Johnson Controls

HVAC Controls Pre-Sales Engineer

Johnson Controls$89K — $140K *
Technical Services
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in controls sales, applications engineering, estimating, or operations for HVAC systems and BAS.
  • Ability to work on U.S. restricted projects.
  • Experience with pre-sales development, estimating, specification interpretation, and subcontractor coordination.
  • Proven collaboration skills with remote teams across various U.S. markets.

Responsibilities

  • Lead pre-sales engineering and estimation for HVAC controls and BAS projects.
  • Develop project scopes, schematics, and cost estimates using specialized tools.
  • Provide technical expertise to support sales organization in opportunity qualification.
  • Manage pre-bid and pre-book estimate reviews, ensuring proper cost management.
  • Prepare and review subcontractor RFIs and RFPs to finalize scope definitions.
  • Interpret specifications and recommend solutions that meet project objectives.
  • Collaborate with digital teams for integrated automation solutions.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • 401(k) savings plan with company match.
  • Paid vacation, holidays, and sick time from day one.
  • Career development and training opportunities.
  • Employee assistance and wellness programs.
Full Job Description
Location

Johnson Controls is hiring for this position in multiple markets throughout the United States. Candidates may be based in designated metropolitan areas where Johnson Controls conducts business and supports customer operations. This role offers a flexible work arrangement and may be performed remotely, with occasional travel as required to support customers, sales teams, and project development activities.

Role Overview

The GCoE team provides pre-sales project development and costing support across multiple building technologies. In this role, you will lead HVAC Controls and Building Automation System (BAS) pre-sales engineering efforts, helping shape solutions during the design and proposal phase through estimation, value engineering, and technical coordination with Sales, Operations, subcontractors, vendors, and digital teams.

Key Responsibilities
  • Lead pre-sales engineering, design, and estimation activities for HVAC controls and BAS opportunities, including plan-and-spec, retrofit, and design-build projects.
  • Develop scopes, control schematics, material lists, and cost estimates using project development tools such as Selection Navigator and related engineering applications.
  • Support opportunity qualification and prioritization by providing technical expertise, solution guidance, and project development requirements to the sales organization.
  • Coordinate pre-bid and pre-book estimate reviews and manage project cost data through booking and release meetings.
  • Prepare subcontractor RFIs and RFPs, review bids, evaluate vendor proposals, and support scope definition for mechanical, electrical, and other subcontracted work.
  • Interpret specifications, identify gaps or conflicts, and recommend practical solutions aligned with customer requirements and project objectives.
  • Partner with Sales and Operations to communicate the technical value proposition, align on solution strategies, and support customer-facing presentations.
  • Collaborate with the Johnson Controls OpenBlue Digital team to define integrated automation and cloud-based analytics solutions where applicable.
  • Assess financial and execution risks, recommend mitigation strategies, and keep stakeholders informed throughout project development.
  • Support project turnover by ensuring Project Managers receive complete technical documentation and a thorough understanding of the sold solution.
  • Promote QA/QC discipline, process consistency, and the adoption of engineering best practices across the organization.

How You Will Do It
  • Own the pre-sales outcome with accountability, safety, and integrity by developing accurate solutions, estimates, and documentation that support customer confidence and project success.
  • Stay close to the work and remove obstacles for customers by clarifying requirements early, aligning stakeholders, and proactively resolving scope and specification issues.
  • Improve every day through candor, analysis, and problem-solving by leveraging QA/QC reviews, risk assessments, and value-engineering opportunities to strengthen solutions.
  • Win as one team by building trusted partnerships across Sales, Operations, Engineering, vendors, and digital specialists while driving alignment before customer presentations.

Required Qualifications
  • 5 to 7 years of controls sales, applications engineering, estimating, or operations experience supporting HVAC systems and Building Automation Systems (BAS), including Automatic Temperature Controls (ATC) and Building Management Systems (BMS).
  • Ability to work on U.S. restricted projects.
  • Experience supporting pre-sales development, estimating, specification interpretation, subcontractor coordination, or applications engineering within a building automation environment.
  • Ability to collaborate effectively with geographically dispersed teams and stakeholders across multiple U.S. markets.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Construction Management, or a related technical field, or equivalent work experience.
  • Strong analytical, technical, and computer skills.
  • Proven problem-solving abilities in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
  • Experience within Johnson Controls installation or service operations as an Application Engineer, Systems Engineer, or Installation Sales professional.
  • Knowledge of integrated building systems, energy management solutions, and digital building technologies.

Why Join Us

Join a collaborative team environment with a strong commitment to safety through our Zero Harm culture. Johnson Controls offers a competitive salary range of $89,000 to $140,000, plus a performance-based bonus opportunity tied to individual, team, and company results.

In addition, employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • 401(k) savings plan with company match
  • Paid vacation, holidays, and sick time beginning on day one
  • Career development and training opportunities
  • Employee assistance and wellness programs


If you are ready to help shape innovative HVAC controls and building automation solutions for customers across multiple markets in the United States, we encourage you to apply.

#remote

About Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls International plc is a multinational conglomerate headquartered in Cork, Ireland that produces automotive parts such as batteries and electronics and HVAC equipment for buildings. It employs 105,000 people in around 2,000 locations across six continents. As of 2019, it was listed as 389th in the Fortune Global 500; in 2020, it became ineligible for the list. Johnson Controls was founded in 1885 by Warren S. Johnson, a professor at the State Normal School in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Originally called the Johnson Electric Service Company, it focused on automatic temperature regulation. In 1974, the company changed its name to Johnson Controls.
Learn more about Johnson Controls
Size
101,000 employees
Market Cap
$44.1 billion
Industry
Net Income
$923 million
Founded
1885
5 Year Trend
+2.1%
Revenue
$22 billion
NASDAQ

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Johnson Controls

More Technical Services Jobs

Find similar HVAC Controls Pre-Sales Engineer jobs: