Automation Controls Engineering Manager

Michael Page; Mesa (AZ); On-site; USD 140,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Heatlh Insurance

401k (Company Match)

PTO Available

Job summary

Michael Page is seeking a Controls Engineering Manager to lead the Controls Engineering team in support of a 24/7 manufacturing operation. This role provides technical leadership, strategic direction, and hands-on engineering support for plant automation, capital projects, maintenance, and continuous improvement initiatives.

The candidate will oversee automation standards, control system architecture, PLC/SCADA programming, historian systems, industrial networking, instrumentation, and server

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Controls, Automation or related discipline.
• 10+ years in industrial controls within 24/7 manufacturing.
• 5+ years in engineering leadership or supervision.
• Experience leading automation and capital projects.
• Strong instrumentation, process controls, and automation experience.
• PLC programming, troubleshooting, and optimization.
• Solid understanding of industrial networks and Fieldbus.
• SCADA architecture design, implementation, and support.
• Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of tools, standards and methods to reduce downtime.
• Maintain automation standards and best practices across the site.
• Provide technical leadership for plant-wide automation initiatives and roadmaps.
• Drive continuous improvement for system performance and reliability.
• Oversee PLC, SCADA, and HMI programming, troubleshooting, and upgrades.
• Manage PI Historian, data collection, and historian systems.
• Lead a 24/7 engineering team and mentor staff.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Facilities, Quality and EHS.

Skills

PLC Programming

SCADA

Instrumentation

Automation Systems

Team Leadership

On-call Support

Problem-Solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Controls Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Automation Engineering

Tools

SCADA Systems

PLC Programming

Industrial Networking

Fieldbus

SAP CMMS

Job description

The Controls Engineering Manager is responsible for leading the Controls Engineering team in support of a continuous 24/7 manufacturing operation. This position provides technical leadership, strategic direction, and hands-on engineering support for plant automation systems, capital projects, maintenance operations, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Client Details

The organization develops and manufactures specialty chemical formulations and advanced materials used in semiconductor manufacturing and packaging. These products enable the production of microchips that power technologies such as artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and data infrastructure.

Description

Automation & Controls Leadership

• Lead the development and implementation of tools, standards, and methods to improve control system reliability and reduce unplanned downtime.
• Establish and maintain automation standards and best practices across the manufacturing site.
• Provide technical leadership for plant-wide automation initiatives and future technology roadmaps.
• Drive continuous improvement efforts that enhance system performance, reliability, and operational efficiency.

Process Control Systems

• Oversee process network infrastructure and industrial control system architecture.
• Manage PLC programming standards, development, troubleshooting, and upgrades.
• Lead instrumentation and controls system design, installation, and commissioning activities.
• Direct Human-Machine Interface (HMI) development and implementation.
• Oversee SCADA system design, deployment, maintenance, and optimization.
• Administer and maintain the site's PI Historian and data collection systems.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop a Controls Engineering team supporting a 24/7 manufacturing operation.
• Establish performance expectations and support employee development and succession planning.
• Foster a culture centered on safety, accountability, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Facilities, Quality, and EHS teams to achieve plant objectives.

Operational Support

• Provide high-level troubleshooting support for manufacturing operations and critical automation systems.
• Support callout response and remote troubleshooting when required.
• Develop data-driven approaches to improve equipment performance and process reliability.
• Identify recurring issues and implement sustainable corrective actions.

Capital Projects

• Lead controls engineering activities for facility upgrades, process improvements, and capital expansion projects.
• Manage automation-related capital budgets and project execution.
• Support project planning, equipment selection, design reviews, commissioning, and startup activities.
• Ensure projects are completed safely, on schedule, and within budget.

Compliance & Change Management

• Ensure process controls infrastructure complies with company standards, industry regulations, and applicable codes.
• Support process safety initiatives and site compliance programs.
• Ensure all automation-related modifications follow established Management of Change (MOC) procedures.
• Maintain appropriate documentation, system backups, validation records, and cybersecurity controls.

Vendor & Contractor Management

• Partner with equipment manufacturers, integrators, and instrumentation vendors to support operational excellence.
• Evaluate and implement industry best practices for industrial automation.
• Ensure controls systems documentation is maintained and accurately reflected in maintenance and asset management systems.
• Manage contractor performance and technical deliverables.

Profile

The successful candidate will oversee automation standards, control system architecture, PLC and SCADA programming, historian systems, industrial networking, instrumentation, and server infrastructure while ensuring system reliability, cybersecurity, and operational excellence.

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of industrial controls engineering experience within a 24/7 manufacturing environment.
• Minimum of 5 years of engineering leadership or supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading automation and capital project initiatives.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of instrumentation, process controls, and industrial automation systems.
• Experience with PLC programming, troubleshooting, and system optimization.
• Thorough understanding of industrial communications networks and Foundation Fieldbus systems.
• Experience designing, implementing, and supporting SCADA architectures.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional communication and leadership capabilities.
• Ability to participate in on-call support rotations and occasional off-hours work supporting plant operations and project activities.

Preferred

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Experience within chemical manufacturing, semiconductor manufacturing, specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, or other highly regulated process industries.
• Experience managing automation infrastructure within hazardous manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity best practices for industrial control systems.
• Experience with SAP or other enterprise maintenance management systems.

Job Offer

• Salary Range: $140,000 - $155,000 + Annual Bonus
• Heatlh Insurance
• 401k (Company Match)
• PTO Available

MPI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or based on an individual's status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local law. MPI encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants.