---
title: 'Applications Engineering Co-op at Diversified Automation'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/applications-engineering-co-op-diversified-automation-louisville-477wbwtp4w59'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-12'
---

# Applications Engineering Co-op at Diversified Automation

- **Company:** Diversified Automation
- **Location:** Louisville, KY
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-08-27
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-12
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/diversified-automation/d83143a9-f536-498e-9554-b419dff07a32

## Job description

Position summary: The Applications Engineer Co-Op provides support to the Applications Engineering team in the preparation and organization of technical information during the bidding and proposal phases of material handling projects. This role assists in reviewing bid packages, verifying that all required documents are complete and aligned with scope, and helping maintain the accuracy and consistency of project data used in pricing and estimating. The Co-Op will participate in technical discussions, record key points from meetings, and assist with document tracking, Excel data management, and AutoCAD drawing reviews. This position offers a learning opportunity for students pursuing an engineering degree who are interested in gaining hands-on exposure to industrial controls, power design, and material handling automation.

Tasks

- Learn the fundamentals of material handling systems and electrical control architectures through direct involvement in live bid projects.
- Assist Applications Engineers in verifying that all documentation received matches the project scope and RFQ requirements.
- Track missing documents or open items and follow up with internal teams or vendors under the direction of the Applications Engineer.
- Participate in technical meetings, taking organized notes of key points, questions, and assumptions to be considered in the bid.
- Support the preparation of Excel-based estimating tools, cost summaries, and device count sheets.
- Assist with document organization and updates to bid dashboards, ensuring all files are current and named correctly.
- Review AutoCAD drawings for basic layout accuracy, tagging consistency, and coordination with motor manifests (no design or drafting required).
- Help identify and summarize key sections of specifications or RFQ documents related to electrical or controls scope.

## Skills

- Excel Proficiency – Comfortable working with structured templates, formulas, and organized data entry; able to assist with power or device count sheets under guidance.
- AutoCAD Familiarity – Ability to open and review DWG drawings, locate conveyor tags and device callouts, and verify coordination with other bid documents.
- Reading Comprehension – Able to read and interpret RFQ documents, specifications, and equipment lists.
- Attention to Detail – Reviews documents and data carefully to prevent omissions or mismatched information in bids.
- Technical Communication – Writes clear and concise emails or notes to request missing information, summarize meeting outcomes, or document follow-ups.
- Organization and Information Management – Maintains well-structured file naming and version control to support the Applications Engineering team.
- Team Collaboration – Works closely with Applications Engineers and Sales to align scope understanding and bid documentation.
- Analytical Thinking – Demonstrates logical reasoning when reviewing documents or identifying inconsistencies.
- Initiative and Learning Mindset – Takes ownership of assigned tasks and seeks to understand the “why” behind engineering and estimating processes.

Attributes:

- Dependability and Ownership – Completes assigned reviews and tasks on time, ensuring information accuracy before submission.
- Proactive Communication – Provides timely updates on document status, missing information, and next steps.
- Adaptability – Adjusts to changing priorities and multiple concurrent bids.
- Professionalism – Maintains a positive attitude, shows respect in communication, and supports the team’s overall success.
- Curiosity and Growth – Demonstrates a genuine interest in learning about controls design, power systems, and material handling equipment.
- Information Organization – Keeps notes, folders, and records structured and easy for others to access.

Required Experience and Education: Currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree program in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related discipline

## About Diversified Automation

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Diversified Automation is a full-service industrial automation integrator specializing in controls, software, and material handling solutions for the parcel, e-commerce, automotive, baggage, and manufacturing industries.
- **Entity Type**: Private (acquired by Leadec Holding BV & Co. KG in 2021; subsidiary of a private German industrial services group)
- **Headquarters**: Louisville, Kentucky, United States (additional offices in Grapevine, TX; Las Vegas, NV; and teams in Dallas, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Columbus, and Los Angeles)
- **Founded**: 2002
- **Founders**: Tony Young (Founder & President), who previously spent 13 years as a Project Engineer at United Parcel Service (UPS)

## Core Business
- **Primary Industry**: Automation Machinery Manufacturing / Industrial Controls Integration (NAICS 333, SIC 353)
- **Target Customers**: B2B / Enterprise — Fortune 500 logistics and parcel carriers (UPS, FedEx, Amazon, DHL), plus mechanical integrators and operators in e-commerce distribution, airports/baggage handling, automotive, and general manufacturing
- **Mission/Purpose**: "Create Raving Fans by leveraging technology and leading innovation today, while transforming business and impacting our world tomorrow." The company was founded on the philosophy that system controls make the difference in any material handling system, and that customers' needs should come first — above all else.

