Customer Engineering Product Specialist

Cummins Inc.; Ankeny (IA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation package

Job summary

Cummins Inc. in Ankeny, IA seeks a Customer Engineering Product Specialist to drive product integration and installation requirements for OEM equipment.

You will collaborate with SMEs and engineers to deliver precise product data, enable optimal machine performance, and resolve complex installation issues across CSSNA designs. This role emphasizes technical leadership, proactive problem solving, and mentorship across cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or STEM field required.
• Post‑graduate Master's may be required for select roles.
• Export controls/sanctions compliance license may be required.
• Prior Senior/Lead Engineer equivalent experience with strong problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Gather input with SMEs and teams to deliver accurate product data and installation requirements.
• Make product selection, design, and integration decisions affecting OEM performance and quality.
• Improve processes and tools for installation quality and OEM integration.
• Serve as technical liaison to OEM customers, managing specifications and updates.
• Provide technical expertise in product, application, and market knowledge to support OEM design and selection.
• Translate customer needs into functional product requirements and influence decisions.
• Advocate for customer needs in new product development and design reviews.
• Validate prototype performance and optimize results using ALD and Six Sigma.

Skills

Customer engineering

Product integration

ALD

Six Sigma

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree relevant field

Tools

Advisor

COLS

GCE

Job description

We are looking for a talented Customer Engineering Product Specialist to join our team specializing in Engineering for Cummins, Inc. in Ankeny, IA.

In this role, you will make an impact in the following ways

• Gather input and align with SMEs and VPI teams to deliver accurate product data and installation requirements to Application Engineers and OEMs.
• Make product selection, design, and integration decisions that impact OEM machine performance, optimization, and quality.
• Apply and continuously improve processes (Installation Quality Assurance, OEM integration, product selection) and tools (Advisor, COLS, GCE).
• Serve as the primary technical liaison to OEM customers, managing specifications, product updates, and resolving complex installation issues.
• Provide technical expertise in product, application, and market knowledge to support OEM equipment design and product selection.
• Translate customer needs and voice of the customer into functional product requirements and influence program decisions.
• Advocate for the customer/market in new product development, design reviews, and product change processes.
• Ensure proper product application and installation by validating prototype performance, meeting system requirements, and optimizing results using ALD and Six Sigma tools.

To be successful in this role you will need the following

• Product Application Support - Provide accurate technical data and clear installation requirements. Use tools (Advisor, COLS, GCE) to support decisions and integration. Build strong customer relationships as a trusted technical resource.
• Product Function Modeling, Simulation and Analysis - Use ALD and analysis tools to optimize product/system performance. Interpret results to guide design to influence product design and integration decisions. Ensure product capability aligns with system, subsystem, and component-level requirements.
• Product Problem Solving - Resolve complex installation and performance issues using structured, data-driven methods. Identify root causes and implement corrective and preventive actions to avoid recurrence.
• Product Selection - Guide customers to best-fit product solutions. Optimize specs and prevent misapplication using technical systems. Clearly communicate product value and benefits.

Education/Experience

• College, university, or equivalent Bachelor's degree in Engineering or appropriate STEM field is required.
• Post-graduate (Master's) degree relevant to this discipline area may be required for select roles.
• This position may require licensing for compliance with export controls or sanctions regulations.
• Prior Senior or Lead Engineer equivalent work experience in a relevant discipline area is required with a demonstrated track record of technical problem solving and quality decision making. Knowledge of MS Office tools is preferred.

Position Summary

The Product Integration and Validation Engineer is a highly technical, hands-on role responsible for ensuring every CSSNA-designed power unit can be successfully integrated into OEM equipment through clear installation requirements, sound engineering judgment, and appropriate product validation.

The role serves as the technical owner of CSSNA product integration by guiding product designs, validating installations, defining CSSNA product Advisor Installation Requirements (AIRs), and providing application engineering leadership throughout the product lifecycle. It connects the CSSNA Design Team, Application Engineering, Global Application Engineering, Engine Business Unit (EBU) Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), Validation, Operations, Manufacturing, and Product Support.

Unlike a traditional Application Engineer, this position is engaged throughout product development. It influences decisions before release, keeps installation requirements aligned with engineering intent, determines the appropriate validation approach, and verifies that CSSNA-designed products are practical to install, manufacture, validate, service, and support.

The engineer is expected to become the recognized subject matter expert for CSSNA-designed power units, installation practices, AIRs, and integrated product applications. Success depends on technical credibility, practical judgment, organization, and the ability to influence through collaboration rather than formal authority.

This role is also a succession-planning investment. A planned three-month overlap with the retiring Application Engineer is intended to transfer technical knowledge, historical decisions, operational expertise, and key relationships while establishing long-term continuity.

Scope of Ownership

• Technical ownership of CSSNA product integration.
• Ownership of CSSNA product and configurable option content within Advisor.
• Document and publish test reports that are detailed and valuable to OEM application engineers for parenting and product capability
• Creation, maintenance, and governance of Advisor Installation Requirements (AIRs) related to power-unit installation
• Technical review of Customer Engineering Approval Forms (CEAFs) and product changes affecting CSSNA-designed products.
• Validation strategy, configuration tracking, test documentation, and release readiness.
• Dyno validation planning, execution, and operational capability.
• Guidance to CSSNA Design Engineering on installation quality, manufacturability, serviceability, and OEM integration requirements.
• Communication of application engineering changes and installation impacts with Global Application Engineering, as related to CSSNA-designed products.
• Development of application engineering capability through mentoring, coaching, training, and reusable technical content.
• Stewardship of CSSNA application engineering standards, product integration practices, and institutional knowledge.

Note: this is a new role for CSSNA, though it is primarily a customer engineering position. Here is a more concise description:

The role serves as the technical owner of CSSNA product integration by guiding product designs, validating installations, defining CSSNA product Advisor Installation Requirements (AIRs), and providing application engineering leadership throughout the product lifecycle. It connects the CSSNA Design Team, Application Engineering, Global Application Engineering, Engine Business Unit (EBU) Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), Validation, Operations, Manufacturing, and Product Support.

Unlike a traditional Application Engineer, this position is engaged throughout product development. It influences decisions before release, keeps installation requirements aligned with engineering intent, determines the appropriate validation approach, and verifies that CSSNA-designed products are practical to install, manufacture, validate, service, and support.

The engineer is expected to become the recognized subject matter expert for CSSNA-designed power units, installation practices, AIRs, and integrated product applications. Success depends on technical credibility, practical judgment, organization, and the ability to influence through collaboration rather than formal authority.

This role is also a succession-planning investment. A planned three-month overlap with the retiring Application Engineer is intended to transfer technical knowledge, historical decisions, operational expertise, and key relationships while establishing long-term continuity.

Compensation

Please note that the salary range provided is a good faith estimate on the applicable range. The final salary offer will be determined after considering relevant factors, including a candidate's qualifications and experience, where appropriate.

Job

Engineering

Organization

Cummins Inc.

Role Category

On-site with Flexibility

Job Type

Exempt - Experienced

ReqID

2437545

Relocation Package

Yes

100% On-site

No

Cummins and E-Verify

At Cummins, we are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer dedicated to diversity in the workplace. Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, gender, color, disability, national origin, age, religion, union affiliation, sexual orientation, veteran status, citizenship, gender identity and/or expression, or other status protected by law. Cummins validates the right to work using E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. Visit "http://EEOC.gov" to know your rights on workplace discrimination.