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Application Engineer Jobs in Salem, OR (NOW HIRING)

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Application Engineer information

See Salem, OR salary details

$50.8K

$111.3K

$152.8K

How much do application engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for application engineer in Salem, OR is $111,256.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $84,400.00 and $135,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much does an application engineer earn?

Application engineers typically earn a median annual salary of around $80,000 to $100,000, depending on experience, location, and industry. Salaries can increase with specialized skills, certifications, and years of experience, and some roles may include additional benefits or bonuses.

What are some common challenges application engineers face when balancing customer requirements with technical feasibility?

Application Engineers often serve as the bridge between customers and the technical teams, which means they regularly encounter situations where client requests may not align perfectly with existing product capabilities. A key challenge is clearly communicating technical limitations while offering alternative solutions that address the customer’s core needs. Successful Application Engineers proactively manage expectations, coordinate with development teams, and stay updated on product roadmaps to suggest realistic enhancements. Developing strong relationships with both customers and internal teams is essential to navigate these challenges effectively.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an application engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Application Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, software development, and problem-solving, often backed by a degree in engineering or computer science. Familiarity with programming languages, CAD tools, and platforms like MATLAB or AutoCAD, as well as certifications in relevant software, is typically required. Strong communication, customer service orientation, and project management skills help distinguish top performers in this role. These abilities ensure effective solution delivery, seamless client interactions, and the successful implementation of technical projects.

What does an application engineer do?

An Application Engineer acts as a bridge between customers and engineering teams, helping to design, develop, and implement technical solutions that meet client needs. They often customize software or hardware products, provide technical support, and assist with product demonstrations or training. Application Engineers also analyze customer requirements, troubleshoot issues, and help improve products based on user feedback. Their role requires strong technical knowledge, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities.

What is the difference between Application Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectApplication EngineerMechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in engineering or related field; technical certificationsBachelor's or higher in mechanical engineering; professional licensure often preferred
Work EnvironmentCustomer-facing, technical support, product customizationDesign, analysis, manufacturing, and testing in labs or factories
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, manufacturing, industrial equipmentAutomotive, aerospace, manufacturing, energy

Application Engineers focus on supporting clients with product implementation and technical solutions, often working closely with sales and engineering teams. Mechanical Engineers primarily design, analyze, and develop mechanical systems and components. While both roles require engineering degrees, Application Engineers emphasize customer interaction and technical support, whereas Mechanical Engineers concentrate on design and manufacturing processes.

What job categories do people searching Application Engineer jobs in Salem, OR look for? The top searched job categories for Application Engineer jobs in Salem, OR are:
What cities near Salem, OR are hiring for Application Engineer jobs? Cities near Salem, OR with the most Application Engineer job openings:
Application Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Application Engineer job openings in Salem, OR as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 76% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,256 per year, or $53.5 per hour.

Technical Application Engineer

Border States Industries, Inc.

Hubbard, OR

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted yesterday

Border States rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 27 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

114th of 412 rated retail wholesalers

Job description

Be part of a growing, successful company in an exciting and challenging field. Border States is 100% employee-owned, which means you're empowered to make decisions, find solutions and receive rewards for your hard work.
This position will be located in: Lacey, WA or, Yakima, WA, or Hubbard, OR 

Application Deadline: Posted Until Filled

Please note that the position may be filled before or after the listed application deadline. Applications will only be accepted while the posting remains active.

Job Summary

The Technical Application Engineer supports the day-to-day operations of the Sales Engineers and Account Managers in promoting sales, securing orders, and providing quality service to our customers. Regularly consults with customers on product and system applications. Provides technical product support for branches and customers, evaluates new products, provides field trouble shooting assistance, assists customers with field programming of equipment, contributes to all aspects of customer training, and conducts product application assessments. 

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

  • Provides technical, specific, or specialized product support for branches and customers. 
  • Consistently provides responsive, quality service to meet and exceed customer expectations.
  • Contributes to planning and sale of Border States' products and services and supports the promotion of Border States' agency and distribution lines.
  • Contributes to in-depth, technically difficult conversations with consultants, customers, and employees related to product technology and/or specifications. 
  • Provides customers with timely follow-up on quotations, technical inquiries, and other requests.
  • Provides continuous contact and interaction with customer's engineering staff and consultants.
  • Leads customer and Border States employee training on new and existing product lines and applications in the specified product areas. 
  • Maintains an in-depth understanding of the assigned area.
  • Works with a broad range of products and services. 
  • Resolves complex issues related to product technology and assists the sales engineer and customer as needed.
  • Inputs TCCM cost savings documentation that is relevant to the assigned customer base.
  • Provides field trouble shooting assistance, training, and information/documentation support.
  • Conducts product application assessments including TCCM savings, elimination of duplicate items/material consolidation, alternative to materials, equipment, methods and practices, and regional, industry, and national standards for material, equipment, and apparatus. 
  • Performs product updates and new product launches of branches and customers as required.

