Controls Engineering Manager

Globe Machine Manufacturing; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Globe Machine Manufacturing in Tacoma, WA seeks an experienced Controls Engineering Manager to lead and personally contribute to controls design, programming, and project execution from concept through commissioning and start-up.

This working manager role oversees engineers and drafters, allocates resources, and ensures design standards, schedules, and budgets are met while collaborating with Engineering, Manufacturing, Sales, and leadership. Travel ~30% internationally.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• At least five years in progressive Controls Engineering roles.
• Experience leading engineers and technical projects.
• Strong background in electrical design, PLC programming, HMI, and networking.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Controls Engineering team and engineers/drafters.
• Own controls design and execution for assigned projects from concept to start-up.
• Allocate resources and manage workloads across concurrent projects.
• Establish and enforce controls design and programming standards.
• Provide direction across electrical design, PLC, HMI, networking, motion, and servo systems.
• Manage deliverables, schedules, costs, and priorities to stay on track.
• Review specs, performance requirements, designs and docs.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Manufacturing through design, testing, FAT.
• Troubleshoot complex controls and support installed equipment.
• Support Sales with technical docs, preliminary designs, labor estimates, and costes.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to drive project execution.

Skills

Controls engineering

Leadership

Project management

Electrical design

PLC programming

HMI software

Industrial networking

Servo control

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Microsoft Office

MCC configuration

Job description

Since 1917, Globe Machine Manufacturing has designed and built industrial machinery, systems, and plants for the advanced composites, building products, and pulp and paper industries.

Globe is seeking an experienced manager to lead its Controls Engineering team. Reporting directly to the President, this individual will provide both technical and people leadership while overseeing controls design, programming, project execution, and support.

This is a working manager role that combines leadership with direct engineering responsibility. In addition to leading the Controls Engineering team, this role will personally own controls design and execution for assigned projects, remaining actively involved from concept to design through manufacturing, testing, and operation.

Expect approximately 30% travel including international sites for equipment start-up, commissioning and troubleshooting. If you want a career where you see your designs go from drawing to running machinery at customer facilities around the world, this is that role.

What You’ll Do

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Controls Engineering team, including engineers and drafters.
• Serve as a working manager, personally owning controls design and execution for assigned projects while leading the broader department.
• Assign resources and manage workloads across multiple concurrent projects.
• Establish and maintain controls design and programming standards.
• Provide technical direction across electrical design, PLC programming, HMI development, industrial networking, motion control, and servo systems.
• Manage Controls Engineering deliverables, schedules, costs, and priorities to keep projects on track.
• Review equipment specifications, performance requirements, designs, schematics, and engineering documentation.
• Partner with Engineering and Manufacturing throughout equipment design, assembly, testing, and Factory Acceptance Testing.
• Troubleshoot complex controls and equipment issues and support installed equipment, maintenance needs, and upgrades.
• Review customer RFPs and controls specifications and identify potential technical, cost, and schedule impacts.
• Support Sales with technical documentation, preliminary designs, labor estimates, proposals, and cost estimates.
• Collaborate across Engineering, Manufacturing, Sales, Project Management, customers, and company leadership to drive successful project execution.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Minimum five years of progressive Controls Engineering experience.
• Minimum five years of experience leading engineering professionals and technical project work.
• Strong experience with industrial electrical design, PLC programming, HMI software, industrial networking, MCC configuration, and closed-loop servo control.
• Working knowledge of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, motion, and control systems.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, electrical schematics, and hydraulic and pneumatic diagrams.
• Industrial manufacturing experience: seven or more years preferred.
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD and Microsoft Office.
• Experience with panel handling, wood products equipment, plastics/composites manufacturing equipment, or related industrial automation is a plus.
• Strong project management, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage competing priorities, and deliver high-quality projects on time and within budget.

Why Globe?

At Globe, you'll lead the team responsible for bringing sophisticated industrial machinery to life. You'll stay close to technology, influence how equipment is designed and built, develop talented engineers, and see the results of your team's work operating in the real world.