Principal Application Engineer

JEM Technical; Orono (MN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

JEM Technical in Orono, MN, seeks a Principal Application Engineer to serve as the technical authority for hydraulic and electro-hydraulic systems, leading development and solving complex customer challenges.

This role emphasizes advanced application engineering, prototype validation, field support, and mentoring engineers, with minimal direct management and a strong focus on engineering excellence and standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Fluid Power, or related discipline.
• 8+ years of hydraulic system design, application engineering, new product development, or electro-hydraulic integration.
• Proven experience leading complex technical projects from concept through production.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of new hydraulic components, assemblies, and integrated systems from concept through validation and production launch.
• Define technical requirements, system architecture, validation plans, and performance criteria.
• Lead design reviews, technical risk assessments, prototype evaluations, and product validation activities.
• Lead troubleshooting of complex customer machine issues, field failures, and production problems.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to engineers and technicians.

Skills

Hydraulic systems

Electro-hydraulic integration

Mechanical design

Control systems

Mentoring

Communication

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Fluid Power, or related discipline

Tools

SolidWorks

SolidWorks Electrical

CAD

PDM/ERP systems

Job description

The Principal Application Engineer serves as JEM's technical authority for hydraulic and electro-hydraulic systems, leading the development of innovative products and solving complex customer application challenges. This position provides technical leadership across new product development, advanced application engineering, prototype validation, and field support while establishing engineering best practices and mentoring engineers across the organization. Working across Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and key customers, the Principal Application Engineer translates emerging market needs into new products, validates advanced hydraulic systems, and resolves the company's most technically challenging application issues. Unlike a management role, this position leads primarily through technical expertise, innovation, and influence rather than direct personnel supervision.

About the Role

The Principal Application Engineer serves as JEM's technical authority for hydraulic and electro-hydraulic systems, leading the development of innovative products and solving complex customer application challenges.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of new hydraulic components, assemblies, and integrated systems from concept through validation and production launch.
• Define technical requirements, system architecture, validation plans, and performance criteria.
• Lead design reviews, technical risk assessments, prototype evaluations, and product validation activities.
• Identify opportunities for new products, technologies, and improvements based on customer and market needs.
• Create and review hydraulic schematics, 3D CAD models, 2D drawings, system layouts, and technical specifications.
• Lead integration of valves, manifolds, sensors, actuators, and control components.
• Maintain accurate engineering documentation within PDM and ERP systems.
• Lead or support engineering change processes and development of design standards and best practices.
• Lead troubleshooting of complex customer machine issues, field failures, prototype concerns, and production problems.
• Perform system-level root-cause analysis using hydraulic measurements, data acquisition, schematics, and machine observations.
• Develop and validate corrective actions and design improvements.
• Support customer site visits, commissioning, field testing, and troubleshooting as required.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to engineers and technicians.
• Lead technical reviews and serve as an escalation point for complex engineering issues.
• Share lessons learned, engineering standards, and best practices across the organization.
• Work closely with sales, quality, operations, manufacturing, purchasing, and customers to align technical and business objectives.
• Engage directly with customers to clarify requirements, provide technical support, and ensure product performance meets expectations.
• Maintain compliance with JEM policies, ISO, OSHA, and AWAIR standards.
• Uphold JEM’s mission, vision, and core values in all interactions.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support business and engineering needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Fluid Power, or related discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in hydraulic system design, application engineering, new product development, fluid power testing, or electro-hydraulic integration.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex technical projects from concept through production.
• Advanced knowledge of hydraulic systems, components, machine-level integration, and troubleshooting.
• Strong proficiency in hydraulic schematic development, engineering calculations, 3D modeling, and 2D drafting.
• Experience with test equipment setup, data acquisition, and troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of ECO processes, PDM/ERP systems, and NPD workflows.
• Exposure to PLC/HMI systems or mobile controls (CODESYS or C++ experience a plus).
• CAD/Solid modeling skills required. SolidWorks and SolidWorks Electrical expertise preferred.
• Valid driver’s license, ability to drive independently, and maintain a safe driving record.
• Minimum travel up to 20%.

Required Skills

• Demonstrates advanced knowledge of hydraulic, electro-hydraulic, mechanical, and control systems.
• Applies engineering theory effectively to product development, testing, troubleshooting, and customer applications.
• Provides direction and guidance through expertise, sound judgment, mentoring, and influence.
• Understands the interactions between mechanical, electrical, and control systems.
• Anticipates how design choices affect manufacturability, reliability, and performance across the full product lifecycle.
• Uses practical, methodical approaches to identify, analyze, and resolve technical challenges.
• Effectively partners with applications, design, controls, production, and quality teams.
• Drives complex technical projects from concept through completion while managing risk, priorities, and deliverables.
• Communicates complex technical information clearly and professionally with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Prioritizes safe work practices and adherence to ISO, OSHA, and AWAIR standards.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with advanced problem solving and cross-functional collaboration.
• Strong communication and professionalism.
• Commitment to safety and quality.

Pay range and compensation package

$110k-$125k

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, climb, or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Equal Opportunity Statement

This position is based on-site at JEM’s Orono facility to support hands-on engineering, testing, and production activities. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to work near moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment can be loud at times. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this position.