Controls Engineering Technician Supervisor

Panasonic Corporation of North America; De Soto (KS); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Panasonic Energy is expanding to De Soto, Kansas, building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory. The Controls Engineering Technician Supervisor will lead a shift-based CET team, driving maintenance, fault diagnosis, and continuous improvement of PLCs, vision systems, and related automation to ensure reliable production.

Reporting to the Controls Engineering Manager, you’ll guide real-time production support, escalation of issues, and the development of standard work while fostering

Qualifications

• Leads a CET team on shift.
• Troubleshoots line issues and guides recovery.
• Directs electrical/controls troubleshooting up to 480VAC and related networks.

Responsibilities

• Leads CET technicians across battery production processes.
• Escalates complex automation issues to improve reliability.
• Coordinates troubleshooting and preventive maintenance.

Skills

Team leadership

Troubleshooting

PLC control systems

Vision systems

Automation

Electrical systems

Industrial networks

Tools

Mitsubishi PLC

Omron PLC

Keyence vision

DeviceNet

MechatroLink

EtherCAT

CC-Link

Job description

Overview

Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Controls Engineering Technician Supervisor? Then we're looking for you! Put your skills to meaningful use, gain unique experience, and work with world-class team members with diverse backgrounds and expertise who share the same vision. Join the PECNA team today!

Responsibilities

Controls Engineering Technician Supervisor

Summary:

Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we’re building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you’ll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation.

Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation.

Job Summary:

The Controls Engineering Technician Supervisor directly supervises and manages a shift-based team of Controls Engineering Technicians (CET I, II, and III) responsible for supporting the maintenance, troubleshooting, and reliable operation of controls and vision systems within Panasonic's battery manufacturing operations. Reporting to the Controls Engineering Manager, this role provides frontline leadership for assigned shift operations, overseeing real-time production support, fault diagnosis, equipment recovery, preventive maintenance activities, and escalation of complex automation issues involving PLC-based control systems, machine vision systems, robot vision systems, control networks, and related manufacturing technologies. Utilizing OEE data, loss trees, MMS data, team reports, and other operational metrics, the supervisor prioritizes work, allocates resources, monitors performance, and supports continuous improvement efforts to improve equipment reliability, manufacturing efficiency, and product quality. Through coaching, training, technician certification programs, development of standard work and troubleshooting documentation, and implementation of sustainable corrective actions, this role strengthens team capability while fostering a safe, collaborative, and high-performing work environment. Working closely with Production, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, and EHS teams, the Controls Engineering Technician Supervisor serves as a key floor leader, ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of manufacturing systems during the assigned shift.

Essential Duties:

Functional Leadership & Operations:

• Leads a team of CET Technicians (I / II / III) supporting controls and vision systems across all of Panasonic's battery production processes during the assigned shift

• Oversees support related to daily production activities and the escalation of line issues

• Directs the team in the initial isolation and recovery of issues (electrical / controls / mechanical), including identification, investigation, and troubleshooting of line problems

• Ensures equipment functionality is restored after work completion and that verification of normal operation (determination that equipment is "good to run" and testing prior to re-introduction) is properly performed

• Provides technical guidance and oversight to technicians performing troubleshooting activities involving PLCs (Mitsubishi, Omron, Keyence, etc.), vision systems, robot vision systems, equipment monitoring systems, and industrial control networks including DeviceNet, MechatroLink, EtherCAT, and CC-Link

• Manages the team to safely and reliably perform servo drive/motor fault diagnosis, tuning, and replacement, as well as troubleshooting of electrical systems up to 480VAC and electromechanical control systems

• Serves as the primary escalation point during the assigned shift for complex controls and automation issues impacting production, quality, reliability, or safety, and escalates appropriately to the Controls Engineering Manager as needed