Application Engineer

Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc.; Liberty (SC); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturer in fire protection seeks an experienced Application Engineer to lead product definition and support new product development. The role involves project planning, collaborating with cross-functional teams, conducting patent research, and ensuring products meet industry standards. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in engineering and 7-10 years of relevant experience in mechanical systems or fire protection design. This position is based in Liberty, SC.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of relevant experience in engineering or application engineering.
• Experience in fire protection system or mechanical system design.
• Ability to conduct market analysis and prepare business cases.

Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive project plans for new products.
• Conduct research on existing patents to identify risks and opportunities.
• Participate in NPD engineering meetings to represent customer perspectives.
• Maintain expert-level knowledge of applicable standards and industry trends.

Skills

Project planning

Technical guidance

Patent development

Industry standards knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline

Job description

Department: Engineering

Location: Liberty, SC

Description

The Application Engineer is an industry expert and product specialist who plays a central role in leading product definition, supporting new product development (NPD), and providing strategic technical guidance within the Program Management Office (PMO). This position is responsible for developing detailed project plans for new and updated products, researching intellectual property, supporting patent development, and ensuring products meet industry codes, customer needs, and competitive requirements.

How You Will Help

Product Definition & Project Planning

• Develop comprehensive project plans for new products and updates to existing products, including scope, engineering requirements, regulatory considerations, timelines, and resources.
• Prepare business cases including market forecasts, ROI analysis, and competitive assessments.
• Work directly within the PMO to define clear and actionable product requirements and ensure alignment with company strategy.

Intellectual Property Research & Development

• Conduct research on existing patents to identify risks, opportunities, and areas for innovation.
• Collaborate with legal and engineering teams to draft new patent applications and support patent prosecution activities.

Support of New Product Development (NPD)

• Participate in weekly NPD engineering meetings, representing the voice of the customer and the commercial perspective.
• Provide application-specific guidance, field insights, and technical clarifications to ensure product designs meet intended use cases.
• Evaluate prototypes, participate in testing reviews, and validate product-market fit.

Industry, Code, and Competitive Expertise

• Maintain expert-level knowledge of applicable standards (e.g., ASHRAE, NFPA, FM Global, etc.).
• Track proposed code changes and industry trends.
• Build and maintain a deep understanding of the competitive landscape including product specifications, market positioning, and pricing.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Technical Support

• Provide technical support to internal teams including Product Development Engineering (PDE), PMO, Sales, Marketing, and Product Technology—consistent with responsibilities described in internal roles such as Product Technology Managers.
• Assist in the creation and review of technical documentation including product data sheets, installation instructions, and design guides.
• Participate in customer, engineer, and industry association interactions as needed to gather field insights and represent the company’s product portfolio.

What You Will Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline
• 7-10 years of relevant experience
• Experience in fire protection system or mechanical system design or application engineering