Applications Engineer

AFL manufactures industry-leading fiber optic cable, connectivity and accessories and provides engineering and installation services for some of the largest telecom customers in the world. Our company was founded in 1984 with a single fiber optic cable and today, we manufacture thousands of products, generate an excess of $3B in revenue, and employ approximately 12,000 associates worldwide. At AFL, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset. We hire and train each individual, investing in them to ensure success in their careers. With a commitment to professional development and growth, let us connect you to your next career opportunity.

What We Offer:

• A hybrid in office schedule for qualifying employees/positions
• Flexible time off policy
• 401K Company match (up to 4% - dollar for dollar)
• Professional development, training, and tuition reimbursement programs
• Excellent medical, dental, vision, and life insurance policy options

The U.S. transmission grid is being rebuilt for a new era. Utilities are upgrading aging infrastructure, extending high-voltage corridors, and confronting unprecedented load growth from electrification, reshoring, and AI-driven data center expansion - and EHV (345kV+) systems are at the center of that investment. For AFL, this means growing demand for technically sophisticated field support: customers need a partner who can help them specify, qualify, and install conductor accessories correctly, at voltage classes where the consequences of error are unacceptable.

AFL is seeking a Transmission & Distribution Application Engineer to serve as the technical face of our conductor accessories portfolio in the field. This role is built for an engineer who is equally comfortable in a utility planning meeting, a high-voltage qualification testing lab, and a hands-on training session with line crews. The successful candidate will carry AFL's technical credibility directly to our customers - helping them navigate EHV product selection, guiding installation best practices, and building the kind of trusted relationships that make AFL the first call when customers have a hard problem. In addition to a primary focus on T&D conductor accessories, this role also carries Application Engineer responsibility for secondary product lines, most likely Alumoweld and substation products.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Field Presence & Customer Support

• Represent AFL at customer sites, training events, and industry conferences - traveling to bring AFL's technical expertise directly where customers need it (up to 50% domestic travel)
• Provide pre- and post-sale technical support to utility customers, EPCs, contractors, and AFL sales teams
• Conduct product demonstrations and technical training for utility engineers, customers, and sales teams
• Serve as the technical resource for Field Engineers on installation issues - supporting troubleshooting, diagnosing application-related complaints, and helping resolve problems in the field
• Present at industry technical forums and conferences as AFL's subject matter expert in Transmission & Distribution conductor accessories

EHV Product Expertise & Qualification Testing

• Provide technical leadership and guidance for EHV (345kV+) product development and commercialization
• Lead and participate in qualification testing programs for EHV products, including coordination with external labs, utilities, and standards bodies
• Engage directly with utility transmission engineers on EHV product specifications, application requirements, and technical procurement discussions
• Develop EHV-specific application notes, technical guidelines, and product documentation

Technical Content Development

• Create and maintain installation instructions, application notes, product guidelines, and customer training materials
• Lead technical RFx (RFQ/RFP/specification) response efforts
• Support new product introductions and market launches for the first 6+ months post-launch
• Stay current on competitor product offerings, industry standards, and emerging utility technology requirements

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Standards Participation

• Serve as Application Engineer for secondary product lines (most likely Alumoweld and substation products) in addition to the primary T&D conductor accessories focus
• Act as the voice of the customer - provide field and application feedback to engineering, R&D, and product line management
• Collaborate with manufacturing, sales, and research teams to support product development and market positioning
• Represent AFL in industry standards committees and working groups (IEEE, NESC, CIGRE)
• Maintain awareness of competitor products, emerging T&D technology, and relevant regulatory/standards activity

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Required

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a closely related engineering discipline; other engineering degrees considered with directly relevant electric power industry experience
• 3-5+ years of experience in the electric power industry, with direct exposure to transmission and distribution systems
• Demonstrated experience and success leading product and technical training directly to customers, EPCs, or contractors
• Working knowledge of transmission conductor hardware, accessories, and installation practices
• Strong written and verbal communication skills - able to translate complex technical content for field crews, engineers, and executive audiences alike
• Proficiency in MS Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% domestically for customer visits, training events, and field support

Preferred

• Working knowledge of EHV (345kV+) transmission systems: design considerations, conductor selection, clearances, sag-tension, and hardware requirements - a meaningful differentiator for this role
• Experience with EHV or high-voltage product qualification testing, factory acceptance testing, or IEEE/IEC type testing protocols
• Familiarity with applicable industry standards: IEEE, NESC, IEC, CIGRE
• Experience at a T&D hardware OEM, utility, or EPC in a technical advisory or application engineering capacity
• Prior participation in standards bodies or industry technical committees

WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH

Interfaces- Internal

Interfaces- External

• Applications Engineering Manager - reporting line
• Applications Engineering peers
• Field Engineers - technical backstop on installation issues, field complaints, and application troubleshooting
• Product Line Management- Conductor Accessories / Energy
• R&D and Engineering teams
• Sales leadership and field sales representatives
• Manufacturing and Quality teams
• Investor-owned utilities, public power, and cooperatives - transmission planning, T&D engineering, and standards teams
• EPCs and system integrators
• Contractors and field installation crews
• Industry standards bodies: IEEE PES, NESC, CIGRE, ANSI
• External high-voltage qualification testing laboratories

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Hybrid: 3 days in office (Duncan, SC), 2 days remote
• Travel up to 50%, primarily domestic - utility customer sites, training events, industry conferences, and field locations
• Office and manufacturing floor environment