Lead Applications Engineering: Drive Solutions & Growth

Actalent; Waukesha (WI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full medical, dental, vision

401K matching

Disability insurance

Job summary

Actalent is seeking an Applications Engineering Manager to lead a team of 5, including 4 engineers and a technician, at the Waukesha headquarters. You will drive performance, coach engineers, and coordinate with Sales to deliver technically sound solutions that meet customer needs and protect gross margin.

The role requires a Bachelor’s in Engineering and hands-on experience with quoting, sizing, configuration, and project management.

Qualifications

• Experience leading Applications Engineers and setting clear performance expectations.
• Strong understanding of KPIs and performance metrics.
• Experience with quoting and project management from cradle to grave.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop Applications Engineers; set clear expectations for performance, behavior, technical growth, and customer service.
• Establish visible priorities and workload plans; assess capacity, assign ownership, balance resources, and escalate conflicts.
• Delegate work appropriately and build backup coverage for critical products and processes.
• Manage recruiting, selection, onboarding, training, succession planning, and performance management for the Applications Engineering team.
• Own technical sizing, selection, configuration, and application of products and systems, ensuring standardization and traceability.
• Serve as the technical escalation point for complex or high-risk applications.
• Lead the technical portion of the quote-development process, ensuring accurate sizing and configuration.
• Support Sales and customers through technical discovery, solution development, presentations, and troubleshooting.
• Provide input to costing and pricing recommendations, identifying risks and escalating exceptions.
• Own and improve Applications Engineering workflow from request intake to execution handoff.
• Maintain controlled documentation including calculation tools, configuration rules, and product knowledge.
• Define service levels and operating metrics; review performance and lead corrective actions.
• Coordinate Applications Engineering priorities with Sales demand, strategic initiatives, and available technical capacity.
• Lead the post-shipment customer technical-resolution function, ensuring timely resolution and documentation.
• Ensure CRM and ERP records, return status, and closure documentation are accurate and audit-ready.
• Review recurring field issues and incorporate lessons learned into application standards and training.
• Own overall accountability for laboratory governance and ensure clear responsibility assignment.
• Ensure safe and predictable laboratory operation through proper delegation and compliance.

Skills

Application Engineering Management

SolidWorks

KPIs & performance metrics

Project quoting & management

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Job description

Actalent is seeking an Applications Engineering Manager to lead a team of 5, including 4 engineers and a technician, at the Waukesha headquarters. You will drive performance, coach engineers, and coordinate with Sales to deliver technically sound solutions that meet customer needs and protect gross margin.

The role requires a Bachelor’s in Engineering and hands-on experience with quoting, sizing, configuration, and project management.