Electrical Engineer Controls Manager

ShiftClicks; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Travel bonus

Relocation assistance

Profit-sharing eligibility

Job summary

ERS in Tacoma, WA is seeking an experienced Controls Engineering Manager to lead a small team while staying hands-on in engineering and project execution. Approximately 75% of the role is engineering your own projects, with the remaining time focused on mentoring a team of approximately five engineers and technical professionals.

The role focuses on large, heavy-load industrial machinery with expertise in PLCs, HMIs, motors, drives, motion control, and FAT/startup.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or closely related discipline.
• Hands-on PLC programming and HMI development.
• Strong knowledge of motors, VFDs, servo systems, motion control, MCCs, industrial networking, and machine controls.
• Experience designing controls for large industrial machinery.
• Willing to travel ~25% including international travel.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a Controls Engineering team of approximately five professionals.
• Personally own controls engineering projects from concept through commissioning.
• Design electrical and controls systems for large, complex industrial machinery.
• Develop and modify PLC and HMI programs.
• Engineer systems involving motors, drives, motion control, servos, networks, instrumentation, and machine safety.
• Develop and review electrical schematics, control drawings, specifications, and engineering documentation.
• Manage approximately four major projects annually along with smaller projects.
• Establish controls design and programming standards.
• Collaborate with mechanical engineering, manufacturing, assembly, and project teams.
• Participate in equipment assembly, testing, debugging, and FAT.
• Lead equipment startup, commissioning, and troubleshooting at customer facilities.
• Review technical requirements and identify engineering, cost, and schedule concerns.
• Manage engineering priorities and resources across multiple concurrent projects.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship while remaining an active working engineer.

Skills

Controls engineering

Leadership

PLC programming

HMI development

Electrical design

Travel 25%

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Job description

Controls Engineering Manager

Hands-On Electrical Engineering & Industrial Automation Leadership

We are looking for an experienced Controls Engineering Manager to lead a small Controls Engineering team while remaining heavily involved in hands-on engineering and project execution.

This is not a traditional management position where you spend your day in meetings. Approximately 75% of the role is engineering your own projects, with the remaining time focused on leading, mentoring, and developing a team of approximately five engineers and technical professionals.

The equipment and systems being engineered are large, complex, and designed to move extremely heavy loads, making a true engineering foundation critical. We are looking for an Electrical Engineer who specializes in controls and automation, understands complex machinery as a complete system, and still enjoys designing, programming, troubleshooting, and commissioning equipment.

This position reports directly to the President.

What You'll Do

• Lead and mentor a Controls Engineering team of approximately five professionals
• Personally own controls engineering projects from concept through commissioning
• Design electrical and controls systems for large, complex industrial machinery
• Develop and modify PLC and HMI programs
• Engineer systems involving motors, drives, motion control, servos, industrial networks, instrumentation, and machine safety
• Develop and review electrical schematics, control drawings, specifications, and engineering documentation
• Manage approximately four major projects annually along with smaller projects
• Establish controls design and programming standards
• Work closely with mechanical engineering, manufacturing, assembly, and project teams
• Participate in equipment assembly, testing, debugging, and Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT)
• Lead equipment startup, commissioning, and troubleshooting at customer facilities
• Review technical requirements and identify engineering, cost, and schedule concerns
• Manage engineering priorities and resources across multiple concurrent projects
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship while remaining an active working engineer

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline
• Strong engineering foundation combined with significant controls and industrial automation experience
• 5+ years of progressive Controls Engineering experience
• Previous experience leading, mentoring, or providing technical direction to engineers
• Hands-on PLC programming and HMI development
• Strong industrial electrical design experience
• Experience engineering complex industrial machinery or automated systems
• Strong knowledge of motors, VFDs, servo systems, motion control, MCCs, industrial networking, and machine controls
• Ability to read, develop, and interpret electrical schematics and engineering drawings
• Understanding of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems
• Experience taking equipment through design, manufacturing, FAT, startup, and commissioning
• Strong troubleshooting and system-level problem-solving skills
• AutoCAD experience
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects while continuing to perform hands-on engineering
• Travel varies significantly based on project schedules and customer requirements. Candidates should be comfortable spending approximately 25% of the year away from home on average, including international travel.

There can also be periods of considerably heavier travel during major installations, startups, and commissioning. This position is best suited for someone who enjoys seeing their engineering work through from the initial design to watching the machinery operate at the customer's facility.

Employees receive an additional bonus for travel days, and business travel expenses are handled through a company credit card.

Benefits & Additional Details

• Competitive salary
• Travel-day bonus
• Potential profit-sharing eligibility
• 14 vacation days
• 7 sick days
• Company-paid business travel
• Relocation assistance available on a case-by-case basis
• Opportunity to report directly to company leadership and have a significant impact on the Controls Engineering organization

This is an engineering-first leadership position. Candidates whose backgrounds are primarily Controls Technician or Automation Technician without the required engineering foundation will not be the right match.

Company Description

Come join the Workforce of the Future with ERS. We have been placing qualified candidates in the at some of the most successful companies for 54 years.