Assistant Technical Applications Manager

Software Placement Group, SPG; Charleroi (Washington County); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

401(k) with company match

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Collaborative, hands-on team

Job summary

Software Placement Group (SPG) in Charleroi, PA is seeking an Assistant Technical Applications Manager. This hands-on leadership role blends engineering, automation, and field problem-solving to support customers and products in industrial environments.

The position requires deep experience in control systems, PLCs, HMIs, and industrial networks, plus travel to customer sites for commissioning and training.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in applications engineering, controls, or related field.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Electronics engineering or related discipline.
• Hands-on installations, startup, commissioning, and customer-site support.
• Strong knowledge of Modbus and industrial signals.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior technical resource for gas detection, automation, and control system applications.
• Lead system design activities including control architecture and integration.
• Configure, program, troubleshoot PLCs and HMIs, and support networks.
• Manage projects from concept through commissioning.
• Collaborate with sales, engineering, production, and field service.
• Develop technical proposals, system documentation, and manuals.
• Perform testing, verification, and troubleshooting for reliability.

Skills

Technical leadership

PLC programming

HMI configuration

Industrial automation

Electronics troubleshooting

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Field service support

Customer training

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs

IDEC PLCs

HMIs

Industrial networks

Job description

Location: Charleroi, PA | Schedule: Full-time, on-site with field travel

Overview

An established manufacturer and technology provider specializing in industrial gas detection, atmospheric monitoring, automation, and safety systems is seeking an Assistant Technical Applications Manager. With decades of experience serving demanding industrial markets, the company is known for rugged, reliable technology, responsive customer support, and solutions designed to protect people and critical operating environments. This is a hands-on technical leadership role at the intersection of engineering, automation, customer support, and field problem-solving, offering visible impact on products and customers.

What you'll do

• Serve as a senior technical resource for industrial gas detection, automation, atmospheric monitoring, and control system applications
• Partner with customers to understand operating challenges and develop practical, customized technical solutions
• Lead system design activities, including control architecture, automation strategies, communications, instrumentation, and system integration
• Configure, program, troubleshoot, and support PLCs, HMIs, industrial networks, and communication systems
• Manage technical projects from concept and design through testing, installation, startup, and commissioning
• Work cross-functionally with sales, engineering, production, field service, repairs, marketing, and custom product teams
• Develop technical proposals, quotations, system documentation, operating manuals, and compliance materials
• Perform product and system testing, verification, validation, and troubleshooting to ensure reliability and performance
• Partner with design engineers to identify field issues, application improvements, and opportunities for new or enhanced products
• Provide on-site commissioning, startup assistance, troubleshooting, and technical support at customer facilities
• Train customers on system operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and application best practices
• Conduct product demonstrations and technical presentations for customers, sales teams, and internal personnel
• Review field service reports for technical accuracy, completeness, work performed, and final system status
• Help coordinate field service resources based on project requirements, technical complexity, personnel availability, and customer priorities
• Establish and maintain application engineering procedures, technical standards, and best practices
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to application engineers and other technical team members
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on product quality, reliability, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency

Required qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in applications engineering, controls, automation, field engineering, industrial electronics, or a related technical environment
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• Strong hands-on experience with industrial installations, startup, commissioning, troubleshooting, and customer-site support
• Strong knowledge of industrial communications, including Modbus RTU and Modbus TCP
• Working knowledge of industrial signals and controls, including 4–20mA, 0–5V, 0–10V, relay logic, and related instrumentation
• Strong understanding of electrical systems, wiring, schematics, electrical components, and fundamental circuit theory
• Hands-on experience with diagnostic equipment such as digital multimeters, oscilloscopes, and electronic test equipment
• Ability to safely perform voltage, current, continuity, and signal measurements in industrial environments
• Strong mechanical aptitude, including an understanding of fluid flow and pneumatic systems
• Demonstrated ability to diagnose complex electrical, electronic, automation, and control-system issues
• Excellent communication skills with the confidence to lead technical discussions, customer training, demonstrations, and presentations
• Comfortable walking significant distances while carrying tools or equipment
• Comfortable climbing stairs and ladders and accessing elevated or confined work areas
• Comfortable working in environments that may include dust, noise, vibration, and temperature or weather extremes
• Willingness to wear required PPE, including hard hats, safety glasses, steel-toe footwear, respirators, and fall-protection equipment
• Willingness to travel as needed for commissioning, field service, troubleshooting, and customer support
• Willingness to occasionally work extended hours when required for critical commissioning or customer operations
• Ability to follow all applicable OSHA, MSHA, customer-site, and company safety requirements

Preferred qualifications

• Experience programming and troubleshooting Allen-Bradley and/or IDEC PLCs and HMIs is highly preferred
• Knowledge of hazardous-location installations, including Class I, II, and III environments, is a plus

Compensation and benefits

• Competitive compensation
• 401(k) with company match
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Collaborative, hands-on team environment

Why this role

This role offers the chance to design, troubleshoot, lead, teach, and improve products while interacting directly with customers and seeing engineered solutions come to life in the field.