Senior Applications Engineer

Cognex Corporation; Grand Rapids (MI); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognex Corporation in Grand Rapids, MI is seeking a Senior Applications Engineer to join its Applications Engineering team. You will guide high-complexity implementations, tailor Cognex products and lighting for customer goals, and collaborate with Sales to shape winning solutions.

The role emphasizes advanced troubleshooting, integration with PLCs/PCs/Controllers, and developing documentation for the AE community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, CS, or equivalent technical experience.
• Typically 4–6 years of technical applications development experience.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% and flexible hours.
• Experience with Cognex products and machine vision is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provides application guidance for high-complexity applications across Cognex products.
• For complex applications, may require support from more experienced AEs.

Skills

Electro-mechanical solutions

Data analytics

Customer relationship

Presentation skills

Mentoring others

C++

C#

VB.Net

JavaScript

PLC programming

WMS

Windows

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

PLC programming

WMS

Windows

Job description

Job Description About us- Cognex is the largest, most successful and recognized global player in industrial machine vision! We are a financially strong, international company with no debt and have been in business for over 40 years. Using advanced optics, image sensors and artificial intelligence software Cognex vision and ID systems capture an image then analyze it to make sense of what’s being seen. We are deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment, guided by our \"Work Hard, Play Hard, Move Fast\" culture, which celebrates employee innovation, determination, and dedication in a dynamic, fun, and distinctive atmosphere. We are working on a hybrid schedule, 3 days in the office, 2 at home. As a Senior Applications Engineer, you will join an Applications Engineering (AE) team that is responsible for supporting customers through their journey with Cognex. The AE team determines the right combination of Cognex products, lighting, optics and automation engineering for an optimal solution that fits within the customer’s defined budget and skillset. The AE team provides technical expertise to customers and collaborates with the Sales organization to influence the selling of Cognex products

Essential Functions

• Provides application guidance for high-complexity applications across all Cognex products and prioritizes as necessary.
• For complex applications, may require the support of more experienced AEs.
• Provides advanced integration of Cognex products with devices such as PLCs, PCs, or Controllers
• Performs advanced troubleshooting for Cognex products and develops knowledge of peripheral technology
• Provides Sales with technical options when communicating with or visiting customers to help Cognex win.
• Shares advanced findings and creates documentation and trainings for the AE community
• Responsible for maintaining business systems information in a timely manner for accurate reporting
• Provides product/customer feedback to AE Manager and product owners to improve products.

Knowledge

• Develops an advanced technical knowledge of Cognex’s vision and sensor product families.
• Advanced knowledge of image processing, optics and lighting for machine vision.
• Advanced knowledge of industrial communication methods, networks, two or more programming languages*, controls (installation, wiring, operability), PLCs, and/or Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).
• *Programming languages may include: javascript, VB, VB.Net, C#, .Net, C++ Advanced industry knowledge to include movement of product, understanding of motion control, robotics, and other automation equipment.
• Advanced knowledge of controls engineering concepts such as installation, wiring, and operability from prior experience
• Working knowledge of MS Office applications.
• Windows based PC industrial connectivity in a lab and automation environment.
• Begins to gain knowledge of business processes and decision-making for product development and commercial impacts.

Skills & Abilities

• Advanced understanding of electro-mechanical solutions.
• Advanced ability to conduct and troubleshoot onsite optimizations, perform trials, and conduct data analytics to improve performance on solutions.
• Advanced ability to handle challenging customer situations.
• Advanced interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively establish relationships, communicate, influence, and present to various stakeholders
• Advanced presentation skills
• Mentors other AEs

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline such as Engineering, Computer Science; or an otherwise equivalent technical experience
• Typically requires a minimum of 4-6 years of experience in technical application development.
• Experience in a related or high-tech industry preferred.
• Ability to adapt to flexible working hours including the availability to work evening and weekend hours or varying work patterns depending on customer or project needs.
• Ability to be on-call and respond to customer emergencies.
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time, sometimes on short notice.
• Travel will vary depending on region, time of year, and customer needs.
• Ability to work safely in industrial environments by strictly following safety guidelines and protocols (may vary per region/customer).
• This job has physical requirements including the ability to lift up to 50 pounds (appx. 23 kilograms).
• Must maintain customer confidentiality to protect confidential or sensitive customer information.
• English language proficiency (written and oral).

Additional Job Description Equal Employment Opportunity Cognex is an equal opportunity employer. Cognex evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, disability/handicap status or any other legally protected characteristic.

WE MAKE COMPUTERS THAT CAN SEE Cognex is the largest, most successful and most recognized global player in industrial machine vision. Using advanced optics, image sensors, and artificial intelligence software Cognex vision and ID systems capture an image, then analyze it to make sense of what’s being seen. Companies use Cognex vision and ID in their manufacturing processes to improve product quality, guide assembly robots, and track items through each stage of production and distribution. Cognex is focused entirely on solving the toughest problems in industrial machine vision and ID, and we have sold more solutions in these areas than any other company in the world. More than a billion products are made each day using Cognex vision. The only thing smarter than our vision and ID systems are the people that stand behind them. One of them could be you!