Conveyor Controls — Project Engineering Manager

Sylvan, Inc.; Southfield (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Sylvan, Inc. seeks a Conveyor Controls Project Engineering Manager to lead controls activities from estimating to startup, coordinating with customers, project teams, and suppliers.

The role requires extensive experience in industrial controls, PLC/HMI, Rockwell, AutoCAD, and strong leadership to ensure safety, quality and on-time delivery.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; engineering degree preferred.
• Experience coordinating or managing controls engineering projects.
• Strong knowledge of PLC, HMI, and industrial networks.
• Experience with Rockwell platforms and AutoCAD.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead controls engineering from estimating through closeout.
• Coordinate controls scope, resources, and schedules.
• Serve as primary technical contact for customers, contractors.
• Review specifications and identify risks and changes.
• Provide technical oversight of hardware, PLC, HMI, and networks.
• Review designs to meet customer requirements.
• Coordinate installation, testing, commissioning, and startup.
• Lead project meetings and track actions.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Verbal and written communication

Attention to detail

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering/related field

Associate degree acceptable

Tools

Rockwell Automation Studio 5000/RSLogix

FactoryTalk

AutoCAD

Microsoft Project

Microsoft Office/Teams

Job description

Conveyor Controls — Project Engineering Manager

Sylvan is a premier AI-enabled construction services platform powering North American industries through a wide range of multi-trade capabilities. With expertise spanning data centers, energy, automotive, higher education, government, retail, commercial and industrial sectors, Sylvan provides advanced services from planning to project execution and ongoing service maintenance. By combining intelligent technology, expertise, and a commitment to safety and quality, Sylvan is dedicated to driving success for its clients and partners.

The Conveyor Controls Project Engineering Manager provides technical and project leadership for controls activities from pre-bid through project completion. The position coordinates with customers, project management, engineering, contractors, suppliers, and field teams to ensure controls projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with project requirements and quality standards.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead controls engineering activities from estimating and project kickoff through design, fabrication, installation, commissioning, launch, production support, and closeout.
• Coordinate controls scope, resources, schedules, deliverables, and priorities with Project Management and other engineering disciplines.
• Serve as a primary technical contact for customers, contractors, suppliers, and internal project teams.
• Review customer specifications, contracts, drawings, and project scope to identify requirements, risks, and potential changes.
• Provide technical oversight of controls hardware, PLC, HMI, network, safety, and automation systems.
• Review controls designs and documentation to ensure they meet project and customer requirements.
• Coordinate controls installation, programming, testing, commissioning, validation, customer buy-off, and startup activities.
• Lead or participate in project meetings and maintain action items, schedules, and open-issue tracking.
• Coordinate controls contractors and suppliers and support review of work orders, changes, and invoicing.
• Support customer training, warranty activities, production support, and project closeout.
• Assist estimating and sales teams with technical scope development and proposals as needed.
• Provide guidance, mentoring, and support to controls engineers and project team members.
• Promote a collaborative project environment focused on Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost.
• Participate in lessons-learned and continuous-improvement activities.
• Monitor project progress and work with project teams to address technical, schedule, quality, resource, and scope-related issues.

Required Skills & Experience

High school diploma or equivalent required. An associate or bachelor’s degree in engineering, automation, electrical engineering, project management, or a related field is preferred. Equivalent industry experience may be considered.

• 8–10+ years of experience in industrial controls, automation, material handling, or automotive manufacturing.
• Experience with automotive conveyor and material handling systems strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating or managing controls engineering projects.
• Experience with PLC, HMI, industrial networks, and automated material handling systems.
• Working knowledge of Rockwell Automation platforms, including Studio 5000/RSLogix and FactoryTalk.
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD and engineering documentation.
• Experience coordinating customers, contractors, suppliers, and cross-functional engineering teams.
• Strong understanding of project scheduling, technical documentation, commissioning, and startup activities.
• Strong commitment to safety and compliance with company and customer requirements.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and project-management skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication.
• Strong technical problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and changing priorities.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across departments.
• Strong customer-service and relationship-building skills.
• Attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Ability to remain professional and solution-oriented in fast-paced project environments.
• Proficient experience with Microsoft Office, Teams, Microsoft Project or equivalent scheduling software, AutoCAD, and Rockwell Automation software necessary.

Travel & Work Environment

Travel is required as needed to support customer requirements, project installation, commissioning, startup, and production activities.

Work will be performed in both office and industrial manufacturing environments. The position may involve extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, and occasional lifting, climbing, or other physical activities associated with project and job-site requirements. Appropriate PPE and compliance with all company and customer safety requirements are required.