Senior Design Engineer

Phoenix Contact•Middletown, PA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Design Engineer 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 Design Engineer leads complex customer engagements focused on the application, positioning, and integration of Industrial Ethernet solutions. This includes network system architecture design, solution development, and advanced troubleshooting. The role is primarily centered on pre-sales engineering, supporting customer network solutions through technical consultation, delivering product-focused training on networking technologies and industry applications, and providing Level 3/4 technical support across the U.S. networking portfolio. In addition, this position plays a key role in advancing Phoenix Contact’s industrial networking and critical infrastructure strategy by enabling internal and external stakeholders—including sales teams, channel partners, and customers—while supporting a broader ecosystem of aligned technologies (such as cloud platforms, software solutions, and integration partners). Operating with a high degree of autonomy, the Senior Design Engineer also serves as the voice of the customer, providing actionable market and application insights to Product Management to inform 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.
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

Nice To Haves

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, industrial networking solutions, and OT cybersecurity positioning
Partner with Sales to identify, qualify, and advance strategic opportunities, ensuring alignment between customer requirements and product portfolio value propositions
Influence customer specifications and drive product adoption by positioning Phoenix Contact solutions as the preferred standard within target applications
Act as the voice of the customer, translating application needs, market trends, and competitive insights into actionable feedback for Product Management to shape roadmap and portfolio strategy
Enable internal and external stakeholders through product-focused training, coaching, and mentorship, strengthening technical capabilities across sales teams, channel partners, and customers
Maintain accurate CRM reporting and support data-driven business development, providing visibility into opportunity pipelines, product performance, 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 management, and SCADA systems to enhance solution offerings
Provide Level 3 and Level 4 technical support for Industrial Ethernet products and network-related applications, ensuring timely resolution of complex issues and high customer satisfaction
Represent the Industrial Ethernet portfolio at industry events, customer engagements, and global initiatives, supporting market development, product launches, and strategic growth efforts
Perform other duties as assigned
Other duties as assigned