Application Engineering Manager - EMEA

JOB SUMMARY

This is a key leadership position within the Application Engineering (AE) team. This role is critical to the business, requiring process/mixing knowledge, experience with mixing specific tools and understanding how to deliver customers with optimized solutions. Application Engineers are the company’s “technical closers” and are required to have a unique blend of process/market knowledge and commercial savvy necessary to provide customers/stakeholders with confidence that our solutions will provide the required process outcome/product quality.

This position provides leadership for the Application Engineering (AE) team, ensuring internal and external customers receive timely, high-quality technical solutions, proposals and support that position the business to win orders. The Manager translates functional objectives into effective day-to-day execution, balancing workload, proposal turnaround, team performance and the long-term development of team members.

This position requires a leader with a strong working knowledge of core mixing applications across broad range of end markets.  They will work closely with functional leaders to ensure efficient handling of quotes and orders and will also coordinate with our sales partners to ensure effective customer support.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure that high-quality quotations and proposals are delivered on time and put our team in the best position to win.


• Manage workload allocation and prioritization across the AE team to ensure opportunities are appropriately resourced


• Partner closely with Sales, Channel Partners and functional stakeholders to clarify requirements, resolve technical queries and support efficient proposal development


• Execute functional objectives and initiatives for the AE team and ensure agreed goals, service levels and performance targets are achieved.


• Mentor individual team members and provide a model of leading by example.


• Ensure that there is ongoing, efficient and effective communication and collaboration between the AE team and all other functional areas.


• Ensure that all team members have clear professional growth plans focusing on building both technical and commercial capability with a goal of building specialists that are routinely called on to be the “technical closers”.

• Build a strong, close and collaborative relationship with the Mixing Technology team, ensuring that the Application Engineers are frequent users of the mixing technology lab and routinely work with the Mixing Technology Team to both develop deep understanding of mixing technology and develop differentiated solutions.


• Drive continuous improvement through structured problem-solving approaches.


• Track key metrics within the team to measure activity and volume related to quotes and orders including quotation turnaround time, proposal quality, workload distribution, activity levels, win rate and order-related support requirements

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Strong working knowledge of Lightnin, Philadelphia, Stelzer and Plenty products, or comparable mixer industry products and applications.


• Excellent oral and written communications skills; able to provide concise and accurate technical and commercial communications to team members.


• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, and a demonstrated ability to promote cross-functional teamwork


• Strong computer skills (MS Office, SAP, other technical applications)


• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to develop solutions to complex workflow and personnel problems.


• Effective in influencing cross-functional teams.


• Demonstrates divergent thinking, courage, creativity, and persistence.


• Provide input to functional strategy and support the development and implementation of operational plans aligned to the global Application Engineering strategy

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Business Development, or a related field


•  5+ years of relevant industry experience, including recognized technical expertise and experience leading technical teams, projects or workstreams.  Previous people management experience preferred


• Experience working autonomously within a global, multi-regional environment

COMPETENCIES & BEHAVIORS

• Leadership & Delegation: Demonstrates the ability to guide, motivate, and direct a team, effectively delegating tasks to appropriate individuals.


• Communication for Understanding: Exhibits excellent communication skills, ensuring clear understanding and fostering open dialogue.


• Customer Insight & Curiosity:   Shows a deep understanding of customer needs and exhibits a strong desire to learn and understand new concepts.


• Information Analysis: Skilled in analyzing data and information to draw accurate conclusions and support decision-making.


• Improvement & Innovation Mindset: Maintains a focus on continuous improvement and innovation, always seeking ways to enhance business processes.


• Decision Making & Risk Taking: Capable of making informed decisions while effectively managing risks and uncertainties.


• Fluent English


• Strategic thinking – ability to understand broader business objectives and translate them into practical actions and priorities for the team

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Travel Requirements

Travel will be required to connect with team members, support projects, visit clients, support sales channels and for internal training.  Travel frequency expected to be within the range of 15-25%.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working conditions are normal for an office and/or client site workshop or warehousing facility. The noise level in the work environment is moderately quiet; however local and client sites can be unpredictable and associated safety equipment should be worn accordingly.

SPX FLOW VALUES

SPX FLOW employees are expected to behave in accordance with our company’s values as outlined below.

QUALITY

Quality encompasses all aspects of SPX FLOW’s business, and every employee shares the responsibility to prevent the occurrence of any nonconformity relating to products, processes, and the quality systems.  All employees have an obligation to identify and record any such nonconformity, and through designed channels, initiate and recommend solutions.

DISCLAIMER

SPX FLOW is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification.  They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.