Hardware Engineering Manager: Lead Industrial Automation

Knobelsdorff; Eagan (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

401(k) match

Paid time off

Education reimbursement

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Job summary

Knobelsdorff is seeking a Hardware Engineering Manager to lead the Hardware Engineering team and drive excellence in automation projects. You will oversee resource planning, establish engineering processes, and support panel manufacturing operations to ensure on-time, on-budget project outcomes.

The role emphasizes developing people, standardizing practices, and delivering high-quality engineering solutions while upholding safety and performance commitments.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in industrial automation hardware engineering.
• 3+ years in engineering leadership or people management.
• Experience designing industrial control panels and automation systems.
• Proficiency with EPLAN Electric P8.
• Experience with AutoCAD Electrical or similar software.
• Strong PLC, networking, instrumentation, VFDs, and safety systems knowledge.
• Experience supporting panel fabrication and manufacturing operations.
• Familiarity with UL508A and control panel design practices.
• Experience developing electrical schematics, layouts, BOMs.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Hardware Engineering team through coaching, performance management, and career development.
• Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
• Manage hardware engineering resource planning and workload balancing across active projects.
• Partner with Project Managers to ensure engineering deliverables align with project schedules and customer expectations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance engineering quality, efficiency, and consistency.
• Develop and maintain engineering standards, templates, libraries, and best practices.
• Identify and implement opportunities to automate repetitive engineering tasks and improve productivity.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators related to quality, schedule performance, and engineering efficiency.
• Collaborate with the Panel Shop to improve manufacturability, drawing quality, BOM accuracy, and production efficiency.
• Support Lean Manufacturing and 5S initiatives through improved engineering processes and standards.
• Review and approve hardware designs to ensure quality, compliance, and consistency.
• Provide technical leadership for industrial control systems, including PLCs, control panels, instrumentation, networking, and safety systems.
• Support project teams with technical problem-solving during execution and commissioning activities.
• Monitor engineering effort against project budgets and proactively address risks, constraints, and variances.
• Stay current with evolving automation technologies, engineering tools, and industry best practices.

Skills

Industrial automation

Leadership

Hardware engineering

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

EPLAN Electric P8

AutoCAD Electrical

Job description

Knobelsdorff is seeking a Hardware Engineering Manager to lead the Hardware Engineering team and drive excellence in automation projects. You will oversee resource planning, establish engineering processes, and support panel manufacturing operations to ensure on-time, on-budget project outcomes.

The role emphasizes developing people, standardizing practices, and delivering high-quality engineering solutions while upholding safety and performance commitments.