Application Engineer

Position Summary: The Applications Engineer is responsible for providing technical support to the Sales force, working together to determine the best product for meeting the Customer application. They will recommend potential development projects that support new business. Duties &

Responsibilities:
• Based on an understanding of field application, design fabric structures, seams and finishing requirements for nonwoven customers.
• Customer Interface:
• Field questions ranging from product and installation methods, to asking for input to gain experience with how our products have run.
• Supply design style information and product specifications.
• Trouble shoot fabric issues, create dialogue to determine how best to approach a problem, provide direction either in person or by phone
• Customer visits, updates, technical discussions, seminars
• Meet with the customer to establish credibility, trust and create another connection within Albany International.
• Observe the machines and watch the fabric operate in the environment
• Provide follow up to trouble shooting, problem solving ,
• Show samples, explain data, see the solutions in person,
• Perform Field service: on machines, during installations, and to assist with trouble shooting,
• Take measurements using tools such as permeability testers, tensiometers, caliper gauges, and or/assist service engineers with on machine measurements.
• Draw out machine schematics or line drawings of machine operations.
• Establish an understanding of how our fabric interfaces with application
• Learn what the customer faces when using our products and apply that knowledge to product design, enhancements, troubleshooting and in making application recommendations.
• Become proficient at knowing what causes our products to operate successfully or incorrectly and apply that to specific customer needs.
• Follow up on customer irritations, complaints, and corrective actions and either through sales or personally provide feedback to the appropriate person.
• Review together with Product Engineering manufacturing records and procedures to determine whether there is reason to doubt fabric performance
• Understand what has occurred with the fabric on the machine, if possible, to eliminate certain causes online
• Inspect fabrics at the customer or in-house and document to provide answers back to the customer
• Utilize knowledge of structures, monofilaments, materials equipment and manufacturing processes to assist in product qualifications and also support R&D and product development.
• Attend EF sales meetings both online and locally in order to:
• Give presentations on trial results that impact other customers and could provide solutions within or across market segments
• Understand what is happening in our industry, with the sales forces and other Albany EF technical groups.
• Participate in process improvement and work groups
• Assist quality and manufacturing in understanding our customers’ requirements so they make knowledgeable decisions regarding the treatment of our fabrics.
• Participate in products performance, quality and safety audits. Provide specification guidelines for our customers for the products we sell to support their auditing processes.
• Interface with Customer Service and planning daily to assure product quotes and appropriate SAP follow-up is expedited.
• Safety:
• Follow all publicized safety policies/procedures and JIBS applicable to the job
• Use appropriate PPE that has been identified on the Hazard Analysis for the department/role
• Attend and participate in all safety training, safety committee meetings, audits and Behavior Based Safety programs assigned
• Report on all safety hazards observed. If capable, correct the safety hazard identified. Skill Set
• Detail oriented, analytical and data driven
• Accountable team player, willing to share and support.
• Communication skills; listening, learning, writing, and verbal
• Knowledge of product applications, textile applications are as benefit
• Computer and systems knowledge; MS Office, SAP
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technology field/discipline and 3-5 years’ experience, in a comparable work environment. Extensive work experience in industrial textile applications would be acceptable in lieu of a bachelor’s degree. Relationships: Reports to Product Manager – EF Eurasia and works closely with Manufacturing, R&D, Product Engineering, Customer Service, Planning and Quality to assure all understand the customer application requirements. Environment: The position requires some travel to customers, other Albany manufacturing sites, sales meetings and/or technical conferences. While working in the mills the engineer is exposed to loud noise, heat, long hours, smells, and dampness. They will also have to do some climbing on equipment, carry analytical tools, assist with installations, which could require awkward but safe positioning on machines.