Application Engineer

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt; Davenport (IA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K with 6% match

Flexible remote work

8 weeks parental leave

Health benefits

Paid time off

Disability insurance

HSA contributions

Job summary

Coesia North America seeks an Application Engineer for the Modernization team to develop technical solutions that modify, upgrade, and improve existing packaging equipment for diverse industries.

You will review drawings, interpret legacy and modern CAD models, prepare cost estimates, write clear technical proposals, and support Sales with technical input throughout the project lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field; hands-on experience considered.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and experience with industrial machinery and packaging equipment.
• Ability to evaluate existing machines and develop practical technical solutions.
• Experience interpreting technical drawings and machine documentation.
• Proficiency with CAD platforms (SolidWorks, Solid Edge, AutoCAD) and Excel for cost estimates.
• Strong technical writing and verbal communication skills; ability to engage cross-functional teams.
• Customer-focused mindset with ability to translate needs into actionable solutions.
• Problem-solving skills to handle established and new concepts.
• Ability to collaborate across functions while ensuring technical integrity.
• Willingness to work in manufacturing/shop environments with PPE.

Responsibilities

• Review customer and sales requests to understand requirements and outcomes.
• Evaluate existing packaging machinery to determine modernization or modification solutions.
• Review and interpret legacy drawings, 2D drawings, and 3D models.
• Develop practical technical concepts based on machine configurations and customer needs.
• Collaborate with Order Engineering and technical teams to validate concepts.
• Develop material, engineering, labor, and other cost estimates for proposals.
• Prepare clear technical write-ups detailing proposed solutions and scopes of work.
• Support Sales Operations and Sales with technical input during proposals.
• Use CAD tools to evaluate concepts and support decision-making.
• Assist feasibility testing, modeling, or early learning activities to reduce risk.
• Communicate technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Support customer discussions to ensure requirements are addressed.
• Stay aware of technologies and practices in packaging machinery modernization.
• Travel occasionally to customer or vendor locations.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Communication skills

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Customer-focused

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Equivalent hands-on experience

Tools

SolidWorks

Solid Edge

AutoCAD

Job description

About the Company

R.A Jones, headquartered in Covington, KY with another location in Davenport, Iowa, is a global leader in the design and manufacturing of primary and secondary packaging machinery for the beverage, chemicals, food, pharma & healthcare, and industrial goods industries. R.A Jones offers an extensive portfolio of solutions for applications in aerosol filling, cartoning and box filling, chub packing, cup filling, pouching and modified atmosphere packaging. R.A Jones is part of Coesia, a group of innovation-based industrial and packaging solutions companies operating globally, headquartered in Bologna, Italy.

Coesia has operating units in 36 countries, a turnover of 2,015 million euros in 2022 and over 8,000 employees.

About the Role

As an Application Engineer within the Modernization team, you will develop technical solutions that help customers modify, upgrade, and improve their existing packaging equipment. You will work closely with customers, Sales, Sales Operations, Order Engineering, and other internal teams to understand customer needs, evaluate existing machinery, and translate technical challenges into practical, cost-effective solutions.

This role requires a strong understanding of industrial machinery and mechanical systems, along with the ability to interpret machine documentation that may range from legacy paper drawings to modern 2D and 3D CAD models.

You will be responsible for developing the technical concept, determining associated costs and resource requirements, and clearly documenting the proposed solution to support accurate customer proposals and successful project execution.

In this role, you are responsible for:

• Reviewing customer and sales requests to understand the problem, application requirements, and desired outcome.
• Evaluating existing packaging machinery, including legacy equipment, to determine appropriate modernization, modification, or reconfiguration solutions.
• Reviewing and interpreting a variety of machine documentation, including legacy paper drawings, 2D drawings, 3D models, specifications, and other technical documentation.
• Developing practical technical concepts and solutions based on existing machine configurations, customer requirements, and sound engineering principles.
• Collaborating with Order Engineering and other technical teams to evaluate proposed solutions, validate concepts, and align on technical requirements.
• Developing material, engineering, assembly, and other applicable cost estimates to support accurate project costing.
• Preparing clear technical write-ups that define the proposed solution, scope, sequence of operation, performance requirements, and other information necessary to support customer proposals and downstream engineering.
• Serving as a technical resource to Sales Operations Engineers and Sales team members throughout the proposal development process.
• Using CAD tools and other engineering resources to evaluate concepts, communicate solutions, and support technical decision-making.
• Supporting feasibility testing, modeling, or early-learning activities when necessary to validate new or complex applications and reduce project risk.
• Communicating technical concepts and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Supporting customer discussions and presentations when needed to ensure customer requirements are understood and appropriately addressed in the proposed solution.
• Maintaining awareness of applicable technologies, engineering practices, and developments related to packaging machinery and modernization solutions.
• Traveling occasionally to customer or vendor locations as business needs require.

What You Need to Be Successful

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline preferred; equivalent hands‑on technical or machinery experience will also be considered.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and demonstrated experience working with industrial machinery, packaging equipment, machine design, equipment modifications, service, assembly, or a comparable technical environment.
• Ability to evaluate an existing machine or mechanical system, identify what needs to change, and develop a practical technical solution.
• Experience interpreting technical drawings, machine documentation, specifications, and mechanical designs.
• Proficiency with CAD platforms such as SolidWorks, Solid Edge and AutoCAD
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and the ability to develop or support material, labor, and project cost estimates.
• Strong technical writing skills with the ability to clearly document and explain proposed engineering solutions.
• Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to interact effectively with customers, Sales, Engineering, and cross‑functional teams.
• Customer‑focused mindset with the ability to listen to a technical problem, ask the right questions, and translate customer needs into an actionable solution.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to work through applications ranging from established solutions to new or previously unproven concepts.
• Ability to collaborate across multiple functions while taking ownership of the technical integrity and accuracy of proposed solutions.
• Willingness to work around manufacturing and shop environments where safety glasses, steel‑toe safety shoes, and other required PPE must be worn.

Our Offer

Coesia North America offers a competitive benefit package which includes, among other things:

• 401K offering 6% company match with no vesting period.
• Flexible remote work offering.
• 8-weeks paid parental leave.
• Multiple health benefit & insurance options.
• PTO, sick time, and 12 observed calendar holidays.
• Company paid short-term disability (80% wager placement) & long-term disability.
• HSA company contribution for individual & employer family coverage.

Coesia is an equal opportunity employer and embraces diversity and inclusion.