Customer Application Support Engineer II

Working at Watlow

Watlow is a global technology and manufacturing leader who provides world class engineering expertise through innovative thermal products and systems, enabling our customers to thrive. We are making a positive impact every day as our solutions enrich the lives of people everywhere. We have been providing breakthrough thermal solutions for over 100 years! Our corporate values guide us uncompromisingly to always do the right thing, continually learn and improve, respect everyone, and lead with service and humility.

At Watlow in San Jose, California, we help some of the most technically demanding semiconductor and high-tech customers in the world solve their toughest thermal challenges. Part of a global thermal solutions leader founded in 1922, our heaters, sensors, and controls power industries like semiconductor, aerospace, energy, and industrial equipment.

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We are hiring a: Customer Application Support Engineer II

San Jose, California

Watlow is seeking a Customer Application Support Engineer II who will be the technical go-to for customers, distributors, and sales agents looking for the right thermal solution. This individual will advise on product selection and application, build and follow up on quotes, and serve as a post-sale technical resource, acting as the link between our factory product experts and the customer.

The ideal candidate brings a strong technical foundation, solid quoting and customer support experience, and the communication skills to explain technical solutions clearly to any audience. This role includes being at the customer site weekly and occasional domestic travel.

What you'll do:

• Quoting: Prepare, present, and proactively follow up on quotes for standard and modified products and services, following established pricing guidelines.
• Application support: Advise customers, distributors, and sales agents on product selection and application, specify the right control products, and handle minor troubleshooting.
• Post-sale support: Serve as a post-sale technical resource and coordinate customer issue resolution with internal teams.
• Order support: Support orders for the quotes you generate and keep opportunities moving through the Opportunity Management Process.
• Product investigations: Help evaluate and resolve returned material issues and product investigations.
• Relationship building: Build strong relationships with customers, distributors, and internal partners across Sales, Engineering, and Operations.
• Sales planning: Support territory sales playbooks, account activities, and prospecting research, and share useful data with sales leadership.
• Channel training: Train sales agents and distributors on product applications and Watlow tools such as Visual Designer and our product configurators.
• Voice of the customer: Spot trends in customer feedback and product gaps, and share them with the right process owners.
• Continuous improvement: Identify ways to reduce waste and improve team processes using the Watlow Business System (WBS).

What you'll need to succeed?

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical discipline with relevant experience
• 2+ years of experience in a customer-facing technical role such as applications engineering, inside sales engineering, or technical sales support, ideally in an industrial or manufacturing environment
• Working knowledge of electrical and thermal fundamentals, including wattage, voltage, heat transfer, and temperature measurement
• Ability to read and interpret customer specifications, drawings, and application requirements to select and configure the right product
• Hands-on experience building quotes or proposals and working within pricing guidelines
• Experience using a CRM (Salesforce or similar) and an ERP system to manage quotes, opportunities, and orders
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences
• Desire and ability to travel occasionally within California and out of state

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with industrial heaters, temperature sensors (thermocouples, RTDs), or temperature and power controllers
• Experience supporting semiconductor equipment manufacturers or other high-tech customers
• Familiarity with PID control and basic process control concepts
• Experience with product configurators or CPQ tools
• Experience working with distributors and independent sales representatives, including training them on products
• Exposure to RMA processes, failure analysis, or root cause investigations
• Knowledge of Lean or continuous improvement concepts and tools

The base pay range for this role is between $105,000 – $125,000 annually. You are also eligible for employee benefits and annual performance bonuses. Applicable pay within the posted range may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, geographical location, job function of the position, education, and experience of the successful candidate.

Benefits: The Watlow Total Compensation Plan

The health, well-being and financial stability of you and your family is a high priority to us.The Watlow Total Rewards Plan includes competitive compensation and a full range of life and career enhancing benefits:

• Annual Incentive Program 
• 401(k) plan that includes a company match on your contribution and an annual company contribution that is tied to company performance
• Wellness incentives
• Employee Personal Assistance Program
• Dental, medical, vision and short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Paid holidays, personal time, and vacation
• Parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement

Diversity & Inclusion

We proactively embrace diversity in all its dimensions across our company and cultivate a culture of inclusion and forward thinking that respects and reflects each team member’s individual strengths, views, and experiences. Watlow takes pride in being an inclusive equal opportunity employer and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Please let us know confidentially if you need or require any special accommodations to participate in our recruiting process by emailing us at [email protected].

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