About 3A Composites:

3A Composites USA specializes in the manufacturing of leading substrates for the graphic display, architectural and framing markets in North America, South America and Central America. With manufacturing facilities in Benton, KY, Statesville, NC, and Glasgow, KY, and sales and marketing offices in Davidson, NC, our industry leading brands include: ALUCOBOND® PLUS, FOME-COR®, SINTRA®, GATOR®, DISPA®, DIBOND® and LUMEX® G . 3A Composites is part of the international 3A Composites Group, which belongs to the listed company Schweiter Technologies headquartered in Steinhausen, Switzerland. At 3A Composites, we share common values of integrity and accountability, teamwork, trust & transparency that guide us in our dealings with customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders. More information about 3A Composites can be found at http://www.3acompositesusa.com.

Purpose of this role:

We are seeking an experienced Application Development Engineer to support our building and construction product lines with a strong focus on fire safety performance, particularly NFPA 285 fire testing, of aluminum composite panel (ACP) cladding systems, and composite physical property evaluations. This role plays a critical part in bridging product development, compliance testing, and customer technical support. The ideal candidate will have deep knowledge of fire-rated wall assemblies, material compatibility, and regulatory requirements in North American building and construction markets.  Exposure to other high performance markets like transportation, marine or aviation is beneficial.

In this position, you will…

• Serve as the subject matter expert on NFPA 285 and other fire performance standards (e.g., ASTM E84, CAN/ULC S134).
• Lead technical development and qualification of ACM cladding systems and related building envelope solutions.
• Collaborate with industry consultants, R&D, testing labs, certification bodies, and manufacturing teams to support fire testing, assembly design, and documentation.
• Develop and maintain full-scale wall assembly mock ups for fire testing and provide technical guidance for proper installation.
• Analyze test data and provide technical interpretation and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Contribute to establishing testing and application demonstration capabilities and events
• Support sales, marketing, and product management teams with application knowledge, customer presentations, and technical documentation.
• Work directly with architects, façade consultants, general contractors, and code officials to provide pre- and post-test guidance on compliant system designs.
• Monitor regulatory updates, market trends, and competitive activity in fire safety and façade systems.
• Develop training content and conduct internal and external technical seminars or product knowledge sessions.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Civil, Architectural, Materials) or Architecture; advanced degree a plus.
• 5+ years of experience in the building and construction industry, specifically in façade systems or fire performance of exterior wall assemblies.
• Proficient in creating architectural specifications and submittal documents
• Proficiency in AutoCAD or Revit or InDesign, and understanding of façade system detailing is preferred. Understanding of the design and fabrication of ACM and other rigid substrates to create 3 dimensional objects using digital cutting systems.
• Hands-on experience with NFPA 285 testing and knowledge of fire-rated cladding system design.
• Familiarity with ACM products, rain-screen systems, and building codes (e.g., IBC, NBC, ASTM, UL, ICC).
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret technical data and test results.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience working with third-party test labs and certification agencies (e.g., Intertek, UL, QAI).
• Experience with building wall mock-ups and demo units.

Success Metrics:

• Successful completion and approval of NFPA 285-compliant assemblies.
• Reduction in time-to-market for new or modified ACM cladding systems.
• Positive feedback from clients and partners regarding technical support.
• Enhanced product acceptance through regulatory compliance and applications