Application Engineer- Power Systems

AKG North America Inc•Mebane, NC

17h

About The Position

Join AKG, a privately owned, 100+ year old manufacturing company that continues to grow and innovate in the heat exchanger industry. We’re seeking results-driven team players who are eager to build long-term careers in a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment. Summary: The Application Engineer will lead cross-functional teams in the development, sizing, and design of thermal management units and heat exchanger systems for primarily rail/locomotive and alternate power systems projects such as wind, solar, energy storage markets/applications. The role requires a mechatronics background with the ability to integrate mechanical, electrical, and control subsystems into complete thermal management solutions for rail, industrial, and energy storage applications

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (4-year) in Mechanical, Electrical, or Mechatronics Engineering, with coursework or experience in mechanical, electrical, and controls integration.
2–4 years of experience in rail or industrial power systems (energy storage, battery systems, traction power, or thermal management) with exposure to mechanical, electrical, and controls integration preferred.
Strong mechatronics foundation with ability to analyze mechanical structures, electrical circuits, control logic, wiring, sensors, and electromechanical assemblies.
Working knowledge of thermal management, heat transfer, and system-level engineering for rail, industrial, or energy storage applications.
Familiarity with key industry standards: NFPA 70/NEC, UL 508A, UL 9540, UL 1973, ISO 12405, IEC 62660.
Experience with project management practices including planning, risk management, tracking, and data-driven decision making.
Strong communication skills - written, verbal, and interpersonal with the ability to work effectively with customers, suppliers, and internal teams.
Excellent problem-solving and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and make independent decisions.
Professional, customer-focused attitude with the ability to maintain confidentiality and trust.
Product launch experience and knowledge of prototype development and serial production processes.
Ability to collaborate closely with electrical, controls, design, and manufacturing teams during prototype build and commissioning.
Ability to coordinate domestic and international travel as needed.

Responsibilities

Lead customer projects for Industrial division (Systems - Rail and Alternate power) thermal management products (e.g., cooling modules, heat exchangers, battery thermal management systems, radiators etc.) from initial concept through project release to production.
Perform system-level engineering bridging mechanical thermal components with electrical power distribution, controls, sensors, and industrial control panels.
Manage project lifecycle: voice of the customer, technical specification development, design reviews, prototype product release to production, participate in validation testing and APQP/PPAP processes.
Perform or oversee thermal calculations, heat transfer analysis, sizing, and system simulations using internal tools (AKG Cooler/Strength)
Coordinate internal teams including design engineering, operations, quality, purchasing, and R&D to communicate requirements and timelines effectively.
Collaborate with electrical and controls engineering teams to ensure proper integration of power electronics, instrumentation, and communication interfaces (CAN, Modbus, etc.).
Ensure designs comply with relevant electrical, safety, and energy storage standards, including NFPA 70 / NEC, UL 508A, UL 9540, UL 1973, and applicable battery testing standards (ISO 12405 / IEC 62660) for industrial, rail, and alternate power system applications.
Review customer specifications and translate them into compliant engineering solutions that meet electrical safety requirements, energy storage certification needs, and industry best practices.
Support root cause analysis, problem-solving (8D, A3), and continuous improvement projects related to thermal performance and production.
Ensure compliance with industry standards, customer specifications, and AKG quality systems (ISO 9001:2015 standards).
Travel domestically/internationally (up to 10%) for customer meetings, events, conferences, prototype reviews, and production support.