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. 

Application Engineering Manager

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.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• 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.

Technical Leadership

• 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.

Sales & Business Support

• 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.

Process & Operational Excellence

• 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.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• 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.

Required Qualifications

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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.

Key Competencies

• Leadership and Team Development
• Strategic Thinking
• Customer Focus
• Commercial Acumen
• Technical Expertise
• Project Management
• Decision Making
• Continuous Improvement
• Risk Management
• Effective Communication

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

Reporting Structure

Reports To: Vice President of Enterprise Solutions

Direct Reports: Application Engineers

What we offer:

Benefits: Medical Plan, Dental, Vision, 401k plan with a match from day one, identity theft protection, accident insurance, travel insurance and so much more!

Vacation: 2 weeks of vacation per year (pro-rated for the first year depending on start date). 5-12 years of service, 3 weeks. 13+ years of service, 4 weeks.

Sick Leave: 5 days of Sick Leave per year. Pro-rated the first year after 90 days of service

Holidays: 10 paid holidays per year

Konecranes moves what matters. Konecranes is a global leader in material handling solutions, serving a broad range of customers across multiple industries. We consistently set the industry benchmark, from everyday improvements to the breakthroughs at moments that matter most, because we know we can always find a safer, more productive and sustainable way. That's why, with 16 000+ professionals in over 50 countries, we are trusted every day to lift, handle and move what the world needs.

Konecranes is committed to ensuring that all employees and job applicants are treated fairly in an environment which is free from any form of discrimination. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Disabled/Other Protected Category.

Konecranes, Inc. and its affiliates will not accept resumes from external recruiters or agencies without a Service Agreement and Agency Portal submission. Any resumes sent without a Service Agreement and Agency Portal submission with Konecranes, Inc. are void of any fees and free for internal use. Applicable Konecranes data protection obligations are the responsibility of the agency.