The Sales Engineer for Smart Manufacturing & Industry 4.0 is responsible for driving technical engagement, solution development, and ecosystem growth across automation, robotics, industrial networking, and digital-factory environments. This role bridges engineering, operations, and procurement teams-helping customers design and deploy high-performance physical-layer infrastructure that supports Industry 4.0 architectures, deterministic Ethernet, IIoT connectivity, and next-generation manufacturing systems.

The Sales Engineer acts as a technical advisor, solution architect, and field-focused advocate for

Siemon's industrial connectivity portfolio that supports Device Connectivity

Control Layer for Aggregation & Processing

Cloud Layer supporting Data Center & Analytics

Ensuring customers can confidently implement reliable, scalable, and standards-aligned network infrastructure across plant floors, production lines, and edge-compute environments.

A critical part of this role is supporting Siemon's outside sales representatives by leading higher level technical conversations, ensuring field reps have the technical backup needed to confidently engage automation engineers, controls teams, and OT/IT stakeholders.

In addition, this role serves as one of Siemon's representatives within Industry 4.0 key standards bodies, participating in technical discussions, standards development, and ecosystem alignment activities that shape the future of industrial Ethernet and CIP-based automation systems

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Engagement & Solution Architecture

• Partner with automation engineers, controls teams, and OT/IT architects to design industrial Ethernet, fiber, and copper connectivity solutions for smart-factory environments.
• Translate customer requirements into complete physical-layer architectures, including cable selection, connector systems, ruggedized components, fiber backbones, and panel/termination strategies.
• Support Industry 4.0 initiatives such as IIoT sensor networks, robotics integration, machine-to-machine communication, and edge-compute deployments.
• Represent and contribute to ODVA (Open DeviceNet Vendor Association)

Support for Outside Sales Representatives

• Join outside sales reps on customer visits to elevate technical conversations and ensure Siemon is positioned correctly in complex Industry 4.0 discussions.
• Provide reps with technical framing, application guidance, and solution narratives that help them confidently engage engineering-level stakeholders.
• Lead higher-level discussions around industrial Ethernet, TSN, ruggedized connectivity, fiber architectures, and IIoT applications when reps need deeper support.
• Deliver joint presentations, demos, and solution reviews with field reps to accelerate deal velocity and strengthen customer confidence.
• Act as the technical counterpart to outside sales, ensuring commercial opportunities are supported with accurate, credible engineering insight.

Sales Engineering & Customer Support

• Provide technical guidance throughout the sales cycle-requirements discovery, solution validation, BOM development, and deployment support.
• Conduct on-site assessments of manufacturing environments to identify connectivity gaps, reliability risks, and modernization opportunities.
• Deliver product demonstrations, technical presentations, and hands-on training for engineering, maintenance, and procurement teams.

Representation & Standards Participation

• Represent Siemon at key standards bodies, alliances, and organizations by attending SIGs, and technical workgroups, ensuring Siemon's industrial connectivity portfolio aligns with evolving EtherNet/IP, CIP, APL, TSN, and physical-layer specifications.
• Participate in discussions related to industrial Ethernet infrastructure, connector systems, cabling requirements, and interoperability guidelines.
• Communicate standards developments back to Siemon's product management, engineering, and leadership teams to inform roadmap decisions and compliance planning.
• Build relationships with automation OEMs, networking vendors, and ecosystem partners within ODVA and other related standards bodies to strengthen Siemon's position as a standards-aligned infrastructure leader.
• Advocate for Siemon's technical capabilities and contribute to shaping future industrial connectivity specifications.

Ecosystem Development

• Build relationships with automation OEMs, robotics manufacturers, system integrators, and industrial networking partners to position Siemon as the preferred physical-layer provider.
• Collaborate with channel partners and distributors to ensure alignment on industrial product lines, specifications, and application requirements.
• Track emerging technologies in smart manufacturing, including TSN, high-flex cabling, single-pair Ethernet, and advanced sensor networks.

Application & Field Expertise

• Advise customers on best practices for cable routing, environmental protection, EMI mitigation, and long-term reliability in harsh industrial environments.
• Support troubleshooting and root-cause analysis related to connectivity failures, network instability, or physical-layer performance issues.
• Provide feedback to product management on customer needs, application trends, and competitive insights.

Qualifications:

Required

• Technical background in electrical engineering, industrial automation, networking, or related field.
• Experience with industrial Ethernet, controls systems, robotics, or OT/IT integration.
• Strong proficiency in structured cabling, fiber systems, and ruggedized connectivity.
• Ability to translate complex technical requirements into clear, actionable solutions.
• Strong communication skills with engineering, operations, and procurement stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel to customer sites, integrators, and manufacturing facilities.

Preferred

• Experience with Industry 4.0 technologies: IIoT, TSN, edge computing, digital twins, or smart-factory architectures.
• Familiarity with industrial standards (IEC, TIA, ODVA, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP).
• RCDD in structured cabling, fiber systems, or ruggedized connectivity.
• Prior experience in technical sales, field engineering, or solution architecture.

Education:

Bachelor's degree in one of the following fields (or closely related disciplines):

• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Network Engineering / Network Technology
• Automation Engineering

Equivalent military technical training or 5+ years of hands-on industrial automation or industrial networking experience may substitute for a formal degree.

The Sales Engineer - Smart Manufacturing & Industry 4.0 helps automation, robotics, and manufacturing customers design and deploy high-performance industrial connectivity systems. This role combines technical expertise with customer engagement, supporting Industry 4.0 initiatives through solution architecture, field support, and ecosystem development. The ideal candidate understands industrial Ethernet, controls systems, and OT/IT integration, and can translate engineering requirements into reliable, scalable physical-layer solutions.