Description

Senior Applications Engineer

Target salary range: $120,000–$130,000

Role Summary:

This role serves as the technical lead for new product introductions, ensuring customer and user needs are fully translated into robust design inputs and carried through the NPI stage‑gate process. The position partners closely with Sales, Engineering, and Marketing to evaluate technical feasibility, manage design risk, support customer engagement, and deliver successful product launches for complex and strategic programs.

Key Responsibilities:

Serve as technical lead for New Product Introduction (NPI) programs, ensuring design inputs fully capture user and customer requirements.

Own technical execution through the NPI stage‑gate process, ensuring alignment from concept through verification and validation.

Analyze proposed engineered solutions, identify viable solution paths, and resolve design gaps through redesign and mistake‑proofing.

Perform or oversee design activities, including redlining customer drawings and completing technical analyses as needed.

Lead and oversee verification and validation activities to ensure design outputs meet defined design inputs.

Develop cost estimates to support NPI quoting and business development activities.

Partner with Sales and leadership to support customer engagements, articulate technical value, and address competitive challenges.

Evaluate technical risk for commercial opportunities using CRM and ERP systems; develop high‑level part structures and quote inputs.

Support or lead technical discussions and negotiations related to unrealistic or unfeasible customer requirements.

Translate customer requirements into technical solutions and clearly communicate technical information between customers and internal teams.

Support complex programs and key customer projects.

Track engineering KPIs; conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions when targets are not met.

Mentor and support the technical development of colleagues.

Maintain ongoing technical and professional development.

Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Biomedical Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)

Minimum 4 years of engineering experience

Minimum 3 years in a lead role within an R&D or product development environment

Proven success launching products from design through manufacturing, integration, and verification

Experience leading or heavily supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) programs

Strong ability to translate customer/user requirements into technical design inputs

Hands‑on experience with design problem solving, redesign, and mistake‑proofing

Experience overseeing verification and validation activities

Cost estimation and technical support for quoting and business development

Ability to assess and communicate technical risk in commercial opportunities

Comfortable engaging directly with customers and supporting Sales discussions

Strong cross‑functional communication skills

Root cause analysis and corrective action experience

Ability to manage multiple complex or high‑visibility projects

Experience Level

Expert Level

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Elk Grove Village, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $120000.00 - $130000.00/yr.

Comprehensive benefits package, including Medical/Rx, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Accounts, Basic Life/AD&D (includes coverage for dependents 100% Company paid), Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability (100% Company paid), Supplemental Life/AD&D, 401(k) with Company match, tuition assistance after 1 year, paid time off, and 11 paid holidays.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Elk Grove Village,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Mar 3, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.