Technical Service Engineer - ADL

Steel Dynamics•Columbus, MS

About The Position

The Technical Service Engineer creates, develops, and maintains technical relationships with customers and addresses issues related to aluminum product functionality and quality. The role regularly visits assigned automotive aluminum customers to monitor quality performance, benchmark competition, and provide verbal and written feedback to Operations and Commercial. Visits to non-automotive customers may be required when personnel are unavailable or in emergency situations. The engineer reviews customer inquiries and participates in requests for quotation from a technical perspective. The position investigates customer parts and verifies property parameters and material specifications, reviews complaints, claims, and corrective actions, and supports Operations in troubleshooting quality issues. It also provides technical support at customer manufacturing facilities and conducts part thickness strain, forming, thinning, and forming-limit-diagram analyses as situations warrant. The role participates in product development, qualification, and plant trials; coordinates customer visits, tours, audits, and mill certification procedures; and builds relationships with customer manufacturing, quality, and engineering personnel. Working with Operations, Sales, and Product Development, the engineer supports customer satisfaction, understands current and future product functional requirements, participates in customer aluminum initiatives as appropriate, and manages the Part Inspection Guide for the assigned customer base.

Requirements

Four-year degree in engineering, technology, science, business, or an applicable field.
Two years of aluminum plant experience in operations, technical service, sales, or product development, or five years of experience in quality assurance, engineering, or manufacturing at an aluminum customer.
Data analysis and management skills, including SQL, Access, MS Office, SPC, or MiniTab.
Excellent, demonstrated problem-solving skills.
Excellent technical communication skills.
Ability to prioritize and multitask.
Self-motivation, with a strong orientation toward continuous improvement and customer-focused service.

Nice To Haves

Degree in Materials Science or Metallurgical Engineering.
Demonstrated knowledge of aluminum processes, specifications, and applications.
Experience with both aluminum production and aluminum-user manufacturing, quality assurance, or engineering.
Knowledge of ISO and other applicable standards, such as API, ABS, and SAE.

Responsibilities

Visit assigned automotive aluminum customers to monitor quality performance, benchmark competition, and provide verbal and written feedback reports to Operations and Commercial; visit non-automotive customers if personnel are unavailable or in emergency situations.
Review aluminum customer inquiries and participate in requests for quotation (RFQs) from a technical perspective.
Verify property parameters and material specifications, and conduct new-part investigations as required.
Review customer complaints, claims, and corrective actions.
Assist Operations in troubleshooting and correcting quality issues.
Provide technical support to customers’ manufacturing facilities.
Perform automotive part thickness strain and forming-limit-diagram (FLD) analysis as situations warrant.
Perform forming and thinning analysis on new or existing products as situations warrant.
Participate in product development, qualification, and plant trials.
Coordinate and participate in customer visits, tours, audits, and mill certification procedures as needed.
Develop rapport with customers’ manufacturing, quality, and engineering personnel.
Work with Operations, Sales, and Product Development to support customer satisfaction.
Understand current and future functional requirements for products as used by customers.
Participate in customer initiatives for aluminum as appropriate.
Manage the Part Inspection Guide for the assigned customer base.