Applications Engineer Level 4

Applications Engineer Level 4 Job Description: The Applications Engineer Level 4 is an advanced individual contributor within the Applications Engineering department responsible for leading complex quotation activities, developing customer-focused automation concepts, preparing accurate proposals, and supporting awarded solutions through project transition. This role requires strong experience in manufacturing, custom automated equipment, project budgeting, process development, and the engineering disciplines required to generate technically sound and commercially responsible proposals. The Applications Engineer Level 4 is expected to operate with a high degree of independence and judgment while contributing to the overall strength of the department through proposal quality, customer credibility, technical knowledge sharing, and support of less experienced Applications Engineers. This position is not a formal leadership role and does not carry responsibility for personnel management. The Applications Engineer Level 4 serves as a trusted technical and commercial contributor capable of leading complex customer opportunities, developing practical automation solutions, communicating effectively with customers and internal teams, and helping strengthen proposal consistency through experience, sound judgment, and peer support. Responsibilities Include : Prepare detailed automation proposals including manufacturing concepts, process steps, budgets, cycle time analysis, labor estimates, material requirements, risks, assumptions, project timing, and technical scope. Operate with limited oversight while ensuring proposal content is technically sound, commercially responsible, and aligned with customer expectations. Lead complex opportunities involving significant technical ambiguity, elevated commercial risk, or strategic customer importance while escalating major concerns to department leadership as appropriate. Generate automation concepts and manufacturing process strategies for custom equipment involving assembly, welding, adhesive, machining, material handling, inspection, robotic, or other automated manufacturing processes. Interact with cross-functional team members to gather input, solicit external quotes, validate technical approaches, and support accurate proposal development. Identify labor & material requirements, technical risks, cost drivers, assumptions, and timing considerations for assigned opportunities. Participate in proposal reviews to support proposal quality, risk identification, and alignment with established department standards. Support less experienced Applications Engineers through technical guidance, knowledge sharing, example-based support, and review participation without carrying formal personnel accountability. Support & lead customer meetings and proposal discussions involving technical concepts, scope alignment, project assumptions, risks, and commercial content as appropriate. Build and maintain professional customer relationships through responsive communication, clear technical explanations, and reliable proposal support. Support project kickoff, engineering, build, and project management teams by communicating concept intent, customer requirements, proposal assumptions, and project-specific considerations. Contribute to continuous improvement efforts related to proposal quality, estimating accuracy, customer satisfaction, cost feedback, and department efficiency. Maintain and expand usable feedback information, lessons learned, vendor information, and estimating references to improve future proposal accuracy. Communicate project developments, quote concerns, customer needs, risk items, and support requirements to department leadership in a timely and professional manner. Travel occasionally to meet customers, review project requirements, support proposal activities. Champion our Operating Principles: You will be expected to actively embody and uphold our ten Operating Principles, which guide our e…