Controls & Automation Manager

Compass Minerals America Inc.; Utah; On-site; USD 126,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Benefits starting Day 1

11 paid holidays + floating holiday

Competitive PTO

401(k) with company match

Education reimbursement

EAP

Bonus opportunities

Job summary

Compass Minerals is seeking a Controls & Automation Manager in Ogden, UT to lead controls engineers, guide modernization, and ensure reliability and cybersecurity across site systems. You will mentor staff, drive analytics solutions, and partner with IT/OT for safe operations.

The role involves managing budgets, developing data strategies, overseeing telemetry and databases, and prioritizing legacy projects with senior leadership.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field, or equivalent industrial experience.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of industrial controls and automation experience.
• Experience leading or mentoring controls or automation personnel.
• Strong PLC experience (Rockwell ControlLogix, FactoryTalk, and Rockwell PlantPAx preferred).
• Experience with industrial networking and cybersecurity.
• Experience with data historians and analytics platforms.

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead a team of controls engineers and PLC programmers, including workload prioritization, technical direction, mentoring, and performance management.
• Provide technical oversight and review of program and system logic changes across multiple automation systems.
• Guide development and integration of software solutions, including telemetry, analytics, and SQL Databases.
• Support Operations and Maintenance personnel, including call-out duty for critical situations.
• Work across IT and OT infrastructure to ensure communications, cybersecurity, and system reliability standards.
• Provide management tools and operational data such as dashboards for utility usage, production, and downtime tracking.
• Serve as escalation support for complex electrical, instrumentation, and process control issues.
• Oversee site telemetry systems, including pump stations, PLC networks, and mobile automation assets.
• Establish data capture and analytics strategies to support business-critical decisions.
• Identify and prioritize legacy control system modernization projects with senior leadership.
• Train and mentor staff to ensure skills remain current and site-relevant.
• Manage controls and electrical engineering budgets for contracts and software programs.

Skills

Industrial controls

Leadership

Cybersecurity awareness

Analytics & data

Education

BS/MS in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Rockwell ControlLogix

FactoryTalk

Rockwell PlantPAx

Industrial networking

Job description

Description

We invite you to Explore the Potential of being part of something Clearly Essential!

Compass Minerals (NYSE: CMP) is a leading global provider of essential minerals focused on safely delivering where and when it matters to help solve nature's challenges for customers and communities. The company's salt products help keep roadways safe during winter weather and are used in numerous other consumer, industrial, chemical and agricultural applications. Its plant nutrition products help improve the quality and yield of crops while supporting sustainable agriculture. Compass Minerals operates 11 production and packaging facilities with more than 1,800 employees throughout the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Visit compassminerals.com for more information about the company and its products.

We are seeking a Controls & Automation Manager to join our team in Ogden, UT. This role is responsible for leading controls engineering and automation initiatives while supporting operational reliability, modernization, cybersecurity, and process optimization across site systems. The ideal candidate will provide technical leadership, mentor engineering staff, and drive continuous improvement through advanced automation and analytics solutions.

Why Join Compass Minerals?

• Relocation assistance provided
• Benefits starting Day 1
• 11 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday
• Competitive PTO Package
• 1 week sick time (subject to applicable state and local laws)
• 401(k) with company match
• Employee Education Reimbursement Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Bonus opportunities for eligible positions

Compensation

Pay Range: $126,000 - $165,000 annually, depending on experience, qualifications, and geographic location.

Position qualifies for bonus opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and lead a team of controls engineers and PLC programmers, including workload prioritization, technical direction, mentoring, and performance management.
• Provide technical oversight and review of program and system logic changes across multiple automation systems.
• Guide development and integration of software solutions, including telemetry, analytics, and SQL Databases.
• Support Operations and Maintenance personnel, including call-out duty for critical situations.
• Work across IT and OT infrastructure to ensure communications, cybersecurity, and system reliability standards.
• Provide management tools and operational data such as dashboards for utility usage, production, and downtime tracking.
• Serve as escalation support for complex electrical, instrumentation, and process control issues.
• Oversee site telemetry systems, including pump stations, PLC networks, and mobile automation assets.
• Establish data capture and analytics strategies to support business-critical decisions.
• Identify and prioritize legacy control system modernization projects with senior leadership.
• Train and mentor staff to ensure skills remain current and site-relevant.
• Manage controls and electrical engineering budgets for contracts and software programs.
• Perform other related duties as required.

(Management reserves the right to add or modify the duties and responsibilities at any time.)

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field, or equivalent industrial experience.
• Minimum of 7 - 10 years of industrial controls and automation experience.
• Experience leading or mentoring controls or automation personnel.
• Strong PLC experience (Rockwell ControlLogix, FactoryTalk, and Rockwell Plant PAX preferred).
• Experience with industrial networking and cybersecurity.
• Experience with data historians and analytics platforms.

Physical Requirements

This role requires work in underground mining environments and hoisting systems, including exposure to hot, humid, dusty conditions. Candidates must be able to wear PPE, navigate mine environments, work indoors and outdoors in varying conditions, and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Compass Minerals is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. The company is firmly committed to making all employment-related decisions without regard to race, ancestry, ethnicity, color, religious creed or belief, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy and breastfeeding), age, military or veteran status, status as a qualified individual with a disability, genetic information, and any other characteristic protected by law. To request reasonable accommodations, email [e-mail] or call 913-344-9200. Learn more about equal employment opportunity laws at dol.gov (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ofccp/posters).