What are the responsibilities and job description for the Industrial Drives & Plant Solutions Product Specialist position at iAutomation?
iAutomation, a full-service automation company, developing robotic solutions and offering design, engineering, and integration (DE&I) services, product support, and production services, has an immediate opening for an Industrial Drives & Plant Solutions Product Specialist.
The Industrial Drives & Plant Solutions Product Specialist is responsible for supporting the full lifecycle of industrial drive systems and plant solutions, from product selection and application engineering through on-site startup and commissioning. Provides technical expertise on variable frequency drives (VFDs), motor control systems, and integrated plant automation solutions to ensure optimal performance, reliability, and efficiency.
Acts as a key liaison between engineering, sales, and application teams, delivering customized solutions that meet customer requirements and industry standards. Leads on-site installation support, system integration, troubleshooting, and startup activities, ensuring successful commissioning and customer satisfaction.
Supports customers and internal teams with product training, technical documentation, and after-sales support, while identifying opportunities for system improvements and upgrades within industrial environments such as manufacturing, processing, and utilities.
Key Responsibilities
The Industrial Drives & Plant Solutions Product Specialist is responsible for supporting the full lifecycle of industrial drive systems and plant solutions, from product selection and application engineering through on-site startup and commissioning. Provides technical expertise on variable frequency drives (VFDs), motor control systems, and integrated plant automation solutions to ensure optimal performance, reliability, and efficiency.
Acts as a key liaison between engineering, sales, and application teams, delivering customized solutions that meet customer requirements and industry standards. Leads on-site installation support, system integration, troubleshooting, and startup activities, ensuring successful commissioning and customer satisfaction.
Supports customers and internal teams with product training, technical documentation, and after-sales support, while identifying opportunities for system improvements and upgrades within industrial environments such as manufacturing, processing, and utilities.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide technical expertise in the selection, application, and configuration of industrial drives (VFDs), motor control systems, and plant-wide automation solutions.
- Support pre-sales activities by reviewing customer specifications, developing technical proposals, and recommending optimized drive and system solutions.
- Lead and execute on-site startup, commissioning, and validation of drives and integrated plant systems.
- Perform system integration with PLCs, SCADA, and other automation platforms to ensure seamless plant operation.
- Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues during installation, commissioning, and post-startup phases.
- Collaborate with engineering, sales, and service teams to deliver complete, customer-focused solutions.
- Conduct site assessments and audits to identify opportunities for system optimization, energy savings, and performance improvements.
- Develop and maintain technical documentation, including manuals, reports, and commissioning records.
- Ensure compliance with industry standards, safety regulations, and company quality procedures during all project phases.
- Support after-sales service activities, including upgrades, retrofits, and maintenance planning.
- Act as the primary technical point of contact for customers during project execution and startup activities.
- Maintain deep knowledge of key vendor platforms (e.g., Siemens, Rockwell, ABB, etc.)
- Monitor market trends, competitive landscape, and emerging technologies
- Provide technical training and guidance to customers, operators, and internal teams on products and system operation
- Develop technical content, sales tools, and application guides
- Support onboarding and continuous development of sales teams
- Assist with forecasting, pipeline development, and revenue tracking
- Support pricing strategies, margin optimization, and vendor alignment
- Partner cross-functionally with operations, supply chain, and leadership teams
- Up to 50% travel, combination of local and overnight
- Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- 3-7 years of experience in industrial automation, drives, motion control, or related field
- Experience in a distribution, system integration, or OEM environment preferred
- Strong knowledge of:
- Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs)
- Servo systems and motion control
- PLC integration and industrial networks
- Motor control and power distribution concepts
- Experience with plant-level automation solutions and system architecture is a plus
- Strong customer-facing and communication skills
- Ability to translate technical solutions into business value
- Problem-solving mindset with strong application engineering capability
- Commercial acumen with ability to support sales growth and margin targets
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Revenue growth within drives and plant solutions portfolio
- Gross margin performance
- Technical win rate / conversion of opportunities
- Customer satisfaction and retention
- Internal training effectiveness and adoption
- Principals ONLY – No Third-Party Recruiters