Application Engineering Manager

COMPANY DESCRIPTION:

Hengli America Corporation (www.henglihydraulics.com) is a subsidiary of Jiangsu Hengli Hydraulic Co. Ltd., a world class manufacturer of hydraulic components and hydraulic system integrator located in Changzhou China approximately 3 hours from Shanghai.

Hengli’s brand is recognized globally as a superior supplier to internationally recognized Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in earthmoving and construction, mining, lift, aerial work platform, marine and offshore, and oil and gas markets. We produce customized hydraulic cylinders, industrial hydraulic valves, mobile valves, piston pumps and motors, and various pneumatic products.

Hengli America is in the greater Chicago area and is rapidly growing in the areas of product research and development, application development, manufacturing, and customer service.

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

The Application Engineering Manager leads a team of application engineers, overseeing their daily activities and providing technical and sales guidance to help achieve sales targets while also providing technical support and guidance to the Sales team and customers. This role involves managing projects, developing team members through mentorship and performance evaluations, and collaborating with sales and engineering teams to ensure customer needs are met.

The Application Engineering team is responsible for designing, developing, and implementing software applications, often with a focus on advanced system analysis, integration with third-party products, and providing expert technical support to clients, requiring a deep understanding of software development methodologies and the ability to lead projects independently while collaborating with cross-functional teams; essentially acting as a highly skilled technical expert with extensive experience in application development and customer interaction.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

·      Team and project management:

o  Manages application engineers, assign projects, and ensure tasks are completed efficiently.

·      Technical leadership:

o  Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and training to the sales engineering team.

o  Develops and delivers technical product presentations used to engage customers and prospects and educate sales teams

o  Staying updated with emerging technologies and industry best practices

·      Sales collaboration:

o  Work with sales managers to develop account strategies, identify opportunities, and support closing deals.

o  Interacts with customers’ technical teams for support

o  Travel to customers as needed

o  Analyzes customers’ technical specifications, recommends the best product configuration and installation process, and estimates implementation effort, time, and resources

o  Reviews sales proposals for accuracy, completeness, and quality

·      Performance management:

o  Conduct performance evaluations and help team members develop their skills and reach their potential.

·      Customer and product support:

o  Ensure the team provides excellent technical support to customers and that products are aligned with customer needs and industry standards.

·      Technical support:

o  Uses technical knowledge of product offerings to advise and support sales teams with pricing estimates and implementation guidance based on customer requirements

o  Leading the design and development of complex application features and functionalities

o  Translating technical specifications into code, including writing programs, testing, and debugging

o  Performing system analysis, architecture design, and integration with other systems

o  Troubleshooting complex technical information to clients and stakeholders

POSITION REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, or another related field required
• Minimum of 5 years of engineering experience
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a supervisory role
• Industry experience required (hydraulic cylinders, industrial hydraulic valves, mobile valves, piston pumps and motors, and pneumatic products)
• Authorized to work in the US
• Ability to travel, 20%
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Salesforce experience is a plus
• SolidWorks experience is a plus
• Fluent in Mandarin is a plus
• Located in the Midwest, IL preferred
• Familiar with ISO90001 standards is a plus

BENEFITS:

• Competitive salary
• Bonus opportunity for team and individual performance
• Insurance options include Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability plans
• Employer paid life insurance
• Health Savings option available with employer contribution
• Paid vacation, sick days, and holidays
•  Monthly allowances for phone, car, home office use
• 401(k) match - 100% match for 4% salary
• Company credit for work expenses