Senior Applications Engineer
K-Space Associates, Inc. - Metrology
Software Engineering, IT
Dexter, MI, USA
Posted on Mar 13, 2026
Posted February 2026Location: Onsite – Full Time (Dexter, MI)Reports To: Technical Sales DirectorPosition Summaryk-Space Associates, Inc. is seeking a PhD-level Application Engineer to support the sale and application of advanced thin-film and industrial metrology systems. This role serves as a technical authority and customer-facing expert, supporting complex opportunities with research laboratories, universities, national labs, and advanced industrial customers. This is a mid to senior level, onsite position that works closely with Sales, Engineering, Product Development, and Production teams throughout the consultative sales cycles.Key ResponsibilitiesTechnical Sales & Applications Support- Serve as a technical expert on k-Space products, measurement techniques, applications, and system capabilities- Engage directly with customers to understand experimental objectives, technical requirements, and constraints- Support pre-sales technical discussions, system configuration, and feasibility assessments- Assist with preparation of technical responses to RFQs and customer inquiries- Support quotation development by defining technical scope, configurations, and application detailsCustomer Engagement- Participate in technical sales calls, onsite customer meetings, and product demonstrations- Present k-Space technologies and application capabilities to highly technical audiences- Establish and maintain strong technical rapport with customers- Provide post-installation technical follow-up and application support as neededInternal Collaboration- Act as a technical liaison between customers and internal engineering, R&D, and production teams- Communicate customer application needs, feedback, and improvement opportunities internally- Support application note development, technical documentation, and internal knowledge sharingSales Process & Market Support- Document and manage opportunities within k-Space CRM and lead-tracking systems- Support distributors and sales representatives with technical expertise- Assist with trade shows and marketing activities as neededQualificationsRequired- PhD in Physics, Materials Science, Engineering, or a closely related discipline- Mid to senior level experience in applications engineering, technical sales, or customer-facing technical roles- Strong understanding of scientific instrumentation and experimental methods- Excellent verbal and written communication skills- Ability to work onsite full time in a collaborative environmentPreferred- Experience with thin-film deposition, optics, vacuum systems, or industrial metrology- Experience supporting custom or semi-custom technical systems- Familiarity with CRM or lead-tracking software- Strong technical presentation and documentation skillsWork Environment- Full-time onsite position at k-Space headquarters- Collaborative, cross-functional work environment- Customer-facing role requiring professionalism and technical credibility- Limited travel for customer visits and trade shows as needed