Controls Engineering Manager

Orenco Systems; Sutherlin (OR); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Orenco Systems in Sutherlin, Oregon, is seeking a Controls Engineering Manager to lead a team responsible for designing and automating control systems for industrial processes. This role involves improving product strategies through innovation and optimization while ensuring seamless engineering processes.

The ideal candidate will have over ten years of experience in industrial automation and controls, including team leadership in a design environment. A bachelor's degree in a related field is required. The position may involve a mix of office and fieldwork, adapting to various environments.

Qualifications

• Minimum ten years of experience in control panel design, industrial automation, and product management.
• 3–5 years of experience managing a team in a control panel design environment.
• Proficiency in EPLAN, including schematic design and automation tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a diverse workforce of engineers and technicians.
• Oversee deployment of EPLAN Engineering Configurator to automate workflows.
• Stay ahead of industry trends to shape Orenco's control panel product strategy.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

EPLAN

Control Panel Design

Industrial Automation

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related field

Tools

EPLAN

AutoCAD Electrical

SolidWorks Electrical

Job description

Overview

As Controls Engineering Manager, you will lead, manage, and direct a diverse workforce of engineers, technicians, and programmers to design, optimize, and enhance electronic control systems and instruments that automate and monitor industrial processes. The role bridges engineering innovation and business strategy by optimizing component selection, panel assembly, and market‑driven product improvements while ensuring the entire organization operates seamlessly through structured processes, tools, and documentation.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & KRA

Safety/Culture

• Continuously maintain Orenco management's safety, cultural, and professional standards.
• Promote, encourage, and reinforce a positive safety culture, safe practices, and a safe work environment to all employees.

EEC / EPLAN Standardization and Engineering Automation

• Manage the deployment and integration of EPLAN Engineering Configurator (EEC) to automate engineering design and manufacturing workflows.
• Ensure EEC, EPLAN, CPQ, Quoter and shop‑floor operations are fully integrated for seamless design‑to‑manufacturing execution.
• Develop and implement Engineering Design Guidelines to standardize custom controls while embedding continuous improvement into Orenco's standard panel lines.
• Collaborate across sales, engineering, operations, manufacturing, quality control and supply chain to align SOP testing procedures and quality documentation with standardized design and production.
• Oversee revision control and approval processes, ensuring accurate, up‑to‑date documentation that supports efficiency at every stage of the product lifecycle.
• Develop, program, and troubleshoot PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and HMI (Human Machine Interface) systems from various manufacturers (Allen‑Bradley, Siemens, Schneider, etc.).

Product and Market Strategy

• Market Intelligence
  • Stay ahead of industry trends, competitor offerings, and customer needs to shape Orenco's control panel product strategy.
• Component Optimization
  • Work with procurement and supply chain staff to identify, negotiate, and select high‑quality, cost‑sensitive components, balancing price, availability, and performance.
• Cost vs. Value Analysis
  • Work with cost accounting to evaluate aggregate control panel costs, factoring in labor savings from automation, ensuring that higher‑cost components are justified by improved efficiency and scalability.
• Vendor and Supplier Relations
  • Partner with procurement to negotiate pricing, secure supply chains, and establish long‑term partnerships with key component manufacturers.
• Rapid Prototyping and Customer Solutions
  • Lead rapid prototyping efforts for control panels utilizing new component configurations, ensuring feasibility before full production.
  • Collaborate with the engineering team to evaluate new customer and OEM needs, providing value‑engineered solutions that optimize design, cost, and manufacturability.
  • Support customers in scaling their panel volume, ensuring Orenco's control solutions help drive efficiency, reliability, and business growth for their operations.
• New Product Introduction
  • Work closely with engineering and production teams to successfully integrate new component configurations into Orenco's existing control panel product lines.

Engineering Standardization and Process Improvement

• Develop and maintain a preferred components library, streamlining engineering design and manufacturing workflows.
• Collaborate with quality control staff to establish best practices, failure analysis protocols, a feedback loop, and preventive measures to reduce defects and production errors.
• Enhance engineering efficiency by reducing customization bottlenecks and driving standardization in control panel design.

Technical Design and Continuous Improvement

• Design and develop scalable control panel solutions using the EPLAN suite and integration with corporate enterprise solutions, ensuring reliability, manufacturability, and compliance with industry standards.
• Ensure all designs align with UL508A (Underwriters Laboratory), UL698A, NEC (National Electrical Code), NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), and other regulatory requirements, balancing safety, efficiency, and cost‑effectiveness.
• Establish and manage structured revisioning and approval processes, ensuring design updates are documented, communicated, and implemented across engineering, manufacturing, and customer support teams.
• Specify and select electrical components, sensors, drives, and instrumentation for control systems.

