Control System Modernizations - Business Development Leader

Schneider Electric; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 162,000 - 242,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Basic life insurance

Paid time off

Flexible work arrangements

401(k) with match

Job summary

Schneider Electric is seeking a Business Development Leader to accelerate modernization of legacy control systems with EcoStruxure. You will drive opportunity identification, qualification, and closure across industrial facilities and travel up to 50% to engage customers directly.

The role emphasizes strategic account development, competitive intelligence, and collaboration with R&D to shape migration strategies, with a focus on brownfield projects in power, oil & gas, chemicals, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 10+ years in industrial automation, business development, or technical sales.
• Experience with competitor automation systems is a plus.
• Deep understanding of control system architectures and modernization best practices.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify brownfield modernization opportunities in power generation, oil & gas, chemicals, and pulp & paper.
• Target plants using competitor legacy systems and position EcoStruxure as the preferred solution.
• Lead customer engagements, workshops, and presentations to demonstrate migration strategies.
• Collaborate with Offer Management and R&D to tailor solutions and drive innovation.
• Track pipeline, forecast sales, and report key metrics to management.

Skills

Industrial automation

Business development

Technical sales

Strategic thinking

Negotiation skills

Presentation skills

Analytical thinking

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field

Master’s preferred

Job description

Business Development Leader – Control System Modernizations is responsible for accelerating the replacement of competitors’ legacy control systems (DCS, SIS, PLC, Drives) with Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure automation offering (including Foxboro DCS, Triconex, Modicon, Altivar Drives) in industrial facilities. This role is highly customer-focused, driving opportunity identification, qualification, and closure for modernization projects.

Travel: Must be sufficiently mobile and flexible; ability to travel up to 50%.

Key Responsibilities:

Market Development & Opportunity Identification

• Identify and target brownfield modernization opportunities in key industries (e.g., power generation, oil & gas, chemicals, pulp & paper manufacturing).
• Identify, target, and prioritize brownfield plants operating competitor legacy control systems (Emerson, Honeywell, Yokogawa, ABB, Siemens, Rockwell).
• Develop and execute account strategies to position Schneider Electric - EcoStruxure as the preferred modernization solution and displace the competition.
• Build and nurture relationships with customers’ decision-makers and influencers.
• Lead discovery sessions to understand pain points, drivers, and business objectives.
• Prospect for new users/sites, focusing on high potential for Schneider Electric adoption.

Solution Positioning & Sales Execution

• Articulate the unique value proposition of Schneider Electric - EcoStruxure for brownfield modernization, including technical, operational, and business benefits.
• Lead customer engagements, presentations, and workshops to demonstrate Schneider Electric’s capabilities and migration strategies.
• Collaborate with Offer Management and R&D to tailor solutions, address technical challenges, and incorporate customer feedback into product development.
• Drive the sales cycle from opportunity identification through proposal, bid, and closure, ensuring alignment with customer requirements.

Competitive Intelligence & Strategy

• Maintain expert-level knowledge of competitor legacy systems and migration challenges.
• Provide actionable feedback to Offer Management and R&D on competitive trends, customer needs, and solution gaps.
• Work closely with strategy and product management teams to influence roadmap and innovation priorities based on market intelligence.

Collaboration & Leadership

• Work cross-functionally with sales, engineering, and service teams to ensure successful project delivery.
• Mentor and support regional sales teams in developing modernization strategies.
• Interface with regional sales and business leads to implement and develop account-specific strategies.
• Engage with EPC or end-user leaders and executives to develop relationships, understand their business, and formulate business solutions to create value.

Reporting & Performance Management

• Track pipeline, forecast sales, and report on key metrics to management.
• Ensure customer satisfaction and long-term relationship development.
• Support development of the business case for strategic initiatives and drive implementation of selected strategies.

Who will you report to? Andy Carter - Senior Director, Business Development

What qualifications will make you successful for this role?

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field (Master’s preferred).

Experience:

• 10+ years in industrial automation, business development, or technical sales.
• 5+ years’ experience in engineering, project management, or operations within Heavy Industries segments.
• Direct experience with competitor automation systems (Emerson, Honeywell, Yokogawa, ABB, Siemens, Rockwell).
• Familiarity with Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure and related automation solutions.

