Position Title: Senior Applications Engineer
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Salary: $125k
The Senior Applications Engineer is responsible for analyzing customer requirements and generating precise cost estimates for powder metallurgy (PM) components manufactured using press-and-sinter technology. This role demands a thorough understanding of material selection, tooling, process capabilities, secondary operations, and overall production costs to provide competitive and profitable quotes. The Senior Applications Engineer works closely with the sales, production, quality, and engineering teams to develop comprehensive project cost assessments.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
Cost Estimation & Quoting:
- Analyze RFQs (Requests for Quotes) from customers, reviewing drawings, specifications, and tolerances.
- Calculate raw material costs, considering powder selection, required additives, and material utilization.
- Determine pressing and sintering cycle times, including compaction tonnage, press selection, and part complexity.
- Estimate costs for secondary operations such as machining, deburring, heat treatment, plating, or other finishing processes.
- Evaluate tooling costs, including die sets, punches, and core rods.
- Factor in scrap rates, production yields, and process efficiency to develop an accurate total cost.
- Prepare detailed cost breakdowns and formal quotations, ensuring accuracy and competitiveness.
Process & Manufacturing Feasibility Analysis:
- Work with engineering and production teams to determine manufacturability and process optimization opportunities.
- Identify potential challenges in pressing, sintering, and secondary processes, offering cost-effective solutions.
- Recommend design modifications to improve manufacturability and reduce costs.
Collaboration & Cross-Functional Communication:
- Interface with sales and customer service teams to understand customer needs and project scope.
- Coordinate with production teams to validate capacity, lead times, and tooling availability.
- Communicate with suppliers to gather cost information on raw materials, outsourcing, and secondary services.
- Lead APQP team through Gate 1 and participate in APQP through Gate 5.
Data Management & Continuous Improvement:
- Maintain an organized database of quotes, materials, and process cost models for future reference.
- Analyze historical data to refine cost estimation methods and improve quoting accuracy.
- Identify opportunities to optimize processes, reduce waste, and enhance overall efficiency.
- Support and promote continuous improvement goals in alignment with quality management and environmental management systems.
- Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Qualifications and Experience:
Education, Certifications, and Experience:
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Bachelor's Degree in a technical field, or equivalent work experience (Required).
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5 years of related experience in Powdered Metals Applications (Required).
Skills:
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Proficient in Microsoft Office (Required).
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Ability to read blueprints/schematics (Required).
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Knowledge of CAD solid model software (Required).
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Knowledge of GD&T (Required).
Travel Requirements:
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Domestic Travel: 0% - 25%.
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International Travel: 0% - 25%.
Key Attributes:
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Data-driven mindset for identifying and prioritizing opportunities and issues.
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Energetic, self-driven professional with a high degree of customer focus.
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Excellent communication skills, both internally and externally.
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Strong analytical skills, strategic thinking, and problem-solving capacity.
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Good team player with the ability to operate in a cross-functional organization.
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Proven ability to manage deadlines, prioritize, and multitask.
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Comfortable interacting with all organizational levels.
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High degree of integrity and confidentiality.
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Ability to develop accurate, data-driven forecasts to support business planning.
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Proactive in analyzing opportunities and risks.