Control Systems Manager

Cougar USA; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision insurance

401(k) matching program

Paid time off and holidays

Parental leave

Access to a learning platform

Job summary

Cougar USA, based in Houston, Texas, is seeking a Control Systems Manager to drive production for water control systems. The ideal candidate will lead a high-performance team, overseeing engineering, programming, and assembly to ensure efficiency and quality.

The successful candidate will have extensive experience in control systems, production management, and strong knowledge of engineering practices. We offer competitive benefits, a dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in control systems or industrial automation.
• 3+ years of leadership or production management experience.
• Strong knowledge of UL panel standards and manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead Systems Production operations and manage a high-performance team.
• Ensure On-Time, First-Time-Right execution in production.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet production deadlines.

Skills

Team Leadership

Technical Oversight

Production Management

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

PLC Systems

CAD Systems

NetSuite

Job description

Job Summary

Cougar USA is a leading supplier of water control systems for commercial building applications, specializing in pre‑engineered and custom‑designed solutions for water pressure, level, temperature, flow, and quality. The Control Systems Manager leads Systems Production operations, building and developing a high‑performance team of engineering, programming, assembly, and testing professionals to deliver on‑time, first‑time‑right (OTFTR) project execution while maintaining quality, profitability, safety, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Development
  • Recruit, onboard, train, and develop high‑performing team members across engineering, assembly, programming, and testing.
  • Foster accountability, collaboration, technical growth, and continuous improvement.
  • Coach team members on Cougar standards, production processes, safety practices, and technical competencies.
  • Conduct performance management activities and succession planning.
• Production & Operational Management
  • Lead day‑to‑day production activities to ensure On‑Time, First‑Time‑Right execution.
  • Manage workloads and production priorities across engineering, assembly, programming, and testing functions.
  • Coordinate schedules and resources to meet customer promise dates and production deadlines.
  • Identify and resolve production bottlenecks, expedite requests, material delays, and technical issues.
• Engineering & Technical Oversight
  • Provide leadership and support for panel engineering, PLC/HMI programming, testing, and system troubleshooting.
  • Assist with development and review of custom control panel designs, applications, and system configurations.
  • Support standardization efforts for programming, documentation, and production processes.
  • Ensure systems meet customer requirements, UL standards, and Cougar quality expectations.
• Cross‑Functional Coordination
  • Collaborate with Leadership, Sales, Operations, and Service teams to support forecasting, quoting accuracy, procurement, shipments, and customer support activities.
  • Work closely with Sales to establish realistic lead times and support technical quoting needs.
  • Coordinate with Operations and Procurement to manage production material availability and scheduling.
  • Partner with Service teams to provide technical support and issue resolution for installed systems.
• Process Improvement & Quality Assurance
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, efficiency, and profitability.
  • Monitor production metrics and implement corrective actions when needed.
  • Ensure compliance with UL standards, internal quality procedures, and operational best practices.
  • Improve documentation, workflow processes, and communication across production teams.

Metrics & KPIs

• On‑Time First‑Time‑Right Delivery Performance
• Business Unit Gross Profit Dollars
• Custom Panel Margin Performance
• Production Throughput & Schedule Adherence
• Safety Performance & Compliance
• Team Development & Training Progress
• Quality Assurance & Rework Reduction

Required Qualifications

• Education & Experience
  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Industrial Technology, or related field preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • 7+ years in control systems, electrical panel manufacturing, industrial automation, or related environment.
  • 3+ years of leadership or production management experience preferred.
• Technical Skills
  • Strong knowledge of industrial control systems, PLCs, HMIs, UL panel standards (UL 508A preferred), and panel manufacturing processes.
  • Experience supporting engineering, programming, testing, and troubleshooting activities.
  • Familiarity with CAD systems, NetSuite, and production management tools.
  • Ability to support both standard and custom control system applications.
• Leadership & Organizational Skills
  • Proven ability to lead technical teams in a fast‑paced production environment.
  • Strong organizational and time‑management skills with the ability to prioritize urgent and important tasks effectively.
  • Ability to balance operational execution with strategic process‑improvement initiatives.
  • Strong decision‑making and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Communication & Customer Service
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to proactively communicate with internal and external stakeholders using appropriate channels.
  • Customer‑focused mindset with strong relationship‑building abilities.
• Skills, Traits & Competencies
  • Leadership and team development
  • Control systems and panel manufacturing knowledge
  • PLC/HMI programming and troubleshooting understanding
  • Production planning and workload management
  • Process improvement and operational excellence mindset
  • Strong communication and customer service orientation
  • Organizational excellence and time‑management discipline

Benefits

Competitive benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) matching program; paid time off and holidays; parental leave; and access to a learning platform with over 80,000 courses. Employee ownership opportunities and career‑growth resources are also available.

Equal Opportunity Employer. The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and celebrates diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or any other legally protected characteristic.