Lead, Applications Engineering - Composites in United

Job Description

Job Purpose:

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This position leads the U.S. Composites Applications Engineering team, ensuring high-quality technical delivery across customer engagements. The role combines people leadership with expertise in VCP/VCS, AFP, post-processing, complex machine configurations, and related manufacturing technologies.

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The Lead is the team’s primary technical escalation point and partners with Sales, Product, and Development to align resources with customer needs and business priorities. The role develops the team, manages technical delivery and resources, and establishes scalable processes and standards.

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The Lead also remains hands-on with complex customer applications while building the people, processes, and capabilities needed to grow the U.S. Composites business.

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Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

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The following duties are representative of the essential functions of the role. Additional responsibilities may be assigned as required.

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Team Leadership & Development

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• Lead, develop, and support the U.S. Composites Applications Engineering team, establishing clear expectations for performance, technical quality, customer engagement, and professional development.

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• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, provide ongoing coaching and feedback, and manage the performance evaluation and development planning process for direct reports.

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• Assess individual and team capabilities, identify skill gaps, and establish development priorities that strengthen technical depth and create progression opportunities across the Applications Engineering organization.

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• Promote effective knowledge sharing, collaboration, and two-way communication across the team.

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Composites Technical Leadership & Delivery

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• Provide technical leadership for VCP/VCS and AFP-related customer applications, ensuring consistent and high-quality delivery across the team.

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• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex CNC and robotic programming, post-processing, simulation, and machine configuration issues.

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• Guide the development and validation of Python-based post-processors for CNC and robotic AFP systems, including complex multi-axis machines and redundant kinematic chains.

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• Provide technical direction on complex machine kinematics, tool , layup path strategies, and other non-standard Composites applications.

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• Guide the development, implementation, and validation of accurate machine simulation configurations for AFP systems and auxiliary technologies, including ultrasonic cutters, probing systems, and other customer-specific equipment.

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• Review complex technical deliverables and coach Applications Engineers on configuration decisions, troubleshooting methodology, code quality, validation, and escalation judgment.

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• Promote the development of reusable tools, automation scripts, templates, and technical standards that improve delivery quality and reduce repetitive engineering effort.

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Resource & Project Management

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• Own resource planning and assignment across customer implementations, support cases, training, demonstrations, and other Composites Applications Engineering activities.

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• Balance team capacity against customer commitments and commercial priorities, proactively identifying resource constraints and recommending solutions.

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• Provide oversight for the technical implementation of customer projects, ensuring appropriate scope, ownership, timelines, technical quality, and communication.

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• Coordinate cross-functional and cross-business-unit technical efforts when customer requirements extend beyond the capabilities or capacity of the U.S. Composites team.

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• Establish and monitor appropriate team goals, delivery metrics, and operating practices to improve quality, efficiency, and customer experience.

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Customer Engagement & Partnerships

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• Partner closely with Sales and commercial leadership to align Applications Engineering resources with customer opportunities and business priorities.

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• Support strategic and technically complex customer engagements, including technical discovery, demonstrations, proof-of-concept activities, implementation planning, and escalations.

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• Represent Vericut Composites capabilities credibly with engineering, manufacturing, and customer decision-makers, adapting technical depth to the audience.

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• Ensure the team delivers effective customer training for VCP, VCS, post-processing, and related Composites workflows, both remotely and on-site.

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• Support trade shows, webinars, technical presentations, and other commercial activities where Applications Engineering expertise is required.

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Product & Development Partnership

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• Serve as a key technical connection between customer-facing Applications Engineering and the Product and Development teams.

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• Ensure customer issues and field feedback are appropriately documented, categorized, and differentiated between software defects, product limitations, configuration issues, and training gaps.

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• Partner with Product and Development to support feature implementation, technical investigation, testing, and resolution of customer-impacting issues.

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• Identify recurring customer requirements and technical patterns that may inform future product capabilities, workflow improvements, or development priorities.

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• Promote effective use of version-controlled workflows, including GitLab, for post-processors, scripts, configurations, and other technical assets to ensure traceability and reproducibility.

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• Support the development and maintenance of appropriate regression testing practices for post-processors and other critical technical deliverables.

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Operational Excellence

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• Ensure customer support activities and interactions are appropriately documented in Salesforce and other required systems.

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• Establish and maintain technical standards, documentation, and standard operating procedures that improve consistency and scalability across the team.

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• Ensure appropriate handling and storage of customer information, including Export Controlled data, in accordance with company policies and applicable requirements.

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• Support administrative responsibilities associated with people leadership, including time-off requests, expense approvals, performance documentation, and other required management activities.

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Education & Experience

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• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field; or equivalent practical experience such as machining, CNC operation, technical vocational training, or relevant manufacturing experience.

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• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing, engineering software, Applications Engineering, or a related technical environment.

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• Demonstrated experience leading technical projects, mentoring technical employees, or managing technical teams.

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• Required Qualifications

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Required Qualifications

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• Strong knowledge of Vericut Composites Programming (VCP) and Vericut Composites Simulation (VCS), or demonstrated experience with comparable composites manufacturing programming and simulation technologies.

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• Strong understanding of Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) processes and associated CNC or robotic manufacturing workflows.

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• Proficiency in Python, with experience developing or supporting post-processors, automation, or other manufacturing software applications.

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• Experience with multi-axis CNC or robotic systems, including an understanding of complex machine kinematics, redundant axes, and tool logic.

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• Working knowledge of CAD/CAM technologies and their integration with programming, simulation, and manufacturing workflows.

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• Experience with Fanuc, Siemens, robotic controls, or comparable CNC/control systems.

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• Demonstrated ability to lead the resolution of complex technical issues and provide technical direction to other engineers.

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• Strong people leadership and coaching skills, with the ability to establish expectations, provide actionable feedback, and develop technical talent.

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• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple customer projects, priorities, and technical resources effectively.

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• Strong customer-facing communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for engineering, manufacturing, commercial, and leadership audiences.

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• Ability to partner effectively with Sales, Product, Development, and other cross-functional stakeholders.

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• Ability to travel up to 20%, including occasional international travel.

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Qualifications:

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• Previous experience leading or managing an Applications Engineering, Composites Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Technical Support, or similar customer-facing technical team.

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• Advanced experience with VCP/VCS, AFP programming, simulation, and post-processor development.

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• Experience developing post-processors for complex multi-axis CNC or robotic systems, including systems with seven or more axes.

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• Experience developing tools, scripts, or automation that improve technical engineering workflows.

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• Exposure to robotic programming such as RAPID, KRL, or comparable .

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• Experience with version-controlled development workflows, including GitLab or comparable platforms.

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• Experience developing and maintaining regression test cases for post-processors, machine configurations, or other technical software deliverables.

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• Experience translating field and customer feedback into actionable recommendations for Product and Development.

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