Customer and Sales Support

• Act as the technical expert and trusted advisor for sales, distributors, and OEMs, providing deep insights into control panel capabilities and configurations.
• Support sales and business development teams in positioning Orenco's control solutions competitively in the market.
• Develop and maintain a customer support knowledge base, ensuring field engineers and end users have access to clear troubleshooting guides and product documentation.
• Conduct technical training sessions for internal teams and key external partners to enhance product knowledge and adoption.

Cross‑Functional Leadership and Coordination

• Collaborate with sales, operations, engineering, product management, and manufacturing to ensure product offerings meet market demands and are feasible with Orenco's operational capabilities.
• Partner with the Orenco Water Sales team to ensure that pump selection remains their responsibility, while Controls focuses on electrical panel standardization and integration.
• Ensure that CPQ, Quoter, EEC, and EPLAN tools remain fully synchronized, supporting Orenco's long‑term engineering automation strategy.

Leadership

• Set departmental goals in support of corporate objectives.
• Establish metrics and measurements for department work standards.
• Ensure each employee has a training plan and is fully trained to perform their job.
• Conduct goal setting, quarterly evaluations and annual employee performance appraisals. Thoroughly document employee successes and failures, create, and implement plans for challenging employees to grow, improve job performance or change behavior.
• Establish and continually improve standard operating procedures and workflows.
• Maintain staffing levels based on workload forecasting and succession planning.
• Lead employees with compassion, respect, and honesty, upholding Orenco's core values.
• Facilitate and foster teamwork among employees.
• Provide feedback, coaching and direction via frequent interactions with employees as they perform their work.
• Provide training and development opportunities that assist employees to develop leadership skills.

EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, controls engineering, automation engineering, mechatronics, or related field required. Additional coursework or experience in product management, project management, business, or marketing is a plus.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

• Minimum ten years of experience in control panel design, industrial automation, and product management (controls manufacturing experience preferred).
• 3–5 years of experience managing a team of engineers and technicians in a control panel design and manufacturing environment.
• 1–3 years of project management experience.
• Proficiency in EPLAN, including schematic design, component libraries, and automation tools is preferred but high‑level skills in AutoCAD Electrical or SolidWorks Electrical etc. are considered.
• Demonstrated experience deploying and managing a software application for engineering standardization.
• Strong understanding of motors, VFDs (Variable Frequency Drive), instrumentation, and industrial control circuits.
• Experience with SCADA, remote telemetry, DCS, IIOT, and industrial communication protocols.
• Ability to troubleshoot and optimize electrical and control system panel designs for manufacturability and performance.
• Experience with cyber security strategies and standards for connected products in industrial environments.
• Familiarity with Intellectual Property (IP) protection, search and filing is a plus.
• Experience in go‑to‑market strategies, or product portfolio management with focus on SKU complexity management helpful.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with a talent for mentoring and influencing teams.
• Ability to balance multiple projects, meet deadlines, and thrive in a fast‑paced environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and related business software.
• Must be willing and able to travel by auto and airplane. Must be able to comply with current travel regulations and guidelines of airlines and destination locations.
• Must be able to meet and maintain Orenco's approved driver criteria; a valid driver's license, satisfactory driving record, current insurance on personal vehicle, and meet company insurability requirements.

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

Cell phone, computer, general office equipment, hand tools (screwdrivers and drills), multi‑line phone with intercom, multimeter, shop equipment (drill press, punch, break), vehicle.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Primarily office environment with work sessions in manufacturing/production environments. Indoor/outdoor production environments may include some limited exposure to chemicals, paints, and solvent fumes that are generated during the manufacturing processes. Travel requirements may include operation of a motor vehicle, airplane travel, and overnight stays in temporary lodging. May require the ability to visit project sites that are situated on a variety of developed and undeveloped terrain/locations. Includes exposure to outside weather conditions and occasional exposure to dust, other outside elements, and wastewater that may require the proper use of personal protective equipment including but not limited to gloves. Work to be done during manufacturing business hours, however this position may on occasion work outside business hours to support department and business needs. Occasionally long hours may be required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Regular job duties include seeing, speaking, hearing, reading, writing, legible handwriting, keyboarding, prolonged periods of sitting including extended time viewing a computer screen. Intermittent physical activity includes but is not limited to touching, holding, grasping, pushing, pulling, reaching above shoulders and below knees, low back bending, twisting, turning, kneeling, crawling, stooping, squatting, standing, walking, and climbing stairs and ladders. Unassisted light lifting and/or carrying of under 20 lbs. is required. May also include occasional unassisted lifting and/or carrying of up to 50 lbs., lifting and/or carrying over 50 lbs. must be assisted. Operation of a motor vehicle and/or airplane travel may be required. Travel needs are determined by the department supervisory staff based on business need, required skill base, and assigned job tasks and responsibilities. Travel may require the ability to visit project sites that are situated on a variety of developed and undeveloped terrain/locations.