Application Engineer

HMS Networks; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

HMS Networks is seeking an Application Engineer to bridge our product portfolio with customers, driving pre-sales support and hands-on training. You will deliver instructor-led courses, tailor lab exercises, and assist in deployment from design through commissioning.

Strong networking knowledge and communication skills are essential for success in a fast-moving industrial tech environment. The role requires collaboration with Sales, PM, R&D and Support, plus travel to client sites for on-site

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with 2–5 years in industrial networking.
• Strong knowledge of PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, Modbus.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Promote and deliver paid instructor-led technical training courses.
• Manage in-person and virtual classroom environments.
• Prepare training materials, demonstrations, and hands-on labs.
• Evaluate student progress and provide technical guidance.
• Maintain training equipment, lab environments and course documentation.
• Provide technical expertise related to Industrial Ethernet and related tech.
• Support troubleshooting and problem resolution during training and services.
• Collaborate with Sales and Product Management during pre-sales/design-win.
• Translate customer requirements into HMS product configurations and guidelines.
• Assist with commissioning, validation and field troubleshooting.

Skills

Industrial networking

Industrial automation

Technical training

Troubleshooting

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field

2–5 years of industrial networking experience

Tools

Python

C/C++

Embedded systems

Job description

HMS Networks makes the World more connected, productive and sustainable. HMS industrial communication products enable millions of machines such as robots, drives and air-conditioners to get connected to software and systems – A necessity to meet the future demands for energy efficiency and sustainability.

Position Summary

As an Application Engineer, you will be the technical interface between HMS’s product portfolio and our customers; machine builders, device manufacturers, system integrators, and end-users. You will understand customer applications and requirements, define how HMS solutions fit into those needs, and support pre-sales, design-win, application development, commissioning, and post-deployment optimization. You will partner closely with Sales, Product Management, R&D, Customer Support, and Manufacturing to ensure successful solution deployment and customer satisfaction. You will partner closely with Sales to organize and deliver various Certified Training programs on‑site with customers, and help to support Marketing campaigns to support the growth of the Paid Training Programs.

Essential Job Functions

• Promote and Deliver paid instructor‑led technical training courses for customers, partners, and internal employees.
• Manage classroom environments, both in‑person and virtual, ensuring effective learning outcomes.
• Prepare training materials, demonstrations, and hands‑on lab exercises.
• Evaluate student progress and provide technical guidance and support during training sessions.
• Maintain training equipment, lab environments, and course documentation.
• Provide technical expertise related to Industrial Ethernet and industrial communication technologies.
• Support troubleshooting and problem resolution as part of training and professional services engagements.
• Gather customer feedback to improve training programs and service offerings.
• Engage with customers (internal & external) to assess application requirements, network environments, performance & reliability constraints, and integration needs for industrial communication solutions.
• Collaborate with Sales and Product Management during the pre‑sales and design‑win phases: provide technical consultations, solution architecture guidance, ROI/value discussions, demonstration setups, and proof‑of‑concepts.
• Translate customer requirements into HMS product configurations, integration guidelines, and best practices (e.g., industrial protocols such as PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, Modbus).
• Support customization and adaptation of HMS products or modules to fit customer‑specific contexts (e.g., firmware options, protocol stacks, gateway configurations, diagnostics).
• Assist with commissioning, validation, and troubleshooting in the field or remotely — ensuring correct installation, network stability, and performance reliability.
• Provide training, documentation, and technical support (application notes, reference designs, webinars) to internal stakeholders and external customers/integrators.
• Capture and share field experience, customer insights, and application trends to influence product development and future enhancements.
• Monitor industry developments — networking protocols, OT/IT convergence, IIoT, and security trends — to position HMS solutions effectively.
• Represent HMS at customer meetings, trade shows, webinars, and technical working groups as needed.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field, or a combination of education and experience
• 2–5 years of experience in industrial networking, industrial automation, controls, technical support, and/or technical training.
• Strong understanding of industrial networking and communication protocols.
• Excellent problem‑solving and communication skills.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with HMS‑type products or comparable connectivity solutions (gateways, embedded modules, remote monitoring/IIoT platforms).
• Familiarity with embedded systems, firmware, or scripting (e.g., Python, C/C++) in an industrial automation context.
• Knowledge of OT/IT convergence, IIoT architectures, remote connectivity/security, industrial wireless (WiFi/5G), and diagnostics.
• Multilingual capability or fluency in additional languages (advantage for global roles).
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, take initiative, and adapt in a fast‑moving technology environment.

Travel

• 30-50%

HMS Networks provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, HMS Networks complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.