reliability, maintainability, safety, performance, and ease of installation.
Perform field installation, commissioning, troubleshooting, and validation testing of improved prototypes.
Operate construction equipment and support testing under realistic job-site conditions.
Drive trucks and tow equipment or trailers as needed for prototype installation and field testing.
Work with mechanics, operators, field technicians, project personnel, suppliers, and customers to understand equipment performance and usability.
Document installation procedures, test results, design issues, recommended changes, and lessons learned.
Help establish installation, inspection, maintenance, troubleshooting, and operating procedures.
Provide subject matter expertise to technical publications teams developing user, installation, and service manuals, troubleshooting guides, and other product documentation.
Review technical publications for accuracy, clarity, practicality, and alignment with actual equipment behavior.
Assist with photographs, illustrations, measurements, field procedures, and step-by-step instructions for technical documentation.
Support training development for mechanics, operators, field technicians, and customers.
Communicate field findings to engineering and program management teams.
Travel to construction sites, suppliers, manufacturing facilities, prototype test locations, and customer locations.
Follow applicable safety policies and promote safe work practices around heavy equipment and prototype machinery.