## Products & Services
- **Parcel Automation Solutions**: End-to-end controls and software engineering for express parcel shipping hubs, including sortation controls, SCADA systems, and conveyor system integration. The company has completed 600+ freight/parcel projects and installed 1,800+ systems.
- **E-Commerce Distribution Systems**: Controls and software that increase efficiency of distribution centers and system controls to boost productivity and throughput.
- **Baggage & Terminal Enhancement**: Solutions to optimize and expand airport baggage handling and terminal operations.
- **Manufacturing Automation**: Downtime elimination and speed/quality maximization for industrial manufacturing lines.
- **Turnkey Controls Integration**: Full-service fabrication, installation, and production of cost-effective material handling solutions — delivered on-time and within budget.
- **Controls & Commissioning Engineering**: Hardware design, software engineering, project management, and on-site commissioning services for automated systems.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company)
- **Key Metric**: Annual revenue of approximately **$100M USD** (reported at time of 2021 acquisition; current figures not publicly disclosed)
- **Headcount**: 176 employees (+43.3% YoY, +65 people), with workforce distributed across 5 countries (United States, Mexico, Canada, India, Germany)
- **Ownership**: Acquired by **Leadec Holding BV & Co. KG** effective December 31, 2020 (announced January 11, 2021). Leadec is a Stuttgart, Germany-based industrial services company focused on the factory life cycle. The acquisition expanded Leadec's portfolio into parcel automation and strengthened its North American operations.
- **Notable Customers/Partners**: UPS, FedEx, Amazon, DHL, and other Fortune 500 companies
- **Growth Signals**: 43% year-over-year headcount growth; expansion into new geographies via Leadec's European network; active hiring for site supervisors across multiple states (NC, MA, TX, CA, OK); co-op program for controls, hardware, and software engineering students.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Deep domain expertise in parcel/express shipping**: Founder Tony Young built some of the world's most sophisticated automated material handling systems during 13 years at UPS; the company has since delivered 600+ parcel projects — a specialized niche few integrators match.
- **Full-service integration capability**: Unlike software-only or hardware-only vendors, DA handles fabrication, installation, controls, software, and project management in-house.
- **Fortune 500 trust**: Long-standing relationships with UPS, FedEx, Amazon, and DHL create high switching costs and a strong reference base.
- **Parent-company backing**: Leadec provides automotive industry relationships, a global footprint (especially Europe), and financial stability — enabling DA to pursue larger, cross-border projects.
- **Proven track record**: 1,800+ installed systems and a reputation for on-time, on-budget delivery.

## Strategic Focus
- **Global expansion via Leadec**: Leveraging Leadec's European presence to serve UPS, FedEx, DHL, and Amazon throughout Europe and surrounding territories, opening substantial new markets.
- **Cross-selling into automotive**: Using Leadec's automotive reputation in the US to diversify beyond parcel/e-commerce into manufacturing automation.
- **Talent growth**: Aggressively hiring engineers, co-ops, and site supervisors to keep pace with project demand and the e-commerce-driven automation boom.
- **Continued innovation in controls & software**: Maintaining a technology-forward approach to sortation, SCADA, and system controls as parcel volumes and processing speeds increase.

## Why Work Here
- **Engineering culture**: DA is a controls-first company — the founder built the business on the belief that system controls make the difference in material handling. Engineers work on large-scale, mission-critical systems for the world's biggest logistics operators.
- **Career development**: Structured co-op programs (Controls, Hardware, Software) plus full-time engineering roles provide a clear pipeline from education into industrial automation.
- **Growth trajectory**: 43% headcount growth in the last year signals a scaling organization with promotion potential — one current opening is a "Project Claims & Commercial Controls Manager" on the leadership track.
- **Work modes**: Most engineering and co-op roles are on-site in Louisville, KY; site superintendent roles are on-site at customer locations; some leadership roles are remote.
- **Culture & compensation**: Employee reviews (3.9/5.0 across 47 reviews) highlight strong compensation (4.1/5.0) and culture (4.1/5.0); work-life balance rates lower at 3.3/5.0, typical of project-based industrial integration roles.
- **Company values**: Founder-led emphasis on putting customers first, creating "Raving Fans," and a long-term career mindset — "We are always looking for talented people in the industry and we want to retain them for a long, advancing career."
- **Geographic reach**: Opportunities to work across the US at various customer sites, with offices in KY, TX, NV, and presence in Dallas, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Columbus, and Los Angeles.

## Sources
1. [diversified-automation.com (Services/Industries)](https://diversified-automation.com/services/)
2. [diversified-automation.com (Apply/Careers)](https://diversified-automation.com/apply/)
3. [diversified-automation.com (Media Release — Leadec Acquisition)](https://diversified-automation.com/news/media-release/)
4. [jobs.lever.co/diversified-automation (Open Positions)](https://jobs.lever.co/diversified-automation)
5. [linkedin.com/company/diversified-automation-inc. (Company Profile & Ratings)](https://linkedin.com/company/diversified-automation-inc.)

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