Field Application Engineer

Dana is a global leader in the supply of highly engineered driveline, sealing, and thermal-management technologies that improve the efficiency and performance of vehicles with both conventional and alternative-energy powertrains. Serving three primary markets – passenger vehicle, commercial truck, and off-highway equipment – Dana provides the world's original-equipment manufacturers and the aftermarket with local product and service support through a network of nearly 100 engineering, manufacturing, and distribution facilities.

Position Summary

We're looking for a Field Application Engineer in Arzignano (VI) .

The Field Application Engineer will help customers develop electrical drive solutions for innovative battery- or hybrid-powered applications, from first technical consultancy until release of application to series production.

He/she is a reference for Dana’s customers, Sales representatives and collecting also new trends coming from the market.

Main Responsibilities

• Create and build application solutions for electric drive systems in mobile machines for Material Handling, Construction, and Agricultural.
• Provide remotely or on-site system support to customers including:
  • Technical Specifications
  • Sizing and simulation of electric drive systems
  • Assistance in component selection
  • Software control solutions
  • System optimization
• Work in close collaboration with our expert engineering teams and Sales/Customer Service organization.
• Occasionally support Engineering in validation of new products as application expert.
• Provide training and knowledge sharing.

Main Opportunities And Challenges

Economic Dimension related to the Position:

The FAE plays an important role in the project phase to move the project forward to satisfactory of the customer and to bring it to a successful end – to win the project and become a supplier for their series production.

In the information exchange phase, he/she supports the Sales Manager in providing the required technical information and in collecting the right information (requirements) from the customer.

In the quote/re-quote phase he/she supports the Sales manager in doing the product sizing and selection of the most suitable product for the customer.

In the active project phase, he/she supports the customer directly in setting up our products in best and most efficient way and to achieve the application targets defined by the customer. After successful testing and approval by customer, he/she supervises the transfer of the project to operations for a series production.

As a summary, the FAE plays an important role to win new business and to increase our business numbers.

Major Internal Relationships: Organizational and technical center point for customer projects in the triangle of Sales, R&D, and Division Management, taking care of relevant information exchange and alignment of tasks between the involved teams to move the customer project forward and to achieve our strategic targets.

Major External Relationships: Technical main entry point for customer from project start (a first application prototype is built for concept validation) until release of the optimized application to series production.

Characteristics of the Context, Working Environment Description

The person will work locally in Arzignano in a team with other FAEs but embedded in the global DANA TM4 Application Team, reporting to the local Team Leader. A passionate graduate with the necessary technical background is welcome as well as an already experienced Application Engineer. He/she will find an exciting work environment where the daily incoming requests from our customers or colleagues for technical support on ongoing or new projects create daily new challenges. Embedded in a team with a huge knowledge and experience on electrical drives, enthusiasm and teamwork is essential to handle our projects. A profound training and learning period will guarantee the smooth and successful transition into this position.

Short Term Challenge: Get familiar with all technical aspects of our products to be able to support and manage customer projects in a most efficient and successful way. Establish a clear and demanding communication in the triangle of customer, Sales, and R&D.

Long Term Challenge: Grow together with the Application Team into an emerging market of electrification and become part of it. Become a specialist and technical leader in one of the dedicated areas of this electrification, if in the Off-Highway market or Commercial vehicles. Find your home as FAE expert in one of the manifold business branches that a worldwide acting company like Dana offers.

Complexity of the Position, Risks and Opportunities: Due to the required cooperation with the internal departments like Sales, R&D, Management, and also partly with Operations & Customer Service and due to direct customer contact for technical support, the position of the FAE plays an important role to move projects forward, but also from an organizational aspect, means project management. So this position bears a big part of responsibility during the active phase of projects to make them successful and to win new business. But also during the acquisition phase under the lead of Sales and for After Sales Service the provided technical support can be essential to win a project or to keep existing business.

Job Position Requirements

Education: University master degree Preferably Mechatronic/Electronic Engineer.

Professional Background:

• Former position as Application Engineer in the area of electric vehicles and mobile machines applications (e.g., Forklifts, Tow-Tractors, electric Vehicles...) and dealing with the different powertrains, axles, gearboxes for these applications is preferred.
• Alternatively, experiences in customer service in these areas can be a good background.
• Alternatively, a proven relevant application engineering experience from AC or PM Drives systems or power electronics (e.g., AC Inverter, Solar Inverter, UPS or Wind-Power) can be a good background.
• Preferably 3-5 years of experience, but also graduates with right skills are welcome.

Hard Skills:

• Essential:

• Electric motors, motor control and power electronic skills.
• Knowledge about electric vehicles and mobile machines applications.
• Project management skills.
• Functional testing skills of electronic equipment.
• Documentation & reporting skills, using the standard Microsoft tools.
• Good experience with CAN networks (protocols, tools, transceivers).
• Very good English and Italian language skills.

• Considered as a plus:

• Matlab / Simulink Knowledge on powertrains (Gear Boxes, Axles, ...) for electrical vehicle.
• Basic electrical and mechanical handwork skills.
• Skills regarding Functional Safety for electric vehicles.
• Working on test benches for electric motors.
• Training skills.

Soft Skills:

• Be a Team Player.
• Good communication abilities: to discuss detailed application problems directly with customers and with any internal teams globally.
• Outgoing personality.
• Personal desire to succeed.
• Willing to travel ~50 days a year.
• Flexibility to adjust to unexpected situations and finding best solutions also under a certain pressure.

If you are not contacted within 60 days after your application, the search should be considered filled. In compliance with law obligations and GDPR, your application could be considered for further opportunities aligned with your profile.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

Unsolicited Resumes from Third-Party Recruiters: Please note that as per Dana policy, we do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters unless such recruiters were engaged to provide candidates for a specified opening. Any employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume does so with the understanding that Dana will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity.