Application Engineer II

Nidec Automation; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Nidec Automation is seeking an Application Engineer II to drive innovation in motion control and robotic systems. You will be the primary technical interface with customers, ensuring successful deployment, operation, and long-term performance of solutions in real-world applications.

You will accelerate time-to-market by simplifying product selection and enabling efficient system integration, translating requirements into effective solutions, and validating performance through testing.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2-year technical degree or higher with hands-on automation experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field; customer-facing role in automation.
• Strong knowledge of CANopen, EtherCAT, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP; PLC + ROS experience.
• Experience with system integration, commissioning, troubleshooting in real-world apps.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced technical support resolving issues in motion control systems.
• Coordinate medium- to large-scale customer projects from definitions to deployment.
• Develop drive system architectures and PLC/ROS integration.
• Engage with customers as technical contact and support system integration.
• Support New Business Opportunities with technical evaluations.
• Create technical documentation and training materials.
• Monitor market trends and support product positioning.
• Contribute to application lab for validation and demonstrations.
• Validate customer-specific scenarios in the lab and document findings.

Skills

Motion control

Customer-facing

System integration

ROS

PLC programming

3D design tools

Troubleshooting

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Mechatronics degree

Automation/Robotics background

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

The Application Engineer II plays a key role in supporting new business opportunities and driving innovation in motion control and robotic systems. Acting as a primary technical interface with customers, this role is highly customer-facing and focuses on ensuring successful deployment, operation, and long‑term performance of solutions in real-world applications.

Accelerate customer time-to-market by simplifying product selection and enabling efficient system integration.

The engineer works closely with customers to understand application requirements, translate them into effective product solutions, and validate performance through testing. A significant portion of the role involves supporting customers during system integration, commissioning, and operation—troubleshooting issues, optimizing performance, and ensuring reliable and efficient use of motion control solutions over time.

Responsibilities

• Advanced Technical Support: Resolve complex technical issues related to ultra‑low voltage drives and brushless AC servomotors, ensuring stable and efficient performance in customer applications
• Project Execution: Support and coordinate medium- to large-scale customer projects from requirements definition through deployment, ensuring high-quality technical delivery and customer satisfaction
• System Architecture & Design: Develop and validate drive system architectures tailored to customer applications, including integration with PLCs and ROS-based platforms
• Customer Engagement: Act as a key technical contact for customers, participating in regular interactions, supporting technical discussions, and assisting with system integration, commissioning, and optimization
• Sales & NBO Support: Collaborate closely with Sales to support New Business Opportunities (NBO), contributing to technical evaluations, solution definition, product selection, and customer demonstrations
• Customer Enablement & Time-to-Market Optimization: Drive faster customer development cycles by reducing product selection complexity, guiding architecture decisions, and streamlining integration and validation processes
• Product Development Collaboration: Work with product development to provide structured feedback on product performance, usability, and potential improvements based on application experience
• Documentation & Training: Develop technical documentation, application notes, and training materials; support delivery of internal and customer-facing training sessions
• Market Awareness: Maintain awareness of industry trends, customer applications, and competitor solutions to support effective positioning and identification of new opportunities
• Application Lab Contribution: Contribute to the development and maintenance of the application lab for system validation, prototyping, and demonstrations
• Application Validation & Testing: Validate customer‑specific scenarios in the application lab, ensuring requirements are met and documenting findings with clear technical feedback

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Minimum 2-year technical degree (e.g., electrical tech, mechatronics, automation) if supported with hands‑on skills and experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, or a related field, experience in application engineering, motion control, robotics, or industrial automation, including customer-facing technical roles
• Strong understanding of motion control systems, motor drives, and automation solutions, with hands‑on experience in industrial communication protocols such as CANopen, EtherCAT, PROFINET, and EtherNet/IP
• Experience working within industrial control and robotics environments, including PLC programming and ROS (Robot Operating System)
• Proven experience in system integration, commissioning, troubleshooting, and performance optimization in real‑world applications
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to clearly communicate complex technical concepts to customers and internal stakeholders
• Customer‑focused mindset with the ability to manage multiple priorities in dynamic environments and collaborate effectively with product development and sales teams
• Experience supporting New Business Opportunities (NBO) or working alongside sales teams in technical evaluations
• Familiarity with 3D design tools (e.g., SolidWorks or similar) for application concepting and system visualization is considered an advantage
• Experience developing technical documentation, application notes, or training materials is a plus

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

• Both Domestic and International Travel up to 20%