Controls EngineerManager

PPS is seeking an experienced Controls Operations Manager to lead its Controls & Automation function.

This is a hands-on leadership opportunity for an experienced controls and automation professional who can manage both shop-based and field teams while also providing strong technical leadership in PLCs HMI/SCADA industrial networks instrumentation and automated piping/process systems.

The Controls Operations Manager will be responsible for the overall performance of the operation including People P&L Process and Systems.

The ideal candidate is a strong manager who understands the technical side of controls and automation and knows how to build teams improve processes manage projects and drive financial and operational results.

The role will oversee a Panel & Field Operations Manager who manages the day-to-day panel shop and field operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead mentor schedule and develop controls engineers automation technicians programmers and field personnel.
• Directly manage and develop the Panel & Field Operations Manager.
• Build a strong accountable and collaborative team.
• Establish clear roles expectations and performance standards.
• Recruit develop and retain key technical and operational talent.
• Develop future leaders and create opportunities for employee growth.
• Coordinate engineers technicians contractors vendors and project teams.

P&L & Business Performance

• Provide operational oversight of the Controls & Automation P&L.
• Monitor revenue gross margin labor overhead and project profitability.
• Support budgeting forecasting estimating and resource planning.
• Track labor utilization productivity overtime rework and project performance.
• Identify financial and operational issues early and take corrective action.
• Make sound business decisions based on operational and financial data.

Operations & Process

• Oversee the design programming integration commissioning and maintenance of control systems.
• Manage controls-related projects from scope development through completion.
• Coordinate scheduling procurement staffing production field installation and commissioning.
• Improve processes between engineering project management panel fabrication programming and field operations.
• Develop consistent project execution and commissioning processes.
• Reduce rework downtime and operational inefficiencies.
• Support both local projects and national project execution.
• Establish processes that allow the business to grow while maintaining quality and profitability.

Systems Tracking & Production

• Develop and maintain systems for tracking projects production labor resources schedules and financial performance.
• Establish meaningful KPIs and reporting for the operation.
• Improve ERP project management scheduling and production systems.
• Create visibility into backlog capacity project status labor and profitability.
• Ensure managers and teams use accurate information to make decisions.
• Establish systems that identify problems early rather than after they impact a project or customer.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical leadership for PLC HMI SCADA instrumentation industrial networking and automation systems.
• Support automated piping fluid-handling and process systems.
• Lead technical efforts for new installations upgrades retrofits and modernization of legacy control systems.
• Troubleshoot complex controls electrical instrumentation and industrial-network issues.
• Provide technical direction during system failures and production-impacting events.
• Develop and maintain controls standards programming practices documentation electrical schematics and system architectures.
• Identify opportunities to improve automation reliability efficiency maintainability and system performance.

Project & Field Operations

• Coordinate contractors integrators equipment suppliers and other external vendors.
• Ensure field teams have the resources documentation materials and technical support needed to succeed.
• Balance engineering programming panel shop and field resources.
• Monitor project schedules budgets quality and customer expectations.
• Support commissioning startup troubleshooting and project closeout.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely on time and profitably.

Safety & Compliance

• Ensure control-system designs and installations comply with applicable UL NFPA OSHA electrical and industrial safety requirements.
• Promote a strong safety culture across shop and field operations.
• Maintain high standards for quality documentation and system reliability.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering Controls Engineering Industrial Automation or a related technical discipline preferred.
• 58 years of controls/automation experience with significant supervisory or management experience.
• Strong hands-on experience with PLC programming and industrial automation systems.
• Experience with platforms such as Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Siemens or DeltaV.
• Experience developing or supporting HMI and SCADA systems.
• Working knowledge of industrial communication networks including Ethernet/EtherNet/IP Modbus or similar protocols.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics control drawings instrumentation diagrams and technical documentation.
• Experience troubleshooting both legacy and modern control systems.
• Strong understanding of industrial electrical safety and applicable NFPA UL and OSHA standards.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical teams and coordinating contractors and vendors.
• Experience with project budgeting scheduling estimating procurement and commissioning.
• Strong analytical communication project-management and problem-solving skills.

Required Experience:

Manager