Business Development Manager

ACE Controls; Dallas (TX); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

ACE Controls, founded in 2005 and headquartered in Houston, designs, fabricates, and integrates industrial electrical control systems for customers across water, wastewater, and manufacturing sectors. We seek a Business Development Manager to grow opportunities in existing and new markets, focusing on automation, systems integration, and related services.

You will build relationships, qualify opportunities, and drive pipeline growth while collaborating with cross‑functional teams to develop

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in engineering, business, industrial tech, or related field.
• 5+ years in business development, technical sales, account management, or similar; automation focus preferred.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel across Texas.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a strategic business development plan aligned with growth objectives.
• Identify and pursue opportunities in new and existing markets for industrial automation and systems integration.
• Build a sustainable pipeline with accurate activity, opportunity, and forecast information.
• Represent ACE Controls at customer meetings, visits, and industry events.
• Collaborate with estimating, engineering, project management, production, and operations to develop scopes and proposals.

Skills

Presentation skills

Relationship building

Negotiation

Follow-through

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, industrial technology, or related field

Tools

PLCs

HMIs

SCADA

Industrial networking

Control panels

Job description

ACE Controls, founded in 2005 and headquartered in Houston, designs, fabricates, and integrates industrial electrical control systems for customers in the water, wastewater, food & beverage, and OEM process equipment industries. For more than 20 years, we have built our reputation on technical expertise, a commitment to our customers, and the delivery of reliable automation solutions.

We are looking for a Business Development Manager to drive profitable growth by developing new business opportunities across existing and emerging markets. This role focuses on identifying, qualifying, and advancing opportunities for industrial automation, systems integration, control panels, PLCs, SCADA, electrical services, and related technical solutions.

If you enjoy building relationships, uncovering opportunities, and connecting customers with practical automation solutions, we would like to hear from you.

What You Will Do

Business Development & Market Growth

• Develop and execute a strategic business development plan aligned with company growth objectives.
• Identify and pursue qualified opportunities in new industries and within ACE Controls' existing markets.
• Prospect through direct outreach, referrals, networking, industry events, trade associations, and strategic partnerships.
• Build and maintain a sustainable pipeline of opportunities with accurate activity, opportunity, and forecast information.
• Represent ACE Controls during customer meetings, facility visits, presentations, and industry events.

Customer & Partner Relationships

• Build and maintain long-term relationships with end users, contractors, engineers, consultants, manufacturers, and other industry partners.
• Engage customer decision-makers to understand operational challenges, project requirements, schedules, and purchasing needs.
• Position ACE Controls as a trusted systems integration and industrial automation partner.
• Maintain consistent follow-up throughout the business development process and support strong customer relationships after project award.

Opportunity Development & Internal Coordination

• Qualify opportunities based on strategic fit, technical capability, revenue potential, profitability, schedule, and risk.
• Collaborate with estimating, engineering, project management, production, and operations teams to develop scopes, budgets, proposals, and solution strategies.
• Support proposal presentations, commercial discussions, and negotiations within approved company parameters.
• Provide complete and accurate opportunity information to support a smooth transition after award.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, customer needs, and emerging automation technologies and communicate relevant findings to leadership.

Location & Territory

This position requires candidates to currently reside within the Houston, Austin, San Antonio, or Dallas corridor to support regular travel to customers, prospects, and ACE Controls' Houston office.

Travel Requirements

• Regular travel throughout Texas for customer meetings, prospect visits, networking events, and business development activities.

Hybrid Schedule

• Candidates should expect to work from the Houston office 2-4 days per month

What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, industrial technology, or a related field preferred. Relevant experience may be considered in place of a degree.
• 5+ years of experience in business development, technical sales, account management, industrial automation, electrical controls, systems integration, or a related field preferred.
• Demonstrated success developing new customer relationships and advancing technical service opportunities.
• Working knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, industrial networking, control panels, instrumentation, electrical systems, or process automation.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong presentation, relationship-building, organizational, negotiation, and follow-through skills.
• Ability to travel throughout Texas and to customer or project locations as business needs require.
• Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record.

Why Join ACE Controls?

Our recent growth has created an exciting opportunity for a Business Development Manager to play a key role in our future success. At ACE Controls, your contributions are recognized, your ideas are valued, and you'll work alongside a team committed to collaboration, accountability, and delivering results.

Additional Information

• No C2C or 1099 arrangements
• No third-party recruiting agencies
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. ACE Controls does not provide H-1B sponsorship or H-1B transfer support.

ACE Controls is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace.