Solutions Manager

Solutions Manager

Location: Hybrid or Remote
Employment Status: Full Time | Direct Hire
Compensation: $115,000 - $150,000 Annually + Bonus
Travel: Up to 20%

Who We Are

Thermo Systems is a global, full-service control systems integration partner delivering premier class automation solutions across the Energy, Life Sciences, and Mission Critical markets.

Guided by The Thermo Way, we are unified, dynamic, and committed to delivering excellence. Our culture is grounded in three core principles:

• Employee Success – investing in our people and their growth
• Customer Success – delivering reliable, high-quality solutions
• Financial Strength – operating with discipline and long-term focus

We believe strong teams, trusted partnerships, and technical excellence drive sustainable success.

The Opportunity

The Solutions Manager (SolM) is a results-driven technical sales professional responsible for leading project pursuits and developing accurate, competitive, and technically sound solutions during the sales stage. This role applies knowledge of controls design and construction means and methods, pricing strategy, and cost modeling to position projects for successful execution from concept through handoff to Operations.

The ideal candidate brings technical estimating experience, strong analytical capabilities, and the ability to influence decision-making through data-driven insights and industry expertise. Candidates with strong engineering and project management experience will be considered in lieu of direct estimating experience. The SolM builds effective relationships with influencers and decision makers within the customer’s organization and project team (Owner, EPC/A&E/Engineer/MEP/Construction firm), leads with a solution-first mindset, and engages senior technical resources as needed for particularly complex or unfamiliar requirements. The SolM can lead multiple project pursuits, providing direction to sales engineers and other support staff.

What You’ll Do

Core Responsibilities:

• Lead and oversee the technical development of complex project estimates, providing direction and mentorship to Lead Sales Engineers (LSEs) and Sales Engineers (SEs) while ensuring consistency and technical rigor.
• Establish and enforce estimating standards and quality control processes, including detailed specification reviews, validated takeoffs, and coordinated labor planning with Operations.
• Leverage institutional knowledge and lessons learned to continuously refine estimating accuracy, cost models, and go-to-market strategies.
• Ensure a seamless and strategically aligned transition from Sales to Operations, clearly articulating scope, risk, assumptions, and critical success factors.
• Champion the presentation of solutions at both the executive and project levels, articulating complex technical concepts with clarity, confidence, and persuasive impact.
• Strategically partner with Sales leadership and cross-functional teams to align project pursuits with client objectives, market positioning, and long-term business goals.
• Provide leadership-level communication and advisory support to stakeholders, delivering clear, data-driven technical insights, risk assessments, and strategic recommendations.
• Serve as a recognized subject matter authority (SME) within targeted markets, shaping technical standards, ensuring alignment with evolving industry practices, and influencing client expectations.
• Drive value engineering and advanced design optimization strategies, identifying innovative solutions that enhance constructability, improve efficiency, reduce cost, and strengthen competitive positioning.
• Proactively monitor and interpret industry trends, emerging technologies, and market conditions, integrating insights into estimating methodologies and pursuit strategies.
• Represent the organization as an industry leader, actively participating in professional associations, thought leadership initiatives, and key market events.
• Drive enterprise-wide adherence to industry standards, best practices, and client expectations, while contributing to the advancement of internal technical sales capabilities.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and education to sales engineers and lead sales engineers on the technical sales team

Collaboration & Communication:

• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to align scope, schedule, and deliverables.
• Communicate clearly and proactively with internal teams, customers, and partners.
• Identify and escalate risks, constraints, or scope changes early.

Quality, Safety & Process

• Adhere to company policies, QMS requirements, and established safety standards.
• Deliver accurate, high-quality results with strong attention to detail.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and contribute to stronger execution and efficiency.

What We’re Looking For

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Business, Math or another relevant field combined with relevant experience.
• Typically, 5 to 10 years of relevant industry experience in technical estimating, engineering, project management, or technical sales.
• Experience in energy, life sciences, or data center automation systems or MEP systems.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Highly self-motivated, proactive, results-oriented, hard-working, accountable, collaborative, team player.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, creativity, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and manage priorities while meeting deadlines.
• Sound problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Commitment to quality, safety, continuous learning, and personal growth.
• Clearly articulate value and demonstrate how solutions map to a customer’s needs.
• Adept at uncovering customer pain points and crafting solutions that align with technical and business needs.
• Knowledge of automation systems in critical environments (particularly for data center BMS-EPMS, pharmaceutical BAS/EMS/PCS, and energy balance of plant control systems)
• Familiar with PLC platforms such as Rockwell, Schneider Electric, Siemens, or similar.
• Familiar with SCADA platforms such as FactoryTalk, Ignition, AVEVA, or similar.
• Strong competency with Microsoft Office (particularly Excel)

• Experience using Bluebeam (or similar) pdf software for design takeoffs and collaboration

What You’ll Get

• Competitive compensation with annual bonus opportunity
• 401(k) with company match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with low-cost options
• Paid time off and sick leave
• Tuition reimbursement and professional credential support
• In-house and external technical training opportunities
• Exposure to complex, high-impact automation projects
• A collaborative culture built on integrity, accountability, and teamwork

Learn more at www.thermosystems.com

Work Environment & Physical Requirements
The physical and environmental demands described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Thermo Systems provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected status.

Disclaimer
This job description outlines the general nature and level of work expected. Responsibilities may evolve based on business needs.