The Application Engineer reports to the Director of Specialty Cables and may be assigned to different projects as business needs dictate. The position is located at our Duncan, SC corporate office.

The Applications Engineer is responsible for bridging customer needs and desires with AFL fiber optic cable and related accessories. This position will take customer inputs and determine the most appropriate products and services to meet customer needs, to include generating cable specifications and installation / handling instructions. The primary focus will be on fiber optic cables with a secondary focus on the full end-to-end fiber optic solution utilizing AFLs full array of optical products. The position will aid sales by having in-depth knowledge of competitor offerings in order to best position AFL technically and commercially with customers. Provide additional engineering services upon customer request, including application specific recommendations for hardware, terminations and installation guidance.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Determine the optimum design fiber optic cable design per customer technical requirements and commercial objectives.
• Ability to interpret customer specifications compared with industry standards and AFLs internal capability. Document point-by-point reviews and responses to customer specifications detailing variances from the standards/specifications.
• Create specific cable designs and cost sheets to be provided to the commercial team for pricing product. For certain products and markets, the position will also generate the pricing, terms and conditions along with the technical details for each quotation which requires a certain commercial aptitude.
• Provide technical support to customers including product selection guidance, cable, cable prep and splicing support, etc.
• Occasional product presentations and specific technical discussions with key customers. May require travel to meet with customers at their location and/or in the field.
• Internal Manufacturing Support: Provide feedback to Process Engineering on specific process and manufacturing issues with customer orders when necessary. Work with Customer Service and Product Engineering to take customer order expectations and requirements and ensure the needs are clear to manufacturing.
• Customer management: For certain projects and events, manage customer relations directly by providing updates on current status, investigations, and research. Assist with on-site customer visits and inspections by hosting inspectors, creating reports, resolving open issues, etc.

• Four year degree in engineering, preferably electrical or mechanical, from an accredited university.
• Up to 8 years of experience in a similar type of position even if it was not necessarily in the fiber optics industry.
• Industry related experience is a plus but not necessary.
• Strong computer skills including WORD, EXCEL, and POWERPOINT are required. ACCESS skills are a plus.
• Technical writing skills are required to respond to customer specifications, develop test reports, etc. Position requires strong presentation skills both in person and via phone / conference calls.
• Travel is minimal at no more than 25%, typically in support of sales efforts with end customers.

Competencies for Success:

• Managing the flow of information and communications between AFL and current/potential customers and/or target markets in accordance with the account strategy and in coordination with the Sales Manager, with the objective of improving customer relationships, securing new business and ultimately adding to the bottom line.
• Generate and provide technical information on unique designs to include drawings, specifications, manufacturing and material costs, and expected cable performance.
• Coordinate with manufacturing to ensure customer specifications, testing, documentation and delivery are met.
• Maintaining sufficient knowledge of the customers business to recognize opportunities and be perceived by the customer as a problem solver.
• Using technical and commercial selling skills, generate preference for AFLs products and services.
• Making recommendations that will grow and solidify our position with a customer and/or in targeted market segments.
• Maintain a high level of knowledge regarding AFLs products, services, and capabilities and be able to convey this knowledge to potential customers. Act in a consultative role to the customer to insure that they can easily order, install, and add value to their internal objectives with our programs and services.