Application Engineer

As an Electrical Application Engineer within the Modernization team, you will develop technical solutions that help customers modify, upgrade, and improve the electrical and control systems of their existing packaging equipment. You will work closely with customers, Sales, Sales Operations, Order Engineering, and other internal teams to understand customer needs, evaluate existing machinery, and translate technical challenges into practical, cost-effective solutions.

This role requires a strong understanding of industrial electrical systems, machine controls, and automation technologies, along with the ability to interpret electrical documentation that may range from legacy paper schematics to modern electrical drawings and control system documentation.

You will be responsible for developing technical concepts for electrical modernization projects, determining associated costs and resource requirements, and clearly documenting proposed solutions to support accurate customer proposals and successful project execution.

In this role, you are responsible for:

• Reviewing customer and sales requests to understand electrical and controls-related challenges, application requirements, and desired outcomes.
• Evaluating existing packaging machinery, including legacy equipment, to determine appropriate electrical modernization, controls upgrades, modifications, or system replacement solutions.
• Reviewing and interpreting electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, control panel layouts, legacy documentation, equipment specifications, and other relevant technical documentation.
• Developing practical electrical and controls solutions based on existing machine configurations, customer requirements, and sound engineering principles.
• Evaluating existing control systems, including PLCs, HMIs, drives, sensors, and other electrical components, to identify opportunities for modernization or replacement.
• Collaborating with Order Engineering, Controls Engineering, and other technical teams to evaluate proposed solutions, validate concepts, and align on technical requirements.
• Developing electrical material, engineering, programming, installation, and other applicable cost estimates to support accurate project costing.
• Preparing clear technical write-ups that define the proposed electrical solution, scope of work, sequence of operation, system requirements, and other information necessary to support customer proposals and downstream engineering.
• Serving as a technical resource to Sales Operations Engineers and Sales team members throughout the proposal development process.
• Using electrical design tools, schematics, and other engineering resources to evaluate concepts, communicate solutions, and support technical decision-making.
• Supporting feasibility assessments, technical evaluations, or early-learning activities when necessary to validate new or complex electrical applications and reduce project risk.
• Communicating electrical and controls concepts and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Supporting customer discussions and presentations when needed to ensure electrical requirements are understood and appropriately addressed in the proposed solution.
• Maintaining awareness of applicable electrical technologies, automation systems, engineering practices, and developments related to packaging machinery modernization.
• Traveling occasionally to customer or vendor locations as business needs require.

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, or a related engineering discipline preferred; equivalent hands-on electrical, controls, or industrial machinery experience will also be considered.
• Strong electrical aptitude and demonstrated experience working with industrial electrical systems, machine controls, automation equipment, packaging machinery, electrical modifications, service, or a comparable technical environment.
• Ability to evaluate existing electrical and control systems, identify necessary upgrades or modifications, and develop practical technical solutions.
• Experience interpreting electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, control panel layouts, equipment specifications, and technical documentation.
• Familiarity with industrial control systems and components, including PLCs, HMIs, variable frequency drives (VFDs), sensors, and other automation technologies.
• Experience with electrical design and documentation tools, such as AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, or comparable software preferred.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and the ability to develop or support electrical material, labor, engineering, and project cost estimates.
• Strong technical writing skills with the ability to clearly document and explain proposed electrical engineering and controls solutions.
• Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to interact effectively with customers, Sales, Engineering, and cross-functional teams.
• Customer-focused mindset with the ability to listen to technical challenges, ask the right questions, and translate customer needs into actionable solutions.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work through electrical applications ranging from established solutions to new or previously unproven concepts.
• Ability to collaborate across multiple functions while taking ownership of the technical integrity and accuracy of proposed solutions.
• Willingness to work around manufacturing and shop environments where safety glasses, steel-toe safety shoes, and other required PPE must be worn.

Coesia North America offers a competitive benefit package which includes, among other things:

• 401K offering 6% company match with no vesting period.
• Flexible remote work offering.
• 8-weeks paid parental leave.
• Multiple health benefit & insurance options.
• PTO, sick time, and 12 observed calendar holidays.
• Company paid short-term disability (80% wager placement) & long-term disability.
• HSA company contribution for individual & employer family coverage.

R.A Jones, headquartered in Covington, KY with another location in Davenport, Iowa, is a global leader in the design and manufacturing of primary and secondary packaging machinery for the beverage, chemicals, food, pharma & healthcare, and industrial goods industries. R.A Jones offers an extensive portfolio of solutions for applications in aerosol filling, cartoning and box filling, chub packing, cup filling, pouching and modified atmosphere packaging. R.A Jones is part of Coesia, a group of innovation-based industrial and packaging solutions companies operating globally, headquartered in Bologna, Italy.

Coesia has operating units in 36 countries, a turnover of 2,015 million euros in 2022 and over 8,000 employees.