Application EngineerAutomotiveWhat does an Application Engineer doApplication Engineer

What is an application engineer in the automotive industry?

Application engineers in the automotive industry are primarily technical specialists. They work closely with customers and communicate with development teams in product development, bridging the technical aspects.

One of the primary responsibilities of the Applications Engineer is to provide technical support to customers. This includes answering questions, solving problems, and instructing customers on how to use the product. They also play an important role in troubleshooting problems that customers are experiencing with the product. This includes identifying the root cause of the problem and finding a solution with the customer. In addition, they will conduct product demonstrations, etc. to help customers understand the capabilities of the product and how it can help their business.

Note of confusion! Difference from Software Application Engineer

If you search for application engineer on the Internet, you will mainly find search hits for engineers involved in software applications. It is important to note that this application engineer role is different from the application engineer you may find in foreign companies in the automotive industry. A common example would be an application engineer who is an application developer for smart phones and other applications. Check the job posting to see what the job description says.

Of course, the automotive industry also has application development engineers for software products. The word “application” in this article is used in the sense of “operation or application. The title “application engineer” is often used, especially by foreign manufacturers, but it is important to keep the difference in mind.

The difference between an application engineer and a sales engineer

The job duties and responsibilities vary from company to company, but this section explains the differences between application engineers and the job titles that are often confused with application engineers.

• Technical Sales, Sales Engineer, Pre-sales

Literally, a technician who helps sell a product or service and works closely with salespeople to understand customer needs and propose solutions to meet those needs to prospective customers before they buy.

While both sales and application engineers require technical expertise, automotive application engineers focus on the design and development of automotive products, while sales engineers focus on providing technical support and solutions to customers to drive sales. Sales Engineers focus on providing technical support and solutions to customers to drive sales.

• bridge engineer

Bridge engineers, also called bridge SEs, are not so familiar to automobile manufacturers, as they are mainly used in software development.

• Field Application Engineer

This position is common primarily in the semiconductor industry and is also known by the acronym FAE. Field Application Engineers (FAEs) are responsible for providing technical support to customers after products have been sold. They work with customers to identify and troubleshoot technical problems, provide training and technical guidance, and assist with product installation and maintenance.

However, some companies may provide pre-purchase technical assistance, such as sales engineers or presales, so check the job posting carefully.

• service engineer

A service engineer is an engineer who maintains and repairs mechanical products, a role that differs from that of a technical sales or application engineer. For example, a service engineer is an engineer who installs air conditioners or maintains and inspects elevators.

Application Engineers in the Automotive Industry Case Study

♦ KEB America
This video introduces the application engineers at Karl E. Brinkmann GmbH (KEB), a German company specializing in electromagnetic clutches and brakes.

♦ Texas Instruments
This video introduces the ADAS Engineer Application Engineer at Texas Instruments, an American company that develops semiconductors.

What skills do application engineers need?

The Automotive Application Engineer must have the following skills

Product knowledge or related knowledge and expertise (e.g., degrees)
The product knowledge required varies depending on whether the product is hardware or software. For example, if the product is related to vehicle control for automated driving, experience with industry standard software is required for specification, development, and testing of in-vehicle control systems. For vehicle control systems, expertise in mechatronics, mechanical engineering, etc. is also a plus.

The application engineer’s job is to solve technical problems and questions for the customer. They must be able to act with the customer, not always passively, but spontaneously asking if there are any questions, or speedily confirming with the development team.

Presentation and documentation skills
The ability to create reference drawings, technical notes, and presentation materials to logically explain the benefits of the product to customers is required.

Communication skills
Communication skills are one of the most important skills to facilitate the alignment between the development team and the customer.

Most companies, such as foreign manufacturers, have development teams based overseas, so English communication skills will also be required.

How to work as an application engineer in a foreign company?

In foreign companies, “readiness to work” is required.

For application engineers, it may be difficult to change jobs even among the same application engineers because the knowledge required differs depending on the product, such as coding skills (C, C++, etc.) and knowledge of mechanical and electronic engineering. In order to be immediately competitive, it is advisable to have a broad knowledge of various product structures and functions. In mid-size and small companies, the job scope per person is often large, which not only makes you valuable within the company, but also broadens your own options.

It is also a good idea to have your own opinion about the role of application engineer and to be able to demonstrate it. In a foreign company, you need to be able to work with professionalism in your job.

What kind of English skills are required for application engineers in foreign companies?

It depends on the company and the position being offered, but basically, business English proficiency is required. This is one of the positions that will lead to better results if you can communicate smoothly in English, especially if the development team is co-developing with an overseas base or if the organization is small.

Even if you are not fluent in English, it is important to “communicate things in a straightforward and easy-to-understand manner” and to “proactively express your opinions.
It is also important to have an attitude toward diversity. A foreign company is an environment where different cultures coexist. It is a good idea to show that you can assert yourself among people with different values without harming them.

To apply for the position of Application Engineer

With the development of complex technologies such as automated driving, we are seeing more frequent collaborations with overseas manufacturers, and application engineers are in very high demand.

Therefore, jobs can be found on company websites, job sites, and recruitment agents.
Recruitment agents have a wide variety of engineering jobs available at a variety of companies and can be a strong ally for job seekers in understanding the skills and experience required in the marketplace.
Turnpoint ConsultingTurnpoint Consulting offers a wealth of information on application engineering jobs at Japanese and foreign manufacturers, as well as other useful resources to help you find a job or change your career. With our unparalleled industry knowledge in the automotive and mobility industry, we are able to carefully support job seekers and guide them to their ideal career path.