Automation Controls Manager
Manage Controls Engineering team. Develop and maintain an industry leading, first-class Controls engineering department in support of corporate strategy and objectives. Ensure the success of the business by keeping the team on task and within budgets and deadlines. The Automation Controls Engineer Manager is a key leadership position with accountability and expertise in the areas of: Coaching and Mentoring Automation Engineers/Technicians, Developing and Sustaining Process Control, Maintain Current Automation Knowledge, Resource Planning, Project Execution & Performance, Automation & Equipment Support, Process Automation Optimization & Continuous Improvement, Equipment Capability & Asset Management and Adherence to Friesen’s Business Goals.
Key Role Responsibilities
- Work with other Managers to meet Friesen’s goals and expectations
- Manage Projects and make sure they are on schedule and assigned to the team for development
- Manage the Software Engineers/Technicians and Electrical Engineers/Technicians
- Provide support to Service as needed
- Development of teams training and education
- Managing each person’s yearly reviews to goals and expectations
- Teams Process improvements goals
- Continuation of process flow improvements and documentation procedures
- Teams quality assurance practices and expectations
- Provide support to Service as needed
Coach and Mentor Controls Engineers/Technicians
- Coach and mentor automation engineers/technicians in aspects of fundamental automation support including automation understanding (both theoretical and practical), problem solving, project management, and automation architecture and design.
- Coach your team with real-time experiences and troubleshooting equipment within area
- Coach your team to be Subject Matter Expert in automation application, i.e. Rockwell Automation, Beckhoff, PLC/ HMIs, Scales, panel wiring, SW Electrical
- Perform annual reviews
- Monitor and manage each person’s performance to goals expectations.
- Ensure operational control processes are appropriate and implemented.
- Support and peer review root cause analysis around equipment and operational events, support complex change controls, investigations.
- Lead complex investigations and have strong Root Cause analysis
- Promote and review documentation of learning points and technical studies.
Develop and Sustain Process Automation Expertise
- Identify process automation and Data Integrity knowledge gaps that impact equipment and process capability.
- Manage the development and/or maintenance of automation infrastructure and design with team.
- Utilize optimization resources and tools for automation assets monitoring and improvements.
- Develop and support technical training of team members.
- Support development, review, and tracking of key automation engineering metrics.
Process Automation Controls Continuous Improvement
- Support development and technical analysis for large-scale initiatives such as productivity improvements, new product introduction, capacity development, data analysis, data integrity and safety risk mitigation.
- Review and identify cost reduction opportunities as well as process capacities and bottlenecks and assist in prioritization of opportunities with respect to overall business objectives.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Responsible for managing the Controls department in accordance with the organization's policies: interviewing, hiring, training employees; planning, assigning, and directing workloads and schedules; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees, performing annual reviews, creating employee development plans; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
- Provides direction and example for interpretation and application of company policies and procedures to the engineering activities.
- Maintains a working knowledge of safety policies and regulations to ensure duties of self and others are performed in a safe manner.
- Approves and submits proposals considered feasible to management for consideration and allocation of funds from the department budget.
- Manages department labor and overhead budget
- Authority to request pay increases, (all pay increases will be authorized by CEO) prior to any disclosure to employees.
- Personnel error or mistake, take corrective action, ensure it doesn’t happen again and report delays or additional cost to the person above you in the organization’s hierarchy. Provide guidance, coaching and mentoring to personnel to develop a top performing team
- Develops, encourages and maintains a collaborative environment to improve cross-functional communication and employee engagement
Knowledge
- Designs, develops, and implements control systems (logic software and hardware) to meet process system requirements.
- Develops control logic software and HMI applications using AB Panel View, Factory Talk, AB ControlLogix, Beckhoff Twincat2/3, Siemens, and Mitsubishi
- Oversee the development of schematics detailing control system configuration and wiring, and design equipment panel layouts on Solidworks Electrical or AutoCAD software.
- Experience with motion control
- Install control and distribution apparatus such as switches, relays and circuit-breaker panels. Fastens these items in place with screws or bolts using hand tools and power tools.
- Test continuity of the circuit to ensure electrical compatibility and safety of components using testing instruments such as ohmmeter, and/or megger.
- Experience with communication networks and protocols setup and programming (serial and Ethernet)
- Knowledge and application of basic 110–480-volt electrical theory, experience on AC/DC systems up to 600 volts
- Experience with initial start-up and debug integrated systems and the development of system documentation.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Automation Controls/Electronical Engineering or related engineering discipline
- 10+ years automation industrial experience environment
- 2-3 year of Management experience
- Excellent customer communication, collaboration, and teamwork skills. Provide leadership and guidance for both internal & external concept and final design reviews.
