Business Development Manager – Factory Automation

Phoenix Contact USA; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401k matching

16 weeks paid maternity leave

10 weeks paid paternity leave

Bonus plan

Life insurance

Job summary

A leading automation solutions provider in Houston, Texas, is seeking a Business Development Manager for Factory Automation. The role requires a strong background in engineering sales, focusing on application-based solutions and stakeholder engagement. Responsibilities include managing business development, collaborating with teams, and contributing to strategic initiatives. Benefits include generous medical coverage, 401k matching, and paid parental leave.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of experience in business development or technical sales.
• Strong understanding of application-based selling and engineered solutions.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage business development efforts within Applications & Engineered Projects Hub.
• Collaborate with product and engineering teams to develop tailored customer solutions.
• Utilize CRM tools to track performance and manage opportunities.

Skills

Business development

Technical sales

Stakeholder management

CRM platforms

Engineering solutions

Effective communication

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

CRM tools

Job description

Business Development Manager – Factory Automation

The Business Development Manager – Factory Automation serves as a customer-facing salesperson responsible for managing business development efforts engineering projects and applications specific to the discipline. This role is responsible for driving growth, supporting hub strategy execution, and collaborating with industry managers and regional teams. The ideal candidate has a background in engineering and sales, with experience in application-based selling and stakeholder engagement within the segment. This position is an individual contributor role and does not include formal people management responsibilities.

The Business Development Manager – Factory Automation is an experienced sales professional with deep understanding of Factory Automation, the deployment of OEM systems within this space and the control of complex discrete systems. They have an understanding of how control and telemetry are deployed in this space as well as an advanced understanding of devices and software tools to enhance both telemetry and control in the modernization efforts within the segment. This person has an advanced understanding of system alignment with advanced tools related to Industry 4.0 and Software Defined Automation.

Responsibilities

• Manage business development efforts within the Applications & Engineered Projects Hub, ensuring alignment with segment and industry strategies.
• Collaborate with engineering, product, and industry teams to develop tailored customer solutions and respond to market needs.
• Utilize CRM and enablement tools to manage pursuits, track performance, and maintain visibility across opportunities.
• Maintain accountability for KPIs and OKRs related to hub strategy execution and customer engagement.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative team culture focused on excellence, knowledge sharing, and customer value.
• Apply sales acumen across multiple disciplines—including Critical Infrastructure, Applications, and Engineered Projects—leveraging transferable skills to support solution development.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to understand and adapt to discipline‑specific requirements, including process‑focused and infrastructure environments.
• Align role execution with segment strategy as defined by Industry Managers, ensuring consistency with broader business objectives.
• Technical acumen to serve as a subject matter expert within a focused segment area, contributing insights and guidance to strategic initiatives and customer solutions.
• Support localization and execution of global segment strategies, maintaining awareness of leadership direction (e.g., German‑led initiatives).
• Demonstrate professional expertise in assigned segment, providing mentorship and technical leadership as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by leadership to support evolving business needs.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of experience in business development, engineering projects, or technical sales.
• Strong understanding of engineered solutions and application‑based selling.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with CRM platforms and sales enablement tools.
• Engineering discipline with sales experience preferred.
• Willingness to collaborate with others, build relationships, and involve others in decision making.
• Ability to deliver results by solving or supporting others in solving problems, prioritizing tasks, and/or resources, and focusing on outcomes.
• Self‑awareness and willingness to learn and grow, accept changes, and effectively adapt to changing work demands.
• Drive customer value through knowledge of the business, identifying customer needs, and delivering work to maximize value for customers.
• Promote the value of improvement and innovation by staying ahead of trends, creating ideas and opportunities, and generating speed.
• Take ownership by making decisions, taking responsibility, and driving things forward.

Essential Job Functions

• Must be able to travel by air.
• Occasional overseas travel for extended periods required.
• Occasional domestic travel required.
• Must be able to sit for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in English.
• Must be able to lift 25 lbs.
• Regular and on‑time attendance.

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!

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

If you need special accommodations to access job openings or to apply for a job, please call 717‑944‑1300 x3490 between the hours of 8 AM and 5 PM, Eastern Standard Time, Monday – Friday or email [e-mail].