Principal Applications Engineer

Career Area:

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other.  We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Solar Turbines Incorporated, headquartered in San Diego, California, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. Solar manufactures the world’s most widely used family of mid-sized industrial gas turbines, ranging from 1 to 38 Megawatts. Solar is a leading provider of energy solutions, featuring an extensive line of gas turbine-powered compressor sets.  This position is based in Solar Turbines’ office in Prague, Czechia.

Summary description:

Solar is currently seeking a Project Applications Engineer (PAE) to join our Power Generation EAME business development team. This position will be located in Solar Turbines' office in Prague, Czech Republic and will report to the Project Applications Engineering Manager for EAME Region.

The PAE is responsible for providing the technical and commercial proposals for selling new Gas Turbines Packages.  PAE will review the request for proposal (RFQ) with the Sales Engineer and then apply his/her knowledge to select the most adequate solution(s) from the array of products and services available in the Solar Turbines Power Generation portfolio. In some occasion a complete power plant is required and the scope of the offer and the technical discussion will go behind the solar products including all required additional equipment e.g. heat recovery steam generators, gas compressor, switch gears, transformers, drying system, compressed air system etc.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Provides technical and commercial proposals.
• Reviews customer specifications and writes corresponding technical comments and exceptions.
• Collaborates with other engineering teams to develop solutions for complex technical problems.
• Apply creative solutions to professional Solar for success in competitive offers.
• Ensures commercial and technical risks are effectively managed during proposal preparation, specification reviews and customer negotiations.
• Apply a strong focus on quality to develop comprehensive technical solutions that are in alignment with the customer’s objectives and budget targets.
• As applicable, travel to customer sites for site inspection and support customer meetings.
• Conducts “hand-over” meetings to the Project execution team while identifying critical commercial and technical requirements. 
• Coordinates and assigns tasks to other company departments and groups as part of the response coordination in support of sale/customer inquiry activity. 
• Manage the cost and build up calculation of the solution offered.
• Contact sub suppliers to get offers and clarification.
• The successful candidate has a strong desire for continuous learning and professional growth to assume roles of increasing responsibility within the business development organization.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A university diploma in engineering in any of the following areas of specialty: Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace Engineering.
• Work experience of 2 years or greater with industrial rotating equipment, with preference to gas turbines
• A good understanding of industry norms and requirements for a variety of applications of gas turbine compression and power generation.
• Fluency in the English language, oral and written. Knowledge of additional languages, such as Spanish, French or German,  is desirable.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
• Experience with Salesforce is desirable but not mandatory.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, as you will work closely with customers, suppliers, and cross-functional teams.
• The position requires frequent travel to customer’ sites and suppliers’ facilities throughout Europe and the EAME region. Flexibility to travel is required.
• A curious mindset, adaptability, and a desire for continuous learning

This position requires a 5-days in the office schedule.

Any offer of employment may be conditioned upon the successful completion of a background screening

Base Minimum Pay:

Please note that salary is only one component of the total compensation and benefit package available at Caterpillar.

Posting Dates:

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

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