Applications Engineer - Santa Barbara, CA

Back Applications Engineer #26-385 Santa Barbara, California, United States X Facebook LinkedIn Email Copy Company Santa Barbara Infrared Employment Status Full-Time Career Level Experienced Non-Manager Job Description

Santa Barbara Infrared, Inc. is currently recruiting for the position of Applications Engineer.

Santa Barbara Infrared, Inc. (SBIR) is a very successful, fast-paced subsidiary of HEICO Corporation, (NYSE: HEI, HEI.A). For more than 60 years, HEICO has thrived by serving segments of the aerospace, defense, and electronics industries by providing innovative and cost-saving products and services. Forbes Magazine has ranked HEICO as one of the 200 "Best Small Companies" and 200 "Hot Shot Stocks".

Santa Barbara Infrared, Inc. designs and manufactures the most technologically advanced Infrared (IR) and Electro-Optical (E-O) test instrumentation. SBIR's broad line of innovative products support testing of military and commercial sensor systems for world-wide use in laboratory, production, depot and field test applications. SBIR's high-energy, dynamic culture focuses our Team Members on providing quality products and services to our customers. We provide highly integrated, well-engineered, cost effective hardware and software solutions to the E-O community. In doing so, SBIR has become the preferred supplier to major domestic and international manufacturers of commercial and military E-O sensors and systems.

Applications Engineer - Electro-Optical Test Systems.

This role sits at the intersection of engineering and business development, serving as a key technical advisor to customers while helping drive new business opportunities. The ideal candidate brings a strong technical foundation and proven customer-facing experience, with the ability to understand customer needs, communicate technical solutions, and work closely with engineering teams to deliver value.

Key Responsibilities

Serve as the primary technical interface for customers across pre-sales and post-sales activities

Partner with business development to identify opportunities, shape solutions, and support capture strategies

Lead technical discussions, presentations, and product demonstrations for customers and partners

Translate customer needs into technical requirements and system-level concepts for internal engineering teams

Support proposal efforts, including technical content, solution definition, and cost inputs

Collaborate with engineering to ensure solutions are aligned with customer expectations and delivered successfully

Support system integration, acceptance testing, and customer onboarding as needed

Provide ongoing technical support, training, and relationship management to drive customer satisfaction and repeat business

Capture and communicate customer feedback to influence product development and strategy

Requirements

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field

3+ years of experience in a customer-facing role such as applications engineering, systems engineering, or technical business development

Demonstrated experience supporting business development, sales, or customer engagement activities

Strong ability to understand and communicate complex technical concepts

Experience working cross-functionally with engineering teams

Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with electro-optical / infrared (EO/IR) systems, imaging technologies, or test and measurement systems

Background in defense, aerospace, or advanced sensing technologies

Familiarity with MATLAB, Python, or similar tools for data analysis or demonstrations

Experience supporting proposals, customer demos, or field deployments

Experience working with U.S. Government or prime contractor customers

Additional Requirements

Willingness to travel (~20-40%) for customer meetings, demos, and program support

Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance (if required)

Due to US Export Control Regulations compliance, eligible candidates MUST be a US citizen, permanent resident or a person who has been granted asylum; proper documentation required. Pre-employment verifications: must pass background, reference and ITAR/EAR checks in addition to a pre-employment drug screen.

This position offers many benefits: medical, dental, vision, 401(k), PTO, HSA, FSA, alternate work week schedule, LTD, life insurance and much more.

$110,000/yr. - $130,000/yr. - DOE

EOE

Male/Female/Veteran/Disabled

Job Details Pay Range Pay Range The estimated pay range for this job. Disclosing pay information promotes competitive and equitable pay.

The actual pay rate will depend on the person's qualifications and experience. $110,000.00 - $130,000.00 / year Pay Transparency In order to support the Fair Compensation Strategy by the US Govt., HR Dept., clients are required to adhere to "Pay Transparency Law"; in the impacted states; that have mandated the employers to list the salary ranges in Job advertisements or postings for job opportunities and Job promotions. Santa Barbara Infrared, Inc. is currently recruiting for the position of Applications Engineer.

Santa Barbara Infrared, Inc. (SBIR) is a very successful, fast-paced subsidiary of HEICO Corporation, (NYSE: HEI, HEI.A). For more than 60 years, HEICO has thrived by serving segments of the aerospace, defense, and electronics industries by providing innovative and cost-saving products and services. Forbes Magazine has ranked HEICO as one of the 200 "Best Small Companies" and 200 "Hot Shot Stocks".

Santa Barbara Infrared, Inc. designs and manufactures the most technologically advanced Infrared (IR) and Electro-Optical (E-O) test instrumentation. SBIR's broad line of innovative products support testing of military and commercial sensor systems for world-wide use in laboratory, production, depot and field test applications. SBIR's high-energy, dynamic culture focuses our Team Members on providing quality products and services to our customers. We provide highly integrated, well-engineered, cost effective hardware and software solutions to the E-O community. In doing so, SBIR has become the preferred supplier to major domestic and international manufacturers of commercial and military E-O sensors and systems.

Applications Engineer - Electro-Optical Test Systems.

This role sits at the intersection of engineering and business development, serving as a key technical advisor to customers while helping drive new business opportunities. The ideal candidate brings a strong technical foundation and proven customer-facing experience, with the ability to understand customer needs, communicate technical solutions, and work closely with engineering teams to deliver value.

Key Responsibilities

* Serve as the primary technical interface for customers across pre-sales and post-sales activities

* Partner with business development to identify opportunities, shape solutions, and support capture strategies

* Lead technical discussions, presentations, and product demonstrations for customers and partners

* Translate customer needs into technical requirements and system-level concepts for internal engineering teams

* Support proposal efforts, including technical content, solution definition, and cost inputs

* Collaborate with engineering to ensure solutions are aligned with customer expectations and delivered successfully

* Support system integration, acceptance testing, and customer onboarding as needed

* Provide ongoing technical support, training, and relationship management to drive customer satisfaction and repeat business

* Capture and communicate customer feedback to influence product development and strategy