Application Engineer

KESTREL Vision; Cleveland (OH); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

KESTREL Vision is seeking a Systems & Applications Engineer to join our international engineering team. You will contribute to design, prototyping, testing and validation of advanced electro‑optical and electromechanical inspection systems used on high‑speed production lines.

You’ll work with customers, sales and service teams across the globe to bring cutting-edge machine vision solutions to life. This role involves travel up to 10% within the United States and occasional international travel,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or related field
• Minimum 3 years of relevant engineering experience
• Hands-on experience building and testing prototypes from concepts and sketches
• Strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills
• Approximately 10% travel, primarily within the United States with occasional international travel
• Hybrid work environment with flexibility after onboarding and training
• Expected on-site presence to support system validation, testing and team collaboration

Responsibilities

• Design, prototype and validate innovative inspection solutions for industrial machine vision applications
• Conduct performance trials on existing and prototype systems using challenging customer samples
• Analyze results and prepare technical reports with recommendations and solution assessments
• Provide technical expertise and consultation to internal teams and customers
• Support Sales and Service teams in resolving complex technical challenges
• Collaborate with Production and external suppliers to address technical issues and maintain documentation
• Work with global engineering teams to develop next-generation inspection technologies
• Visit customer sites when required to support installations, evaluations and technical investigations
• Identify emerging technologies and contribute to future product innovations
• Take ownership of projects and drive them through successful completion

Job description

We are looking for a Systems & Applications Engineer to join our international engineering team and help develop cutting‑edge inspection solutions used by leading food and beverage manufacturers worldwide.

In this role, you will contribute to the design, prototyping, testing and validation of advanced electro‑optical and electromechanical systems used on high‑speed production lines. You will work closely with customers, sales, service, production and engineering teams across the globe to bring innovative machine vision solutions to life.

What You'll Do

• Design, prototype and validate innovative inspection solutions for industrial machine vision applications
• Conduct performance trials on existing and prototype systems using challenging customer samples
• Analyze results and prepare technical reports with recommendations and solution assessments
• Provide technical expertise and consultation to internal teams and customers
• Support Sales and Service teams in resolving complex technical challenges
• Collaborate with Production and external suppliers to address technical issues and maintain documentation
• Work with global engineering teams to develop next‑generation inspection technologies
• Visit customer sites when required to support installations, evaluations and technical investigations
• Identify emerging technologies and contribute to future product innovations
• Take ownership of projects and drive them through successful completion

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or related field
• Minimum 3 years of relevant engineering experience
• Hands‑on experience building and testing prototypes from concepts and technical sketches
• Strong mechanical aptitude and problem‑solving skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering or related discipline
• Experience with machine vision systems
• Experience with electro‑optical or electromechanical systems
• Familiarity with material handling or automated industrial systems

Key Skills

• Strong analytical and troubleshooting capabilities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently
• Collaborative mindset and passion for innovation
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook)
• Approximately 10% travel, primarily within the United States with occasional international travel
• Hybrid work environment with flexibility after onboarding and training
• Expected on‑site presence to support system validation, testing and team collaboration

Why Join Us?

• Work on highly visible projects with global impact
• Collaborate with international engineering teams
• Combine hands‑on prototyping, customer interaction and innovation
• Opportunity to shape next‑generation inspection solutions for world‑class manufacturers