What are the responsibilities and job description for the Applications Engineer position at Blast Cleaning Technologies?
Blast Cleaning Technologies, Inc. (BCT) is proud to be the leader in shot blast innovation! We are dedicated to our customers, resulting in continuous company growth year over year.
Why Work at BCT?
Highly Competitive Pay and Benefit Plans: We pay for skill and talent.
Medical Insurance: 90% of Insurance Premiums covered by BCT!!! Low deductible, no coinsurance, & great provider network.
Engaged Leadership: You will love and know our CEO. Work with an ethical, hardworking, & interactive leader who listens to employees at all levels.
Second Chance Employer: If you have the skills and work ethic, we will give you a chance.
Comprehensive Benefits and 401K: We offer a full range of benefits & 401K match.
Generous PTO and Paid Holidays: Take advantage of our generous PTO plan and many paid U.S. holidays.
Onsite HR and IT Department: We provide dedicated onsite HR and IT support to ensure our employees' needs are met. We won't send you to a 1-800 number for help.
Historic Location: Work in our over $2 million investment in upgrades and refurbishment at our historic West Allis location.
Casual Work Environment: Enjoy a casual dress code and friendly workplace.
Tuition Reimbursement: Invest in your future with our tuition reimbursement program.
Amenities: Enjoy free coffee, popcorn, and summer cookouts.
Veteran Support: BCT supports and honors veterans.
Made in America: All our components are made in the USA.
Our PACT
Our core values are rooted in the visionary spirit of our CEO, Carl Panzenhagen, who began his career as a teenager working in a foundry. As an adult, his extensive industry experience and dedication led him to create a company free from bureaucracy and grounded in ethical business practices. Guided by Carl’s leadership, a small team of five evolved into a self-sustaining manufacturing powerhouse. Today, BCT proudly stands 300 employees strong and celebrates the completion of our cutting-edge foundry, a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation.General Description
Under the direction of the Applications Engineering Manager, the Applications Engineer will serve as an integral member of the team responsible for developing and selling custom equipment and upgrades for BCT. This role acts as a bridge between Sales and Engineering, ensuring that BCT consistently delivers world-class equipment and service to its customers.
Key responsibilities include reviewing customer applications, developing tailored solutions, estimating project costs, preparing proposals, and delivering presentations—and, when appropriate, concept models—to support those solutions. The position requires approximately 10% travel, with additional travel opportunities available if desired.
To support accurate project costing, the Applications Engineer will collaborate with vendors, integrators, and various internal departments to develop pricing and lead-time estimates. Upon receipt of an order, the Applications Engineer is responsible for initiating the project and defining the machine scope before it is handed off to Engineering and Production.
In addition to project-based responsibilities, the role includes contributing to the development of standard practices and helping to streamline departmental processes. This position requires a strong technical background and a willingness to communicate effectively with customers, vendors, and internal teams across BCT.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as management may deem necessary from time to time.
· Assist application leads and sales managers in managing the RFQ log based on priority and workload
· Creation of proposals via MS Word and cost estimates using Epicor and Excel spreadsheets
· Update proposals based on feedback from sales, engineering, and project management
· Development of 3D Solidworks and 2D (DraftSight) models as needed for proof of concept or as a general sales tool
· Present or assist in presenting design solutions to customers via Teams meeting and/or in-person
· Collaborate with vendors and applications team to develop quotes and cost analyses
· Hold self and support team accountable to company and customer for meeting timelines and objectives
· Assist in communication and documentation of daily project status and release dates
· Assist mechanical and electrical engineering teams as required
· Participate in development of SOPs and procedural improvements
· Helps drive and support BCT’s Culture and Core Values
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
· Demonstrate ability to successfully manage a task list based on input from multiple (potentially competing) interests.
· Ability to prioritize workload and meet company objectives.
· Have a sense of urgency and effectiveness in all assigned tasks.
· Strong interpersonal & written skills with desire to be an active team member.
· Mechanical aptitude and ability to apply engineering design principles to present design solutions to customer requirements
· Demonstrate proficiency with computers skills MS Office, MS Project, or similar project management software.
· Ability to use 3D SolidWorks and 2D DraftSight for concept modeling
Education and/or Experience
· Requires associate or bachelor’s degree with progressively responsible related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
· Any experience in the metals industry is a plus as the majority of BCT’s customers are looking to clean metal product