Non-essential Functions

  • Attends and assists with trade shows and training programs as needed.
  • Provides technical training and presentations for Border States personnel internal as well as external customers. 
  • May evaluate demo equipment and makes suggestions for new products in specified product areas.
  • Ensures existing product demos are functional condition.
  • Provides input to the pricing and purchasing departments on product evaluations and code descriptions, inventory management, pricing developments, and other related functions.
  • Familiar with all relevant SAP processes to support order entry and management.  
Qualifications
  • 4-year technical or engineering degree or equivalent experience required. 
  • Knowledge and technical competence in understanding of utility distribution and transmission systems preferred. 
  • Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Access and PowerPoint), Internet, Email and SAP software preferred.
Skills and Abilities
  • Excellent customer service skills include being competent, accurate, responsive, and engaged.
  • Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication and customer service skills preferred.
  • Ability to effectively plan and organize. 
  • Excellent atention to detail and organizational skills.
Physical Requirements

Frequency at which you would carry/lift in a typical day:
Occasionally 0 - 33% Frequently 34 - 66% Continuously: 67 - 100%

  • Lift from Waist:
    • < than 10 lbs. - Occasionally
    • 10 to 25 lbs. - Occasionally
    • 26 to 50 lbs. - Occasionally
    • 51 to 75 lbs. - Occasionally
    • 75 to 100 lbs. - Occasionally
    • 100+ lbs. - Not at all
  • Lift from Floor:
    • < than 10 lbs. - Occasionally
    • 10 to 25 lbs. - Occasionally
    • 26 to 50 lbs. - Occasionally
    • 51 to 75 lbs. - Occasionally
    • 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
    • 100+ lbs. - Not at all
  • Carried for Distance:
    • < than 10 lbs. - Not at all
    • 10 to 25 lbs. - Not at all
    • 26 to 50 lbs. - Not at all
    • 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all
    • 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
    • 100+ lbs. - Not at all
Physical Activity

Frequency at which you would do the following in a typical day:

  • Sitting (a continuous period of being seated) - Frequently
  • Standing (for sustained periods of time) - Frequently
  • Walking (moving about on foot to accomplish tasks) - Continuously
  • Bending/stooping (downward and forward) - Frequently
  • Crawling (moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet) - Not at all
  • Climbing/Walking Stairs (ascending or descending) - Occasionally
  • Reaching (extending arms in any direction) - Occasionally
  • Crouching/squatting (bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine) - Occasionally
  • Kneeling (bending legs at knee to come to rest on knee(s)) - Occasionally
  • Balancing (maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling) - Frequently
  • Repetitive motion (substantial movement (motions) or the wrists, hands, and/or fingers) - Occasionally
  • Pivoting (movement in any direction with one foot, keeping the other in contact with the floor) - Not at all
  • Pushing/Pulling (using upper extremities to press against or draw or tug) - Occasionally
  • Grasping (Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm) - Frequently
  • Fingering (picking, pinching, typing; working with primarily fingers and not whole hand) - Occasionally
  • Talking (expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word) - Continuously
  • Driving (the control and operation of a motor vehicle) - Occasionally
  • Desk work (work usually performed at a desk) - Continuously
  • Use of a computer - Continuously
  • Use of a telephone - Frequently
  • Hearing (Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels) - Continuously
  • Exposure (to adverse weather & temperature conditions) - Frequently
  • Travel (travel needed to perform job duties) - Frequently
Additional Information

This job description is a summary of the job duties and responsibilities and is not intended to cover all possible job duties and is subject to change at the employer's discretion. Employees must be able to perform the essential job duties and satisfy job requirements either with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Our History

Border States is a leader in the electrical supply distribution industry with approximately 130 locations in 31 states. Our employee-owners are second to none in delivering top-notch customer service and in demonstrating extra-ordinary people skills. We are one of the largest independent electrical distributors in the United States providing products and services to the construction, industrial and utility industries. Border States has a competitive benefit package and is a 100 percent employee-owned company. Employee-ownership is a significant part of our culture and our success stems from the dedication of our employee-owners. We practice open-book management and our employee-owners are empowered with clearly defined levels of authority to be innovative and decisive, allowing us to respond quickly to the needs of customers. Employee-owners understand their roles in the success of the company and care about customers' needs, which drives our focus on adding value to everything we do. We recognize that not all customers are the same and each has specific requirements. Our employee-owners understand these diverse needs and have the commitment, resourcefulness and flexibility to outperform all others.

Values
As a Border States employee-owner, you're responsible for living our mission, service philosophy and service standards.

Our Purpose
We believe unstoppable businesses shouldn't go it alone. We are owners - of relationships, of outcomes, of every moment these unstoppable businesses need to deliver.

Service Philosophy
We earn customer loyalty and confidence by caring about their needs and adding value to everything we do.

Service Standards
Border States employee-owners are competent, accurate, responsive, and engaged .

Your career
Join an experienced team at one of the largest electrical distributors in the United States. What are you waiting for?

Border States has a competitive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

Health, Dental and Vision Benefits
Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity
FSA & HSA
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
Disability Benefits
401(k) Retirement Plan
Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Paid Holidays
Paid Volunteer Time
Personal Leave time and more!
Border States provides bonuses to their employee-owners upon the achievement of branch and company goals.

Equal Opportunity For All

It's not just the law.  It's something  we've believed in since our founding.  We value the diversity of all of our employee-owners and will always be an equal opportunity employer.

Drug Free/Smoke Free workplace

Employment may be contingent on the offered candidate successfully passing one or more of the following pre-employment screenings:

  • Criminal background check (required for all positions)
  • Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check (required for positions involving driving)
  • Drug testing

The MVR check and drug testing vary by role and will be communicated to the offered candidate during the onboarding process and as applicable.

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