Senior Field Application Engineer

Team Summary
At GAF, we are at the forefront of innovation in the industrial sector, bringing modern solutions to the building materials space. Extending beyond the home, the roads that connect us—to our families, to our work, and to how and where we want to spend time—are a critical part of our daily lives.
A newly launched initiative called GAF Roads, aims to disrupt the road maintenance market with a cutting-edge solution that improves the life cycle and performance of asphalt pavement. We believe that we can create better roads that are also better for budgets and communities. This is a dynamic, fast-paced growth initiative looking for candidates that espouse a curious, proactive, and adaptable mindset.
Job Summary
We are seeking a Sr Field Application Engineer to bridge the gap between field execution and design improvements. This role combines hands-on field support with technical expertise to improve the design, operation, and performance of our equipment. The Field Operations Engineer will be embedded in the field, managing installations, troubleshooting issues, and working directly with engineering teams to adjust designs based on real-world feedback. In addition to field support, this role will involve system-level design work, including selecting and modifying commercially available components, defining performance benchmarks, and improving overall system efficiency. The ideal candidate will have strong technical problem-solving skills, a proactive mindset, and the ability to balance field execution with strategic design improvements.
If you are comfortable and happy working with your hands in a dynamic environment, and are curious to be at the forefront of a new technology then this is the role for you
 

Essential Duties

• Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Field Operations and Continuous Improvement:
  • Act as the technical lead as required onsite, managing installations, troubleshooting, and ensuring successful equipment deployment.
  • Diagnose and resolve operational issues in real-time, providing hands-on technical support as needed.
  • Ensure site operations align with design standards and work with the engineering team to adjust designs based on field performance and drive continuous improvement.
  • Recommend and implement process changes to improve equipment reliability and efficiency.
• Design and Prototyping:
  • Perform system level configuration work, including calculating load requirements (e.g., power, pressure, flow) to size and select commercially available components such as generators, pumps, and air compressors to meet field needs
  • Identify and resolve design limitations to improve equipment performance and ease of maintenance.
  • Drive the rapid design and prototyping of new tools and systems based on field experience and operational requirements
  • Contribute to long-cycle design projects as a key field engineering stakeholder, helping to define critical design requirements and ensuring solutions are practical and effective for field deployment.
• Fabrication Coordination and Testing:
  • Manage 3rd party drafters, assemblers, and fabricators to ensure successful production of new tools and systems
  • Oversee prototype testing and evaluate system performance, establishing clear success metrics and identifying opportunities for design improvements.
  • Develop project forecasts, including material costs and timelines, to ensure proposed solutions are practical and cost-effective.
• Training and Knowledge Transfer:
  • Train Field Technicians and operators on the proper use, maintenance, and troubleshooting of field equipment.
  • Help develop and maintain technical documentation, including user guides and field service manuals.
  • Act as a technical resource for field teams, providing ongoing support and guidance.
• Project Oversight and Cost Management:
  • Provide ROI analysis to support design and operational decisions, ensuring recommendations are financially and operationally sound.
  • Report on project progress and field testing outcomes to internal stakeholders.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor’s Degree in mechanical, electrical, or electromechanical engineering — or equivalent field experience in a highly technical field.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in a field-based engineering or technical role (e.g., field operations, commissioning, or systems engineering).
• Strong diagnostic and troubleshooting experience with complex electromechanical systems and custom control logic integrated into operational equipment
• Proficiency with CAD software for reviewing and modifying 2D and 3D models
• Ability to identify system, sub-system, and component requirements based on performance needs and to size and select commercially available components (e.g., generators, pumps, air compressors) accordingly
• Experience in modifying off-the-shelf components for integration into custom systems.
• Experience setting up and running controlled experiments to define and measure key performance benchmarks.
• Proven ability to identify and implement process improvements to enhance equipment performance and operational efficiency.
• Ability to develop basic project forecasts (material costs, testing plans, timelines) and assess ROI for design and operational decisions.
• Experience managing vendor relationships and coordinating with machine shops or fabrication partners.
• Capability to adapt, operate, and act calmly and decisively in an ambiguous environment
• Ability to clearly articulate technical issues and solutions the business within and beyond the engineering team
• Ability to engage with customers and contractors confidently
• Attention and desire to champion process and get the details right
• Ability to operate self-driving vehicles on public roads, which is a safety-sensitive function that requires a valid drivers’ license in good standing, a driving record that meets regulatory and internal standards for safety, and passing drug and alcohol testing

Qualifications Preferred

• Experience with hydraulics, pneumatics, fluid dynamics
• Experience with Onshape CAD software and Codesys PLC programs
• Proficiency in basic financial modeling for engineering projects
• Experience with PLC systems and sensors, including setup, calibration, and troubleshooting
• Design and fabrication skills for purposes of rapid prototyping of field tools and custom parts required to simplify field operations

Travel Requirements: Up to 50%; Must be willing and able to travel on short notice to support service needs

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Consideration will be given based on geography, candidate experience, and qualifications.

Annual Salary Range: 121,500-155,250

We believe our employees are our greatest resource. We offer competitive salary, benefits, 401k, and vacation packages for all full time permanent positions. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and GAF, Standard Logistics, SGI, and Siplast are proud to be affirmative action employers. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. If applying for positions in the U.S., must be eligible to work in the U.S. without need for employer sponsored visa (work permit).