Principal Applications Engineer

Essential Functions

• Provides application guidance for applications of all levels of complexity across all Cognex products and prioritizes as necessary.
• Provides expert-level integration of Cognex products with devices such as PLCs, PCs, or Controllers
• Performs expert-level troubleshooting for Cognex products and develops knowledge of peripheral technology
• Influences Sales and customers with technical options when communicating with or visiting customers to help Cognex win.
• Shares expert-level findings and creates documentation and trainings for the AE community
• Responsible for maintaining business systems information in a timely manner for accurate reporting
• Provides product/customer feedback to AE Manager and product owners to improve products.

Knowledge

• Develops expert-level technical knowledge of Cognex’s vision and sensor product families.
• Expert-level knowledge of image processing, optics and lighting for machine vision.
• Expert-level knowledge of industrial communication methods, networks, three or more programming languages*, controls (installation, wiring, operability), PLCs, and/or Warehouse Management Systems (WMS). *Programming languages may include: javascript, VB, VB.Net, C#, .Net, C++
• Expert-level industry knowledge to include movement of product, understanding of motion control, robotics, and other automation equipment.
• Expert-level knowledge of controls engineering concepts such as installation, wiring, and operability from prior experience
• Working knowledge of MS Office applications. Windows based PC industrial connectivity in a lab and automation environment.
• General knowledge of business processes and decision-making for product development and commercial impacts 

Skills & Abilities

• Expert-level understanding of electro-mechanical solutions.
• Expert-level ability to conduct and troubleshoot onsite optimizations, perform trials, and conduct data analytics to improve performance on solutions.
• Expert-level ability to handle challenging customer situations.
• Expert-level interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively establish relationships, communicate, influence, and present to various stakeholders, including Executives
• Expert-level presentation skills
• Mentors and coaches others

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline such as Engineering, Computer Science; or an otherwise equivalent technical experience
• Typically requires a minimum of 6-8 years of experience in technical application development. Experience in a related or high-tech industry preferred.
• Ability to adapt to flexible working hours including the availability to work evening and weekend hours or varying work patterns depending on customer or project needs. Ability to be on-call and respond to customer emergencies.
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time, sometimes on short notice. Travel will vary depending on region, time of year, and customer needs. 
• Ability to work safely in industrial environments by strictly following safety guidelines and protocols (may vary per region/customer). This job has physical requirements including the ability to lift up to 50 pounds (appx. 23 kilograms).
• Must maintain customer confidentiality to protect confidential or sensitive customer information.
• English language proficiency (written and oral).