Controls Engineering Manager

Emotiv Mobility; Kansas City (KS); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Comprehensive benefits

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Emotiv Mobility is seeking a strategic Controls Engineering Manager to lead the development and standardization of controls engineering across our operations. You will manage a team of controls engineers, drive corporate standards for PLC/HMI, robotics, and vision systems, and ensure safe, reliable automation aligned with production goals.

You will oversee control program development, documentation, and network architecture, while coordinating with maintenance and production to minimize downtime

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of controls engineering experience with PLC programming and automation systems.
• 3+ years of leadership or management experience.
• Strong experience with PLC/HMI systems (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, etc.).
• Experience with robotics (Fanuc, Kuka), vision systems (Cognex, Keyence), and industrial networking.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, controls documentation, electrical schematics.
• Demonstrated ability to develop engineering standards and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
• Deep understanding of JIT manufacturing principles and how control uptime impacts downstream processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the controls engineering team, including performance management and capability development.
• Establish and maintain corporate standards for PLC, HMI, robotics, vision systems, and automation controls.
• Oversee development, approval, and maintenance of control programs, schematics, and network architecture.
• Ensure compliance with safety, regulatory, and company standards for all control systems.
• Support production and maintenance teams in diagnosing and resolving downtime through root cause analysis.
• Manage controls-related budgets, software licenses, and vendor relationships.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance system reliability, efficiency, and launch readiness.

Skills

Leadership

PLC programming

Automation systems

Robotics

Vision systems

Industrial networking

AutoCAD

Documentation

Continuous improvement

JIT manufacturing

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Allen-Bradley

Siemens

Ethernet/IP

Profinet

AutoCAD

Job description

The Role

We are seeking a strategic and experienced Controls Engineering Manager to lead the development, standardization, and execution of controls engineering practices across operations. This role is responsible for managing controls engineers, supporting corporate standards, ensuring system reliability, and driving continuous improvement in automation, controls, and production performance.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and mentor the controls engineering team, including performance management and capability development.
• Establish and maintain corporate standards for PLC, HMI, robotics, vision systems, and automation controls.
• Oversee development, approval, and maintenance of control programs, schematics, and network architecture.
• Ensure compliance with safety, regulatory, and company standards for all control systems.
• Support production and maintenance teams in diagnosing and resolving downtime through root cause analysis.
• Manage controls-related budgets, software licenses, and vendor relationships.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance system reliability, efficiency, and launch readiness.

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of controls engineering experience with PLC programming and automation systems.
• 3+ years of leadership or management experience.
• Strong experience with PLC/HMI systems (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, etc.).
• Experience with robotics (Fanuc, Kuka), vision systems (Cognex, Keyence), and industrial networking (Ethernet IP, Profinet).
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, controls documentation, electrical schematics.
• Demonstrated ability to develop engineering standards and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
• Deep operational understanding of JIT manufacturing principles, emphasizing how control system uptime directly impacts downstream customer sequence windows.

Health, Safety, Physical & Travel Requirements

Normal office and plant environment with regular exposure to manufacturing equipment. Ability to work around live electrical systems when troubleshooting. Approximately 5–10% travel required; valid driver’s license required.

Life at Emotiv

We believe great work happens when people feel valued, supported, and connected. At Emotiv, you will find a culture built on collaboration, learning, and celebrating wins of all sizes. We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities to grow your career alongside industry leaders who are shaping the future of sustainable mobility.

Our benefits include paid time off, medical, dental, and vision coverage, and a 401(k) plan for eligible employees.

Explore everything we have to offer at Emotiv Careers!