Senior Application Specialist

Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. What does that mean? Well, we pump peanut butter into your jar, and the oil in your car. We glue the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows and the screen on your phone. We spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, the paint on your house and texture on your walls. Graco is part of your daily life.

Graco's Industrial Division provides industry-leading fluid handling and finishing solutions for manufacturing and industrial applications. The division serves a broad range of markets, including paint and coating application, sealant and adhesive dispensing, lubrication systems, process equipment, and powder finishing technologies. Customers include manufacturers across industries such as automotive, transportation, metal fabrication, wood products, electronics, general industrial, and other industrial production environments. The division focuses on delivering innovative, high-quality equipment and solutions that improve productivity, efficiency, quality, and sustainability for customers worldwide.

The Senior Application Specialist serves as a strategic technical leader, driving sales growth and elevating customer satisfaction by delivering expert guidance on selecting and implementing advanced technical solutions. This role entails providing high-level installation support, comprehensive training, and transferring critical expertise to ensure optimal equipment performance, backed by professional follow-up support. In collaboration with cross-functional teams and departments, the Senior Application Specialist supports the sales team by crafting tailored technical solutions that address complex customer needs. Acting as the primary technical authority at the assigned facility, this role delivers engineering expertise, conducts detailed line audits, optimizes spare part inventory strategies, and fosters strong, trust-based customer relationships. Through strategic engagement and operational excellence, the Senior Application Specialist enhances the Graco experience and drives sustained business growth. 

What You Will Do at Graco   

Customer Engagement and Solution Development  

• Engage with customers to assess their business and technical requirements, identifying the most suitable solutions for their needs.  

• Provide expert advice on advanced technical pumping solutions and collaborate with the Product Marketing Manager and engineering team to develop tailored solutions for customer installations.  

• Act as the interface between the customer’s application and Graco’s technology, ensuring seamless integration and performance.  

Installation, Troubleshooting, and Support  

• Assist in the installation of Graco products at customer sites, ensuring smooth setup and functionality.  

• Monitor the installed base, provide troubleshooting support, and ensure optimal performance of Graco solutions.  

• Transfer knowledge and expertise to customers, offering training and ongoing support to ensure proper usage and maintenance of equipment.  

Issue Management and Customer Satisfaction  

• Proactively identify and address any critical issues that may impact customer satisfaction or installation success.  

• Keep management informed of any concerns, ensuring timely escalation of issues that could compromise customer experience or solution effectiveness.  

Sales and Application Expertise  

• Provide sales support by visiting channel partners and end users, offering technical guidance and fostering customer relationships.  

• Develop and document expertise in industrial and hygienic fluid transfer applications, staying current on best practices and industry standards.  

• Collaborate with sales teams to identify new opportunities and deliver customized technical solutions to meet customer needs.  

• Other duties as assigned. 

What You Will Bring to Graco    

• Associates or Technical Degree in Engineering or a related field.  

• 5+ years of experience in technical selling, service, or support.   

• Extensive experience with dispensing equipment, adhesives, sealants, coatings, or similar advanced technical systems, with a proven ability to optimize their application in industrial settings. 

• Expertise in assembling, disassembling, and seamlessly integrating complex systems into end-user production processes to enhance operational efficiency. 

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with global product marketing, engineering teams, and sales leadership, ensuring alignment across organizational priorities. 

• Exceptional communication skills, with the capability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels of the end user’s organization, from maintenance teams to corporate executives. 

• Advanced problem-solving and diagnostic expertise for resolving intricate technical challenges and implementing innovative solutions. 

• Proven ability to operate autonomously in a senior technical capacity, delivering impactful outcomes in diverse and demanding industrial environments. 

• Strong leadership presence and professional communication skills to build credibility and foster trust in cross-functional and global settings. 

• Willingness to travel approximately to 60% as needed to support customer needs.  

Accelerators   

• Global industrial manufacturing experience and knowledge.   

• Familiarity with PLC communication and troubleshooting is a plus.  

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At Graco, you truly make a difference. Your unique talents contribute to our organizational growth and future. Not only do you make a difference, but Graco’s culture empowers employees to create their own career path. Whether you choose to advance within your current department or explore new opportunities in different divisions, you have the ability to build your future. Our managers are here to provide support and guidance as you continue to grow within your career.

Graco offers attractive compensation, benefits (company car, incentive, group insurance) and career development opportunities.