Manager Applications Design Engineering

About IEM

Industrial Electric Mfg. (IEM) is the largest independent full-line manufacturer of custom power distribution systems in North America. Founded more than 75 years ago in Fremont, California, IEM grew alongside Silicon Valley and today operates over 1.7 million square feet of manufacturing capacity. With $1B+ in annual sales and 10,000+ commissioned projects across technology, data centers, commercial, energy, utilities, healthcare, industrial, and infrastructure markets, IEM continues to deliver exceptional product quality, dependable service, and the flexibility to meet complex technical requirements at scale.

Position Summary

The Manager, Applications Design Engineering will lead a team of Applications Engineers who provide front‑end internal consulting and technical support on three‑phase power, automation, and communication within low and medium voltage switchgear. In this role, you will directly manage the Applications Engineering team—a group of technical experts on IEM products—ensuring they deliver clear, accurate responses to internal inquiries from sales, engineering, production, and field service when published IEM literature is not sufficient. You will own team performance, develop people and process, and partner cross‑functionally to ensure scalable, high‑quality custom solutions for our clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Directly supervise, mentor, and enable the success of Applications Engineering team members, including goal setting, coaching, and regular performance reviews.

• Ensure the Applications Engineering team provides timely, high‑quality front‑end internal consulting to the sales department, offering product solutions that meet client technical and commercial needs.

• Oversee responses to internal inquiries from sales, engineering, production, and field service when existing IEM documentation does not adequately address product capabilities or applications.

• Monitor team workload and progress, schedule and lead team meetings, provide guidance and direction, and take disciplinary action where required.

• Foster a collaborative, high‑trust team culture and drive team‑building initiatives across multiple locations.

• Coordinate with recruiting to interview and select qualified candidates; identify skill gaps within the team and work with management to address them through training, new tools/systems, and/or additional personnel.

• Oversee pre‑order engineering activities (preliminary drawings, communication diagrams, sequences of operation, and BOMs) for quality, standardization, and on time delivery.

• Establish and maintain best practices for collaboration between Applications Engineering, Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Production, and Sales to ensure clear scopes and smooth project handoffs.

• Review and approve complex customer plans, specifications, and scopes of work for technical alignment, code compliance, and fit to IEM product offerings.

• Partner with Product Management and Engineering leadership to feed field insights into product enhancements and new product development.

• Oversee development and delivery of technical training on IEM products and applications to internal stakeholders and select clients.

• Ensure adherence to applicable codes and standards (NEC, UL, IEEE) and internal quality requirements in all Applications Engineering deliverables.

• Define, track, and improve team KPIs (cycle time, quality, rework, internal customer satisfaction) and lead continuous improvement initiatives.

• Perform other duties as required by business needs and management direction.

Key Responsibilities

• Directly supervise, mentor, and enable the success of Applications Engineering team members, including goal setting, coaching, and regular performance reviews.

• Ensure the Applications Engineering team provides timely, high‑quality front‑end internal consulting to the sales department, offering product solutions that meet client technical and commercial needs.

• Oversee responses to internal inquiries from sales, engineering, production, and field service when existing IEM documentation does not adequately address product capabilities or applications.

• Monitor team workload and progress, schedule and lead team meetings, provide guidance and direction, and take disciplinary action where required.

• Foster a collaborative, high‑trust team culture and drive team‑building initiatives across multiple locations.

• Coordinate with recruiting to interview and select qualified candidates; identify skill gaps within the team and work with management to address them through training, new tools/systems, and/or additional personnel.

• Oversee pre‑order engineering activities (preliminary drawings, communication diagrams, sequences of operation, and BOMs) for quality, standardization, and on time delivery.

• Establish and maintain best practices for collaboration between Applications Engineering, Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Production, and Sales to ensure clear scopes and smooth project handoffs.

• Review and approve complex customer plans, specifications, and scopes of work for technical alignment, code compliance, and fit to IEM product offerings.

• Partner with Product Management and Engineering leadership to feed field insights into product enhancements and new product development.

• Oversee development and delivery of technical training on IEM products and applications to internal stakeholders and select clients.

• Ensure adherence to applicable codes and standards (NEC, UL, IEEE) and internal quality requirements in all Applications Engineering deliverables.

• Define, track, and improve team KPIs (cycle time, quality, rework, internal customer satisfaction) and lead continuous improvement initiatives.

• Perform other duties as required by business needs and management direction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering (BSEE) or related field; advanced degree or MBA is a plus.

• 7+ years of experience in applications, design, or field engineering roles focused on power distribution/switchgear, with at least 2–3 years in technical leadership or people management.

• Strong technical understanding of three‑phase electric power systems, including distribution, control, protection strategies, rotating machines, and communications (Ethernet, Modbus, IEC 61850).

• Hands‑on experience with switchgear design and AutoCAD

• Working knowledge of NEC and key UL/IEEE standards (UL 891, 1558, 508A; IEEE C37.x).

• Demonstrated ability to build and lead high‑performing technical teams in a fast‑paced, project‑driven environment.

• Proven experience improving processes, standardizing deliverables, and increasing reuse of engineering assets (templates, libraries, tools).

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for non‑technical audiences.

• Strong organizational and prioritization skills, comfortable managing multiple concurrent projects and stakeholders.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is competitive and commensurate with experience, location, and qualifications, aligned with IEM’s engineering leadership bands.

Location

Preferred location is Nashville, TN. Alternatively, this role can be based in one of IEM’s engineering hubs, including Vancouver (CAD), Fremont (CA), Portland (OR), or Jacksonville (FL), with periodic travel to other IEM sites and customer locations as needed. Working remotely for qualified candidates can be accepted as well.

Why Join IEM

At IEM, you’ll join a team that powers some of the world’s most ambitious projects. We’re engineers, makers, and problem-solvers who thrive on tackling complex challenges and delivering solutions that keep industries moving forward. If you’re driven, collaborative, and ready to make an impact, we’d love to hear from you. Your creativity and passion can help us achieve great things—come be part of the journey.

Learn more about IEM at https://www.iemfg.com

We offer comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support our employees' well-being, growth, and long-term success. View a snapshot of our benefits at https://www.iemfg.com/careers

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