Sr. Application Engineer

Actalent; Maple Grove (MN); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental plans

Disability insurance

Group term life insurance

HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care plans

8 paid holidays and generous PTO

401k matching

Company events

Annual safety shoe allowance

Education assistance

Job summary

Actalent in Maple Grove, MN is seeking a Sr. Application Engineer to design and implement direct exchange geothermal and thermal energy systems.

You will bridge customers, sales, engineering, and operations to deliver cost-effective heating and cooling solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial projects. The role requires 5+ years in engineering, 2+ years in applications engineering, CAD proficiency, and strong communication.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field.
• 5+ years in an engineering function.
• 2+ years in applications engineering or similar role.
• Experience with direct expansion coils or refrigerant-based evaporators.
• Proficiency with CAD systems for mechanical design.

Responsibilities

• Design and configure geothermal and thermal energy systems based on project requirements.
• Perform load calculations, energy analyses, and equipment sizing.
• Evaluate site conditions and requirements to select effective configurations.
• Develop piping layouts, system schematics, and installation details.
• Review drawings and bid documents for accuracy and compliance.
• Provide technical input in customer meetings and proposals.
• Prepare technical proposals, budgets, BOMs, and equipment selections.
• Support installation, startup, commissioning, and troubleshooting.
• Analyze performance data and propose design improvements.
• Collaborate with sales, engineering, and operations to align solutions with goals.
• Manage multiple projects with quality and timelines.

Skills

Engineering experience

Applications engineering

CAD proficiency

HVAC/thermal systems

Customer collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Job description

Job Description

As a Sr. Application Engineer supports the design, application, and implementation of direct exchange geothermal and thermal energy solutions. In this role, you act as the technical liaison between customers, sales, engineering, and operations to develop innovative and cost-effective heating and cooling systems for residential, commercial, and industrial projects. You use your engineering expertise to evaluate customer requirements, perform system design and sizing, prepare technical proposals, and support projects from initial concept through commissioning.

Job Title

Sr. Application Engineer

Responsibilities

• Design and configure geothermal and thermal energy systems based on specific project requirements.
• Perform heating and cooling load calculations, energy analyses, and equipment sizing to ensure optimal system performance.
• Evaluate site conditions and application requirements to recommend the most effective system configurations.
• Develop piping layouts, system schematics, installation details, and detailed engineering documentation.
• Review project specifications, drawings, and bid documents to ensure technical accuracy and compliance.
• Provide technical expertise during customer meetings, sales presentations, and internal project discussions.
• Prepare technical proposals, project budgets, bills of material, and detailed equipment selections.
• Provide technical support during installation, startup, commissioning, and troubleshooting activities.
• Identify and resolve technical issues that affect project performance and customer satisfaction.Analyze system performance data and recommend design improvements or modifications.
• Collaborate closely with sales, engineering, and operations teams to align technical solutions with customer needs and project goals.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, maintaining quality and timelines in a fast-paced environment.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in an engineering-related specialization.
• At least 5 years of experience in an engineering function.
• At least 2 years of experience in an applications engineering or similar role.
• Experience and exposure with direct expansion coils or evaporator coils that use refrigerant instead of chilled water.
• Experience interpreting customer requirements and developing engineered solutions.
• Proficiency using CAD systems for mechanical design and documentation.
• Experience reviewing mechanical drawings, specifications, and project documents.
• Strong technical communication skills with the ability to present solutions to customers, representatives, and internal teams.
• Ability to work independently both in the office and outside the office.
• Understanding or exposure to thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, refrigeration, and chillers.
• Experience in mechanical design and mechanical engineering within HVAC or related thermal systems.
• Ability to support technical sales and translate customer specifications into engineering solutions.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with application engineering in HVAC, geothermal, or thermal energy systems.
• Experience in sales engineering or technical sales, including developing technical proposals and equipment selections.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD for creating and modifying engineering drawings.
• Experience with SolidWorks or similar 3D modeling tools for mechanical design.
• Project management experience, including managing multiple concurrent projects and priorities.
• Ability to analyze system performance data and propose design optimizations.Strong organizational skills and attention to detail when preparing bills of material and project documentation.
• Self-motivated mindset with a proactive approach to problem-solving and customer support.

Work Environment

This role initially requires working on-site at a facility in Maple Grove for approximately the first one to three months to support onboarding and collaboration. After this period, there may be opportunities to work in a hybrid or more remote capacity, depending on business needs and performance. The environment is fast paced, and you will typically manage around five projects at the same time, requiring strong organizational and time-management skills. You will work closely with cross-functional teams and use tools such as CAD software, mechanical design platforms, and standard office productivity applications in a professional engineering setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Maple Grove, MN.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $100000.00 - $140000.00/yr.

• Medical, vision, and dental plans
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Group term life insurance coverage
• HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care plans available
• 8 paid holidays, 4 floating holidays, and generous PTO policy
• 401k matching
• Company paid events
• Annual safety shoe allowance
• Education assistance program

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 2, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Maple Grove,MN.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.