Now Hiring - Applications Engineer in Shoreview, MN

Primary Objective of Positions

This position is responsible for developing innovative concepts, preparing accurate costing, and generating high-quality proposals in response to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) from customers. Read, understand, and clarify RFPs and Aspect’s offerings through collaborative dialog with customers and suppliers. Working with the designated departments within Aspect, Sales personnel, and Manufacturing Reps, collaborate to develop strategic, accurate, and comprehensive proposals which help to advance Aspect to the finalist stage of the sales process and win new business.

Major Areas of Accountability

• Provide input on which projects the company selects to devote proposal resources
• Attend customer visits to gather information necessary for assessing the fit to our custom automation business and the requirements for Aspect’s potential offer.
• Coordinate and facilitate the execution of the Applications proposal process with an emphasis on Mitigating risk

Generating high-quality proposals
Meeting customer commitment dates

• Be knowledgeable of and proficient in the use of Applications tools (process mapping, estimating, risk register, timing diagrams, etc)
• Obtain appropriate approvals and signatures for satisfying applicable ISO procedures
• Develop engineering concepts that meet the customer’s technical requirements and budget.
• Present concepts directly to the customer, by phone/web or face to face.
• Constructively incorporate feedback, customer or internal, into proposal offerings.
• Accurately estimate, with buy-in from the organization, the proposal offers including labor hours required to execute the proposal and provide the proposal deliverables.

Materials and components
Third-party custom equipment and associated labor for implementation
The schedule required for the execution of proposal offerings.

• Coordinate content required for proposal preparation and generate proposal technical content. Write, revise, and edit proposal drafts and appropriate supporting documents.

Ensure that information is aligned with Aspect’s offer, meets the requirements of the RFP, is in the format requested in the RFP, and is according to company standards.

• Conduct the transition from Applications to the organization for projects won.
• Contribute to Aspect’s continuous evolution of technical capability and quoting efficiency: Staying abreast of applicable new technologies available in the marketplace

Initiating and developing applicable vendor relationships
Maintaining goodwill and fostering interaction with Aspect’s established vendor base to leverage vendor expertise and relationships to the advantage of our customers

• Other duties as assigned.

Essential Qualifications

· A bachelor’s degree in Engineering with a minimum of 3-5 years of professional experience in applications engineering, project management, or proposal writing in a similar industry (custom automated equipment or custom engineered solutions.)

· Time Management skills with the ability to meet deadlines.

· 3D Solid Modeling proficiency (preferably SolidWorks)designing capital equipment.

· Demonstrated effective interpersonal and communication skills.

· Experience developing cost estimates for capital equipment.

· Excellent customer relations skills.

· Strong analytical, problem-solving, and negotiation skills.

· Excellent organizational, planning, and prioritization skills.

· Proficient PC skills in a Windows environment, including Microsoft Office Suite

· Ability to travel up to 10%, primarily by air

Desired Qualifications

· Previous experience working within the custom automation machinery industry

· Simulation experience

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Shoreview, MN: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Application Question(s):

• How many years of experience do you have with Requests for Proposals?
• How many years of experience do you have with custom automation?
• How many years of experience do you have with mitigating risk, generating high-quality proposals, & meeting customer commitment dates?
• How many years of experience do you have with using application tools such as process mapping, estimating, risk register, & timing diagrams?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Sales: 3 years (Preferred)
• SolidWorks: 3 years (Preferred)

Willingness to travel:

• 25% (Preferred)

Work Location: In person