Applications Engineer (Surface Engineering)

Location: Lebanon, Indiana, United States; onsite direct-hire role. Willingness to travel up to 20% is required.

Salary: $75,000–$90,000 per year.

Company

Advanced surface engineering organization providing coatings and surface treatments that improve durability, performance, and reliability for industrial parts.

What you will do

• Provide technical support for DLC and PVD coatings, ion plasma nitriding, and related surface treatment applications.
• Respond to customer RFQs and technical inquiries and develop solutions aligned with customer requirements.
• Create part drawings and fixture concepts using 3D modeling software for quoting, production planning, and engineering review.
• Support new applications, product development projects, and technical contract reviews for incoming customer parts.
• Collaborate with plant leadership, process engineers, and business development teams to move new customers and projects into production.
• Represent the organization at trade shows, conferences, and customer-facing events while preparing management reports and forecasts.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering.
• 3–5 years of industrial or manufacturing engineering experience.
• Working knowledge of materials science principles, surface treatment processes, and characterization methods.
• Familiarity with PVD coatings, DLC coatings, heat treatment, nitriding, thermal diffusion, or carburizing.
• Ability to interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, reports, and customer specifications.
• Leadership experience and ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for customer-facing and internal technical discussions, plus excellent organizational skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ability to follow AS9100, ISO 9001, OSHA, and internal quality and safety requirements.
• Willingness to work onsite in Lebanon, Indiana and travel up to 20%.

Nice to have

• Bachelor’s degree specifically in Materials Science or Materials Engineering.
• SolidWorks or similar 3D modeling experience.
• Experience in technical sales, applications engineering, or customer-driven engineering projects.
• Experience with advanced coatings, surface treatments, or industrial materials applications.

Culture & Benefits

• Collaborative, mentorship-focused environment with supportive leadership and continuous learning.
• Long-term career growth and the opportunity to build expertise in materials, coatings, customer applications, and technical sales support.
• Direct-hire employment opportunity.
• Medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and statutory sick pay are stated for temporary assignments lasting 13 weeks or longer.
• Equal-opportunity employer providing reasonable accommodations during the employment process.