Technical Skills:

• Deep understanding of Control System architectures, migration methodologies, and modernization best practices.
• Ability to compare and contrast Schneider Electric with competitor solutions.
• Experience with brownfield modernization project scoping, execution, and risk management.
• Proven ability to collaborate with Offer Management and R&D to drive solution innovation.

Soft Skills:

• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Self-motivated, results-oriented, and able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to develop rapport and credibility across the organization and with clients, including C-level executives.
• Analytical thinking, strong project management, and sound judgment.

Other Requirements:

• Exposure to Strategy & Business Development in the North American market space.
• Ability to convert strategies into implemented business solutions driving sales and revenue.
• Ability to develop sustainable opportunity pipeline based on business plans.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience leading brownfield modernization projects.
• Schneider Electric certifications or training in Foxboro DCS.
• Knowledge of key verticals (power generation, oil & gas, chemicals, pulp & paper, manufacturing).
• Experience in owner/operator environment in process automation, process engineering, operations, and maintenance.

At Schneider, we believe that every employee is a talent who deserves equal opportunities. This means you matter. Every individual needs to feel valued, supported, and treated fairly to do their best work.

Our Total Rewards is our way of saying: “We see you. We value you”. It’s more than just pay and benefits- it’s a meaningful investment in you. It is designed for you to perform, grow, feel safe, and elevate your potential to shine as an impact maker.

For this U.S. based position, the expected pay range is USD 161,600 - USD 242,400 per year. This pay range includes base pay and short-term incentives. The compensation range for this full-time position applies to candidates located within the United States. Our pay ranges are determined by reviewing roles of similar responsibility and level. Within the pay range, individual pay is determined by several factors including performance, knowledge, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Care for Yourself and Your Family.

• medical (with member reward points)
• dental
• vision
• basic life insurance
• Benefit Bucks
• flexible work arrangements
• paid family leaves
• well-being programs
• 12 holidays per year
• 15 days of paid time off per year

Invest and Plan Your Future.

• We help you plan and invest for the future with competitive pay and programs including base salary, incentives, company share ownership, and 401(k) with match.

Grow Your Skills and Career.

• We support development through performance discussions, global opportunities, the Schneider Career Hub, and learning platforms like Coursera.

Team Up in the Workplace.

• We encourage collaboration, recognition, sharing your voice, and an inclusive workplace.

Support Your Community.

• We make a difference through volunteer leave, programs with the Schneider Electric Foundation, youth education initiatives, and military leave benefits.

Looking to make an IMPACT with your career?

When you are thinking about joining a new team, culture matters. At Schneider Electric, our values and behaviors are the foundation for creating a great culture to support business success. We believe that our IMPACT values – Inclusion, Mastery, Purpose, Action, Curiosity, Teamwork – starts with us.

IMPACT is also your invitation to join Schneider Electric where you can contribute to turning sustainability ambition into actions, no matter what role you play. It is a call to connect your career with the ambition of achieving a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable world.

We are looking for IMPACT Makers; exceptional people who turn sustainability ambitions into actions at the intersection of automation, electrification, and digitization. We celebrate IMPACT Makers and believe everyone has the potential to be one.

€40 billion global revenue
+9% organic growth
150 000+ employees in 100+ countries

Schneider Electric aspires to be the most inclusive and caring company in the world, by providing equitable opportunities to everyone, everywhere, and ensuring all employees feel uniquely valued and safe to contribute their best. We mirror the diversity of the communities in which we operate, and ‘inclusion’ is one of our core values. We believe our differences make us stronger as a company and as individuals and we are committed to championing inclusivity in everything we do.

At Schneider Electric, we uphold the highest standards of ethics and compliance, and we believe that trust is a foundational value. Our Trust Charter is our Code of Conduct and demonstrates our commitment to ethics, safety, sustainability, quality and cybersecurity, underpinning every aspect of our business and our willingness to behave and respond respectfully and in good faith to all our stakeholders. You can find out more about our Trust Charter here

Schneider Electric is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities in the areas of recruiting, hiring, training, transferring, and promoting all qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, color, gender, disability, national origin, ancestry, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristic or conduct.