JOB PURPOSE or JOB SUMMARY:

The Application Engineering Manager provides hands-on technical and people leadership for JEM’s Application Engineering team. This role is responsible for leading customer-facing engineering activities from concept through production while actively contributing to the technical execution of complex hydraulic, electro-hydraulic, and control system solutions.

Serving as both a working technical leader and people manager, the Application Engineering Manager ensures customer requirements are clearly defined, technically sound, and effectively translated into manufacturable solutions. This position works closely with customers, sales, design, controls, quality, and production teams to deliver high-quality systems that meet performance, reliability, and schedule expectations.

In addition to managing and developing a team of application engineers, this role remains deeply involved in system architecture, design reviews, troubleshooting, validation, and key customer interactions. The Application Engineering Manager plays a critical role in setting technical standards, improving processes, and strengthening JEM’s reputation as a trusted engineering partner.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

Technical Leadership & Execution

• Remain actively engaged in application engineering work, including system architecture, design reviews, troubleshooting, and validation of hydraulic, electro-hydraulic, and control systems.
• Serve as technical lead or co-owner on complex, high-risk, or high-visibility customer projects.
• Review and approve system concepts, component selections, schematics, drawings, and technical documentation to ensure quality and consistency.
• Support development and validation of prototype and production systems, including test planning, execution, and results review.
• Provide hands-on technical guidance to engineers during problem-solving, root-cause analysis, and performance optimization efforts.

Customer Engagement & Project Ownership

• Act as a primary technical interface for key customers, guiding requirements definition, solution development, and performance validation.
• Partner with sales and applications teams to support customer meetings, proposals, and technical presentations.
• Ensure customer requirements are clearly understood, documented, and translated into robust engineering solutions.
• Address technical escalations, field issues, and customer concerns with urgency, professionalism, and sound engineering judgment.
• Support system commissioning, startup, and troubleshooting activities at customer sites when required.

People Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of application engineers, fostering technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Assign and balance workloads to ensure effective project execution and professional growth opportunities for team members.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, performance reviews, and development planning.
• Establish clear expectations for technical quality, customer engagement, documentation, and responsiveness.
• Support onboarding and training of new engineers to accelerate productivity and integration into the team.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with design, controls, manufacturing, quality, and operations teams to ensure alignment on project goals and execution.
• Coordinate with production to ensure manufacturability and smooth product launches.
• Participate in engineering change (ECO) processes and new product development (NPD) initiatives.
• Collaborate with leadership to align application engineering priorities with business objectives.

Process Improvement & Technical Standards

• Establish and maintain best practices for application engineering workflows, documentation, and customer engagement.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, quality, and consistency across application engineering activities.
• Contribute to development of technical standards, design guidelines, and lessons learned.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to engineering tools, testing capabilities, and project execution.

COMPETENCIES:

• Demonstrates deep understanding of hydraulic and electro-hydraulic systems, mechanical design principles, and system integration. Applies engineering theory effectively to real-world applications in testing, prototyping, and production environments.
• Understands the interactions between mechanical, electrical, and control systems. Anticipates how design choices affect manufacturability, reliability, and performance across the full product lifecycle.
• Leads by example through direct technical involvement while effectively guiding and developing others.
• Understands customer needs and priorities. Communicates clearly, builds trust, and delivers solutions that meet or exceed expectations.
• Applies structured, practical approaches to complex technical and organizational challenges. Makes timely, well-reasoned decisions.
• Works effectively across disciplines and departments. Communicates complex technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. Represents JEM with integrity and a customer-focused attitude.
• Drives projects from concept through completion, managing priorities, risks, and resources effectively.
• Actively seeks opportunities to improve processes, tools, and team effectiveness.
• Prioritizes safe work practices and adherence to ISO, OSHA, and AWAIR standards. Consistently contributes to maintaining high product and process quality standards.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, climb, or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. 
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

• This position is based on-site at JEM’s Orono facility to support hands-on engineering, customer interaction, and production activities.
• Occasional exposure to test labs, production areas, and customer sites is expected.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to work near moving mechanical parts.
• The noise level in the work environment can be loud at times.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this position.

 QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Fluid Power, or related discipline required. 
• 7+ years of experience in application engineering, hydraulic systems, electro-hydraulic integration, or related fields.
• Prior experience leading or mentoring engineers strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of hydraulic systems, controls integration, and customer-specific applications.
• Proficiency in 3D modeling and 2D drafting (SolidWorks preferred).
• Experience with test planning, system validation, and troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of ECO processes, PDM/ERP systems, and NPD workflows.
• Strong communication and customer engagement skills.
• Valid driver’s license, ability to drive independently, and maintain a safe driving record. 
• Experience working cross-functionally in manufacturing or production environments.
• Ability to travel up to 25%.