Application Engineer

The Application Engineer is responsible for turning knowledge into value for OC and our customers. As the primary technical partner for key market segments, this position is critical in understanding market strategies and trends, establishing strong relationships with customers’ technical and operations staff.  A successful candidate builds broad and deep understanding of customer’s processes and applications to facilitate product needs (FFU) documentation and product/process models, while translating useful intel back to OC sales, Marketing, S&T and operations teams. The candidate will develop OC’s perspective of the commonalities across multiple customer processes, product lines, nonwovens product needs and application trends with the objective of enhancing our offering in that application segment and creating competitive advantage. The Application Engineer makes product and project recommendations based on customer needs and market trends development.  The Application Engineer helps develop/support strategies to drive profitable and sustainable growth in the North America (NA) market. This position is accountable for contributing to our business growth by providing value-added support, analysis, product strategies, and collaboration both internally and externally. The position is remote and can be based in Granville, OH; Gastonia, NC; Toledo, OH; or Home Office US and requires travel estimated at ~40%.

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Generates differentiated value to our customers

• Primary customer facing technical expert representing Owens Corning NA Nonwovens and our products.
• Builds broad and deep understanding of customer’s processes and the application of OC Nonwovens products to facilitate product needs documentation (FFU).
• Develops strong understanding of customer Management of Change systems to facilitate efficient product qualification processes.
• Adjusts product and processes when and where needed to better meet customer critical product attributes.

Acts as Voice of the Customer

• Communicates critical information back to internal colleagues and OC leadership.
• Leverages industry/customer knowledge to develop product strategies with commercial team.
• Partners with Operations and corporate R&D resources to develop and execute product trials.
• Identifies cross customer product requirements, manufacturing commonalities, and industry trends.

Establishes and utilizes internal network

• Leads cross functional teams to optimize product technology offerings.
• Develops strong internal relationships with strategic marketing, operations, supply chain, commercial excellence to act as liaison between customer facing and internal functions.
• Documents key customer findings and communicates to the broader OC network. 
• Partners with Key Account Managers within their application segment and with Strategic Marketing to develop an aligned strategy for their application segment.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree, Engineering, Chemistry, or related technical field
• Preferred 7+ years industry experience, preferably in Non Wovens, Pulp and Paper, Building Materials, Composite Materials, or similar markets.
• Experience with coatings and coating process is considered a plus.

EXPERIENCE

• Experience representing a large organization in customer-facing environment.
• Experience operating in a multi-cultural business across geographic boundaries
• Experience consolidating information from multiple customers into an overall industry trend, general product requirements and common manufacturing parameters.
• Exposure to marketing and selling new products and services; attracting new customers.
• Experience leading projects and programs.
• Experience with coatings and coating process development and optimization.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Proven Project Management track record
• Knowledge of coating systems, formulations, chemistry
• Ability to develop an intimate knowledge of customers, competition, and market intelligence.
• Competitive, highly motivated and results driven with a strong work ethic.
• Creative, uses a wide variety of methods/techniques to solve problems.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and execute strategic directions.
• Broad operating style, ability to adapt across cultures, environments and styles.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships with customers at all levels and job functions.
• Ability to understand manufacturing processes and translate customer needs to our manufacturing teams.
• Ability to travel routinely, at times on short notice.
• Data analysis experience and skills. Must be able to analyze data and make data driven decisions.
• Excels at problem solving for quality driven issues. 

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