Application Engineering Manager - New Berlin, WI

At Konecranes, we believe that great customer experience is built on the people behind the Konecranes name. Everything we do, we do with passion and drive. We believe diversity drives business success and is the foundation for our growth. We welcome different backgrounds and skills that enrich our community, and we promote a place where we can ALL be ourselves. This is what makes Konecranes a unique place to work .

Position Summary

The Application Engineering Manager is responsible for leading a team of application engineers in the development of technical solutions, proposals, and engineered systems that support customer requirements and business objectives. This role serves as the bridge between sales, engineering, and project management, ensuring solutions are technically sound, commercially viable, and aligned with company standards. The Application Engineering Manager drives team performance, process improvement, technical excellence, and strategic support for growth initiatives.

Performance Measures

- Proposal quality and accuracy
- Quote lead times and responsiveness
- Project margin support
- Customer satisfaction
- Employee engagement and retention
- Process improvement implementation
- Safety and compliance performance

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop a team of Application Engineers.; Establish performance expectations, goals, and development plans for team members.; Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.; Allocate engineering resources to support business priorities and customer commitments.; Identify staffing needs and support recruiting, onboarding, and training initiatives.; Provide technical oversight of engineered solutions, proposals, and system designs.; Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards, regulations, and internal engineering practices.; Review and approve complex technical concepts, calculations, specifications, and solution architectures.; Support risk assessments and technical evaluations for significant opportunities and projects.; Partner with sales teams to develop customer-focused technical solutions.; Support strategic account planning and pursuit activities.; Review project opportunities and ensure proposals accurately reflect scope, assumptions, risks, and exclusions.; Participate in customer meetings, site visits, and executive-level discussions as needed.; Provide technical guidance to improve win rates and profitability.; Develop and maintain application engineering processes, standards, and best practices.; Drive consistency in estimating, solution development, proposal generation, and technical documentation.; Track and improve key performance indicators including proposal cycle time and quote accuracy.; Implement continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction.; Support digital transformation, automation, and engineering tools adoption.; Work closely with Product Management, Manufacturing, Operations, Project Management, Procurement, and Service teams.; Ensure smooth transition of projects from proposal development to execution.; Support lessons-learned reviews and continuous improvement programms.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical discipline.; 7+ years of engineering, applications engineering, or technical sales experience.; 3+ years of leadership or management experience.; Strong technical problem-solving and solution development capabilities.; Experience managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.; Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.; Proficiency with engineering software, Microsoft Office, and CRM/ERP systems.; Leadership and Team Development; Strategic Thinking; Customer Focus; Commercial Acumen; Technical Expertise; Project Management; Decision Making; Continuous Improvement; Risk Management; Effective Communication

Nice to have

Experience in industrial equipment, automation, material handling, lifting equipment, or engineered systems industries.; Professional Engineer (PE) license or advanced engineering degree.; Experience supporting capital equipment, modernization, or large-scale industrial projects.; Familiarity with applicable standards such as OSHA, CMAA, ASME, NEC, and ISO standards where relevant.