Plate Concepts, Inc. designs and supplies plate & frame heat exchanger solutions — gasketed and brazed units, plus spare parts — to commercial HVAC contractors, distributors, and industrial accounts. This is a full-time role providing the technical backbone behind Plate Concepts' front-office operations — sizing units, building quotes, and processing orders. The Applications Engineer works closely with the Account Lead, who owns new business development, account relationships, and pricing judgment on complex accounts. This role isn't sales — but you may be looped into customer or engineering-firm calls when a technical question needs a confident answer.
Qualifications
Foundational knowledge of thermal engineering principles — heat duty, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics fundamentals (Reynolds number, pressure drop)
Bachelor's degree in mechanical, chemical, or a related engineering discipline preferred; equivalent hands-on industry experience also considered
No minimum years of experience required — engineering fundamentals matter more than tenure
Comfortable reading and interpreting nameplates, technical specifications, and engineering drawings
Able to communicate technical concepts clearly with client-side engineers and consulting firms
Comfortable learning tool-guided sizing software; full training provided on the job
Strong Excel skills and comfort with structured data entry
Requirements
Responsibilities
Evaluate incoming customer inquiries and gather the technical data needed to size a unit — duty point, GPM, ΔT, pressure, and design conditions
Log inquiries into the inquiry tracking system, assign RFQ numbers, and request nameplate photos or specs from customers
Size gasketed plate & frame heat exchangers using the manufacturer's selection software, applying engineering judgment to validate the output
Build technical datasheets, drawings, and nameplates from the manufacturer's software output
Prepare and assemble quote packages, including technical specifications and delivery terms
Verify incoming customer purchase orders against the quoted price and specifications
Build and place purchase orders with the manufacturer; file order confirmations
Build packing lists and monitor open orders through to shipment
Keep the order tracking register current
Join customer or engineering-firm conversations alongside the Account Lead when technical questions come up
Flag pricing exceptions, vendor issues, and non-standard requests to the Account Lead
