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Senior Application Engineer I

Middletown, Pennsylvania

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
  • 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

Qualifications

  • 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

Essential Job Functions

  • 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

Perks & Benefits

Phoenix Contact offers a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401k matching, bonus plan and a generous time off package. There are also a wide variety of additional benefits available including 16 weeks fully paid maternity leave & 10 weeks fully paid paternity leave, auto allowance, life insurance, short & long-term disability, assistance, and more!

#LI-DZ1

Phoenix Contact is committed to the diversity of our employees. We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.

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Notice to Staffing Agencies, Placement Services, and Professional Recruiters:

Phoenix Contact has an internal Staffing Department. Recruiters are hereby specifically directed NOT to contact Phoenix Contact employees directly in an attempt to present candidates. Phoenix Contact will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to Phoenix Contact, including unsolicited resumes sent to a Phoenix Contact mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Phoenix Contact employees, or to Phoenix Contact’s resume database will be considered Phoenix Contact property. Phoenix Contact will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. Phoenix Contact will consider any candidate for whom a Recruiter has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Recruiter free of any charges or fees. Phoenix Contact will not pay a fee to any Recruiter that does not have a signed Phoenix Contact contract in place specific to the position for which the resume was submitted. Recruiting vendor agreements will only be valid if in writing and signed by Phoenix Contact's Head of People & Organization or his or her designee. No other Phoenix Contact employee is authorized to bind Phoenix Contact to any agreement regarding the placement of candidates by Recruiters. By submitting a candidate to Phoenix Contact, recruiters agree to be bound and comply with this policy.

 

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