The Applications Engineer plays a hybrid role at the intersection of technical evaluation, equipment development, and sales strategy. This individual is a subject matter expert in one or more rotating equipment fleets (centrifugal and reciprocating compressors, or steam turbines) and supports the pre-sale technical process for high-value, engineered offerings. This includes scoping, defining, and quoting technical solutions and supporting their seamless progression from customer Inquiry to Order (ITO).
This role requires solution-oriented, customer centric, and capable of delivering scalable technical programs like Upgrades, Retrofits, and equipment part’s evaluation.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the technical lead in the Inquiry-to-Order (ITO) process: from customer inquiry, through scoping and quoting, to final handoff to execution.
- Develop and validate technical scopes of work for retrofit, upgrade, and overhaul solutions in collaboration with Engineering.
- Interpret customer specifications and identify deviations or clarifications.
- Evaluate process data (flow, pressure, gas composition, temperature) to select appropriate compressor models and configurations
- Perform thermodynamic and mechanical performance calculations to develop performance curves, power requirements for compressors and their auxiliaries.
- Review applicable API standards (e.g., API 617, API 614).
- Participate in quoting reviews, risk assessments, and contract technical terms validation
- Prepare and design high-quality technical proposals and cost estimates.
- Serve as the main technical contact during pre-sale and post-award phases.
- Collaborate with Account Managers and Fleet SMEs to support bids and large project pursuit strategies.
- Conduct customer presentations, technical clarifications, and design review meetings.
- Maintain detailed knowledge of market trends and customer needs for assigned fleet(s).
- Contribute to the refinement of technical and commercial workflows, tools, and documentation.
Education & Experience
- BSc or MSc in Mechanical Engineering or related field
- 5+ years of experience in rotating equipment technical roles (engineering, field service, applications, or commercial)
- Deep knowledge of at least one core fleet: centrifugal compressors, reciprocating compressors, or steam turbines
- Experience developing or quoting engineered solutions, especially in oil & gas, chemicals, or power
- Strong commercial acumen with ability to interact credibly with customers and internal stakeholders
- Strong written and verbal communication; able to produce customer-facing documents and presentations
- Familiarity with P&IDs, PFDs, mechanical drawings, and basic costing principles
Preferred Qualifications and Attributes
- Strong interpersonal and technical skills for delivering tailored solutions to clients
- Demonstrates an entrepreneurial mindset toward problem-solving
- Comfortable working in matrixed teams across Sales, Engineering, and Operations
- Experience with Salesforce or similar CRM and quoting platforms
Top Skills
What We Do
Blackstone believes that great people make great businesses.
Customers choose Blackstone for talented crews to service all of their critical rotating equipment needs. Blackstone services turbomachinery throughout the oil and gas industry including: refining, LNG, petrochemical and other process and power applications. Blackstone’s service network routinely installs commissions, overhauls, and repairs equipment from any original manufacturer. Customers rely on Blackstone’s consistent quality and transparent approach. Blackstone’s field crews are built with quality, safety, and trust in mind; deep domain knowledge and a value-added work ethic is the backbone of Blackstone’s culture. Blackstone does business the right way, every time.
Blackstone works closely with owners and customers to plan and execute outages that meet project schedules and embrace a "zero incident" culture. Blackstone currently services Turbomachinery equipment from many OEMs, including: General Electric, Siemens, Alstom, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Toshiba, Rolls Royce, Solar, Nuovo Pignone, Dresser, Burkhardt, Neuman and Esser, Elliot, Sulzer, Flowserve, etc. We will be expanding this year into servicing motor and drive work for legacy Ansaldo, now owned by Nidec. This will include their medium voltage drives and AC motor selection for western Canada.
