Senior Application Development Engineer

Höganäs AB; City of Syracuse (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Höganäs AB is seeking a seasoned professional to drive the exploration of new surface coating applications and identify opportunities across multiple industries. The role requires hands-on thermal spray expertise, a strong ability to analyze operating conditions, and the capability to develop validated coating solutions in collaboration with customers and partners.

The successful candidate will lead from concept through validation to customer approval, developing structured solution packages and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s / master’s degree in materials science, mechanical engineering, or related fields.
• More than 5 years’ experience in surface engineering, coating materials, or thermal spray.
• Hands-on expertise in at least one thermal spray process: HVOF, HVAF, APS, LPPS, etc.
• Familiarity with at least two powder material families: WC-Co, Cr₃C₂ NiCr, Al₂O₃, Ni based alloys, YSZ, etc.
• Experience taking coating solutions from concept → validation → customer approval.
• Strong capability to analyze operating conditions and failure mechanisms.
• Self-driven, proactive, and able to independently push projects forward.
• Preferred: Understanding of overlay welding vs. thermal spray boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Lead Application Exploration & Opportunity Identification across energy, aviation, automotive and general industrial sectors.
• Coordinate materials & process recommendations for thermal spray applications (including powder materials).
• Design coating validation plans and coordinate tests with internal labs or external partners.
• Support customer trials, gather feedback, and drive iterative improvements.
• Lead technical discussions to achieve customer qualification and approval.
• Convert successful projects into standardized solution packages including material & process selection, key parameters, testing criteria, and risks.

Skills

Good communication skills

English fluency

Self-driven

Proactive

Education

Bachelor’s / master’s degree in materials science or mechanical engineering

Tools

HVOF

HVAF

APS

LPPS

Job description

• Application Exploration & Opportunity Identification
• Proactively explore new surface coating applications across industries such as energy, aviation, automotive and general industrial sectors.
• Engage with customers, end users, research partners, and the broader industry ecosystem to discover pain points, unmet needs, and forward-looking opportunities.
• Analyze real operating conditions and failure modes (wear, corrosion, thermal shock, erosion, high‑temperature exposure, etc.).
• Build a structured Application Opportunity Pipeline with clear technical and business rationale.
• Materials & Process Recommendation (Thermal Spray Focus)
• Select suitable thermal spray processes such as HVOF, APS, cold spray, LPPS, etc.
• Evaluate and compare thermal spray vs. overlay welding in terms of performance, feasibility, and application boundaries.
• Provide clear technical justification for material selection, process window, and performance expectations.
• Validation & Sample Testing
• Design coating validation plans covering wear resistance, corrosion behavior, thermal properties, and microstructure analysis
• Coordinate with internal labs or external partners to execute tests.
• Analyze test results and prepare clear technical reports with recommended design improvements.
• Customer Trials & Technical Approval
• Support customer trial runs and field testing.
• Track real‑world performance, gather feedback, and drive iterative improvements.
• Lead technical discussions to achieve customer qualification and approval.
• Support introduction into customer/OEMs’ technical specifications.
• Solution Packaging & Internal Enablement
• Convert successful projects into standardized solution packages including:
• Material & process selection
• Key parameters
• Testing & acceptance criteria
• Build internal knowhow to uplift team capabilities in thermal spray applications.
• Share insights and best practices across local and global coating teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Application Exploration & Opportunity Identification
• Proactively explore new surface coating applications across industries such as energy, aviation, automotive and general industrial sectors.
• Engage with customers, end users, research partners, and the broader industry ecosystem to discover pain points, unmet needs, and forward-looking opportunities.
• Analyze real operating conditions and failure modes (wear, corrosion, thermal shock, erosion, high‑temperature exposure, etc.).
• Build a structured Application Opportunity Pipeline with clear technical and business rationale.
• Materials & Process Recommendation (Thermal Spray Focus)
• Recommend appropriate powder materials for each application (e.g., WC‑Co/Cr, Cr₃C₂‑NiCr, Al₂O₃‑TiO₂, Ni‑based alloys, YSZ).
• Select suitable thermal spray processes such as HVOF, APS, cold spray, LPPS, etc.
• Evaluate and compare thermal spray vs. overlay welding in terms of performance, feasibility, and application boundaries.
• Provide clear technical justification for material selection, process window, and performance expectations.
• Validation & Sample Testing
• Design coating validation plans covering wear resistance, corrosion behavior, thermal properties, and microstructure analysis
• Coordinate with internal labs or external partners to execute tests.
• Analyze test results and prepare clear technical reports with recommended design improvements.
• Customer Trials & Technical Approval
• Support customer trial runs and field testing.
• Track real‑world performance, gather feedback, and drive iterative improvements.
• Lead technical discussions to achieve customer qualification and approval.
• Support introduction into customer/OEMs’ technical specifications.
• Solution Packaging & Internal Enablement
• Convert successful projects into standardized solution packages including:
• Application scenario
• Material & process selection
• Key parameters
• Testing & acceptance criteria
• Risks & mitigation
• Build internal knowhow to uplift team capabilities in thermal spray applications.
• Share insights and best practices across local and global coating teams.

Qualifications & Experiences

• Bachelor’s / master’s degree in materials science, mechanical engineering, or related fields.
• More than 5 years’ experience in surface engineering, coating materials, or thermal spray.
• Hands‑on expertise in at least one thermal spray process: HVOF, HVAF, APS, LPPS, etc.
• Familiarity with at least two powder material families: WC-Co, Cr₃C₂ NiCr, Al₂O₃, Ni based alloys, YSZ, etc.
• Experience taking coating solutions from concept → validation → customer approval.
• Strong capability to analyze operating conditions and failure mechanisms.
• Self‑driven, proactive, and able to independently push projects forward.
• Good communication skills for both internal collaboration and customer‑facing engagement. fluency in written and spoken English
• Preferred: Understanding of overlay welding vs. thermal spray boundaries.
• Preferred: Experience in application development, technical marketing, or new business exploration.
• Preferred: Experience with DOE or systematic validation methodologies.

Physical demands and working environment

• Office environment
• Regular domestic travel in China, occasional global travel.

Communication/Interface

Frequent communication with local sales team, and other stakeholders in division.

Interaction with customers, end users and partners.

Working at Höganäs

We aim to offer a great and meaningful place to work where you can fulfill your potential and ambitions. We welcome all applicants and strive for diversity. We have a clear management philosophy, and just like us you believe that through collaboration and openness we develop as individuals and as a company. We see all employees, regardless of position, as leaders when we approach the challenges that the world - and we - face. Höganäs ambition is to lead the transformation to better meet the needs of tomorrow and become the preferred supplier of sustainable metal powder on a global scale – join us in our journey of sustainable change and towards net-zero climate emissions.

More About Höganäs

Founded in 1797, Höganäs is the world leader in the market for powders, with an annual capacity of 500,000 tonnes. Höganäs’ vision is to drive positive change through material innovation, with the ambition of becoming the globally preferred partner for sustainable powder materials. The company’s strength lies in its diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences, and Höganäs is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace. Höganäs collaborates with customers across multiple industries to develop innovative solutions, including applications in automotive components, electric motors, brazing, surface coating, welding consumables and additive manufacturing. Operating 15 production centers worldwide and employing 2,200 people, Höganäs’ turnover for 2025 was 11,045 MSEK. Höganäs is owned by Lindéngruppen and FAM. www.hoganas.com