Senior Application Engineer I

Phoenix Contact•Middletown, PA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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
Must be able to travel via airplane.
Must be able to receive a passport and be able to travel overseas.
Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to operate an automobile for up to six hours at a time.
Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs. (sample, demos, literature)
Must be able to travel overnight up to 30%
Comply with company dress code guidelines.
Regular and on-time attendance
If local to Harrisburg, PA the hybrid position requires at least three days in the office

Nice To Haves

the Electric Power Industry is a bonus
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

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
Maintain accurate CRM reporting and support data-driven business development, providing visibility into product performance, opportunity pipelines, and market activity
Evaluate and validate product integrations within the Industrial Ethernet ecosystem, including technologies such as network monitoring, IDS/IPS, next-generation firewalls, log collection, and SCADA systems to enhance solution capabilities
Provide Level 3 and Level 4 support for Industrial Ethernet products and network-related applications, ensuring high-quality resolution of complex technical issues
Represent the Industrial Ethernet portfolio at industry events, customer engagements, and global initiatives, supporting market development, product launches, and strategic growth initiatives
Other duties as assigned