Director, Application Engineering – Specification

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Ohio.

📋 Description

• Formulate and implement a nationwide strategy to enhance the specification, approval, and utilization of PowerPro solutions in residential, multifamily, and light-commercial construction sectors.

• Identify and prioritize applications, regions, customers, influencers, and projects that hold the highest commercial potential.

• Facilitate inclusion in construction specifications, builder standards, approved product lists, project takeoffs, contractor submissions, and code-approved applications.

• Design and oversee the process that links technical influence to project conversion and revenue generation.

• Establish handoffs among Application Engineering, Sales, Product, Marketing, and channel partners.

• Utilize CRM and project-tracking tools to ensure transparency into specifications, approvals, opportunities, actions, and conversion rates.

• Recruit, mentor, and lead field-based Application Engineers.

• Define territory coverage, operating rhythms, account and project prioritization, activity expectations, performance metrics, and career development paths.

• Cultivate relationships with architects, engineers, designers, builders, developers, contractors, code officials, municipalities, plan reviewers, and other key influencers.

• Provide leadership on application guidance, specification development, code interpretation, evaluation reports, certifications, testing data, competitive equivalencies, and installation practices.

• Support strategic projects from the design phase through to installation and represent Hillman at professional associations, technical forums, customer events, and trade shows.

• Collaborate with lumberyards, building-material dealers, buying groups, distributors, and outside sales teams to enhance recommendations and conversions.

• Develop technical selling programs, joint customer engagement initiatives, and project support models.

• Oversee the AIA and continuing education strategy, which includes accredited programs, lunch-and-learns, certification seminars, code education, and technical workshops.

• Create train-the-trainer programs and technical resources for sales teams, representatives, dealer personnel, contractors, and design professionals.

• Convert customer, jobsite, code, channel, and competitive insights into products, applications, approvals, certifications, and technical resources.

• Collaborate with Product Management, Engineering, Compliance, Marketing, and Sales teams to address market gaps and enhance customer outcomes.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, Building Science, or a related technical field.

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in construction products, engineered building materials, fastening systems, specification sales, technical services, field engineering, or application engineering.

• At least 5 years of experience in leading technical, engineering, or field-based teams, including experience in building or scaling capabilities.

• Proven success in influencing design professionals, builders, contractors, distributors, channel partners, and stakeholders involved in code or approvals.

• Preferred experience with fastening, anchoring, structural connectors, engineered wood, gypsum systems, or related building-material categories.

• Preferred familiarity with ICC-ES evaluation reports, testing programs, certifications, approvals, building-code compliance, AIA continuing education, CRM, construction project intelligence, BIM, specifications, or project-management platforms.

• Strong understanding of construction methods, building materials, fastening applications, specifications, and code-compliant solutions.

• Capability to translate complex technical information into actionable decisions, distinct customer value, and measurable commercial outcomes.

• An entrepreneurial and commercially-focused mindset with the ability to develop strategies, teams, processes, and market credibility.

• Exceptional communication, presentation, relationship-building, and cross-functional leadership abilities at the executive level.

• Strong engineering judgment, accountability, customer-centric focus, and a commitment to technical excellence.

• Ability to set priorities, establish operating rhythms, performance measures, and scalable processes across a distributed team.

• Willingness to travel throughout North America.

• Professional Engineer (PE) or Engineer in Training (EIT) credential is preferred.

• Successful completion of a pre-employment background check and drug screening is required.

🏝️ Benefits

• Option for virtual work.

• Standard office equipment including computer, mobile device, CRM, project-tracking systems, presentation technology, and relevant construction/specification software.

• Personal protective equipment may be provided or required for site visits.

• Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

• Equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination protections.