Technical Service Engineer (Application Engineering)

Software Placement Group; Farmington Hills (MI); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Physical Company Car

Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision

401(k) Match

Generous PTO

Career Development Opportunities

Job summary

Software Placement Group is seeking a Technical Service Engineer (Application Engineering) for a global plastics manufacturer in Farmington Hills, MI. The role combines polymer and materials expertise with direct customer engagement across NA, SA and Asia, including travel.

The position emphasizes lifecycle support from material selection to product launch, with strong emphasis on problem solving, data interpretation and cross-functional collaboration. Hybrid remote with travel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years in application engineering, technical service or related field.
• Strong understanding of engineering thermoplastics and injection molding.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for diverse stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally, including travel to South America.

Responsibilities

• Directly work with customers throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Develop technical solutions for engineering plastics and injection molding.
• Support customer trials, evaluations and qualification activities.
• Troubleshoot issues with root-cause analysis and practical recommendations.
• Collaborate with internal teams to support customer projects and new business.

Skills

Customer-facing communication

Problem-solving

Analytical thinking

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Polymer Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science/Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Location: Farmington Hills, Michigan (Hybrid Remote + Travel) | Schedule: Full-Time, Direct-Hire | Compensation: $105,000 – $110,000 Base Salary (Negotiable Based on Experience)

Overview

A global manufacturer of high-performance engineering plastics, polymers and advanced material solutions serving Automotive, Aerospace, Defense, Electronics, Medical, Industrial and Consumer markets is growing its Americas team and seeking a Technical Service Engineer (Application Engineering). This customer-facing role bridges customers, sales teams and global Technical/R&D functions across North America, South America and Asia, combining polymer and materials knowledge with application engineering and problem-solving, including an average of approximately three customer meetings per week.

What you'll do

• Work directly with customers throughout the product development lifecycle, from initial application requirements and material selection through qualification, validation, troubleshooting and product launch
• Develop practical technical solutions covering engineering thermoplastics, material selection, injection molding, processing conditions, part design and component performance
• Support customer molding trials, product evaluations and qualification activities, providing technical recommendations based on application and performance requirements
• Troubleshoot material, molding and application issues, conducting root-cause analysis and translating technical findings into clear, practical customer recommendations
• Evaluate relationships between material properties, processing conditions, dimensional stability, durability and final component performance
• Utilize analytical and material-characterization techniques including DSC, FTIR, SEM, microscopy, MFR, mechanical/impact testing and dimensional analysis, where appropriate
• Prepare technical reports, processing recommendations, application-development documentation and customer presentations
• Support the development and commercialization of new materials and applications across automotive, electrical/electronics, consumer, industrial and related markets
• Build strong relationships with customer engineering, materials, manufacturing and product-development teams, providing responsive and value-added technical consultation
• Partner closely with internal Sales, Technical Service, R&D, Commercial and Product teams to support customer projects, technical presentations and new-business opportunities
• Provide technical support and application training to customers, distributors and channel partners throughout the Americas
• Collaborate with global Technical Service and R&D teams, particularly in Asia, to communicate customer requirements and coordinate application-development and technical investigation activities
• Work effectively within an international, multicultural environment, with flexibility for occasional early-morning or evening meetings and domestic/international travel as required

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Polymer Engineering, Materials Science/Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline preferred
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience, ideally 5–8 years, within application engineering, technical service, polymer engineering, injection molding, product development or a related technical field
• Strong understanding of engineering thermoplastics and injection molding fundamentals, including material behavior, processing conditions, tooling concepts and their impact on final component performance
• Ability to understand customer technical challenges and translate them into practical material, processing and application solutions
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including experience with technical investigations, troubleshooting and root-cause analysis
• Strong customer-facing, communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to engineering, commercial and other stakeholders
• Ability to manage multiple customer projects and technical activities while working effectively across internal and external teams
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and standard business software
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally, including occasional travel to South America
• Flexibility to participate in occasional early-morning or evening meetings with global teams

Preferred qualifications

• Customer-facing application engineering or technical service experience within engineering plastics, polymers, specialty chemicals or advanced materials
• Experience supporting material selection, injection molding, product qualification and application development programs
• Familiarity with material characterization techniques such as DSC, FTIR, SEM, microscopy, MFR, mechanical testing and dimensional metrology
• Automotive OEM/Tier supplier or other technically demanding manufacturing experience would be advantageous
• Spanish-language capability is a plus

Compensation and benefits

• $105,000 – $110,000 Base Salary (Negotiable Based on Experience)
• Performance-based Bonus 12.5% OTE
• Physical Company Car
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Match
• Generous PTO
• Good Career Development Opportunities

Why this role

This position offers the chance to combine polymer and materials expertise with customer-facing application engineering across global markets, supported by competitive base salary, bonus potential and a comprehensive benefits package.