Senior Application Engineer I
Senior Application Engineer designing and troubleshooting Industrial Ethernet network solutions for industrial automation customers, with a focus on pre-sales engineering and technical support.
- Compensation
- Not disclosed
- Location
- Middletown, Pennsylvania
- Work setup
- Hybrid
- Seniority
- Senior
- Employment
- Contract
- Experience
- 7+ years
- Category
- Industrial engineering
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field
- 7+ years of experience in application engineering, industrial automation networking, or network engineering
- Advanced knowledge of Industrial Ethernet (and the Electric Power Industry is a bonus)
- Expertise in network architecture, network audits, network, and security design
- A working knowledge of IEC/ISA 62443 standard
- An understanding of IEC 61850 and the concept of digital substations is a plus.
- Certifications such as CCIE, CCNA, CCNP, GSEC, GICSP, GRID, CISSP, Network+, Security+, or ISA is desirable
- Strong communication and presentation skills
- Willingness to travel up to 30%
- Proven track record of problem solving by analyzing situation and providing recommended path forward
Full description
Job Summary
The Senior Application Engineer (AE) serves as a product-focused technical expert and strategic partner to customers, Sales, and Product Management, driving adoption and revenue growth for Phoenix Contact’s Industrial Ethernet portfolio. Leveraging deep product and application expertise, this role identifies, develops, and converts sales opportunities into high-value, product-aligned solutions, influencing specification decisions and delivering measurable business outcomes.
The Senior AE leads complex customer engagements centered on the application, positioning, and integration of Industrial Ethernet products, including network system architecture design, solution development, and advanced troubleshooting. This role is primarily focused on pre-sales engineering of customer network solutions, delivering product-centric training on network technologies and industry applications, and providing Level 3/4 technical support across the networking portfolio managed by the U.S. organization. Additionally, this position plays a critical role in advancing Phoenix Contact’s industrial networking and critical infrastructure product strategy by enabling internal and external stakeholders—including sales teams, channel partners, and customers—while supporting the broader ecosystem of aligned technologies (e.g., cloud platforms, software solutions, and integration partners). Operating with a high degree of independence, the Senior AE also serves as the voice of the customer, providing actionable market and application insights to Product Management to help shape product roadmap decisions, portfolio positioning, and go-to-market strategies.
Responsibilities
- Lead complex, product-centric technical engagements with customers, including Industrial Ethernet network architecture design, product configuration, cybersecurity integration, and advanced troubleshooting aligned to portfolio capabilities
- Serve as a subject matter expert for the Industrial Ethernet product portfolio, providing strategic consultation on protocols, automation networking solutions, and OT cybersecurity positioning
- Partner with Sales to identify, qualify, and advance strategic opportunities, ensuring alignment between customer needs and product portfolio value propositions
- Influence customer specifications and drive product adoption, positioning Phoenix Contact solutions as the preferred standard within customer applications
- Act as the voice of the customer, translating application needs, market trends, and competitive insights into actionable feedback for Product Management to influence roadmap and portfolio strategy
- Enable internal and external stakeholders through product-focused training and mentorship, strengthening technical expertise across sales teams, partners, and customers