Controls Engineering Manager

The Controls Engineering Manager is responsible for leading the strategy, performance, and development of all automation, controls, and SCADA systems within a highly automated food manufacturing facility. This role ensures maximum equipment uptime, system reliability, and continuous improvement of automation platforms to support world-class safety, quality, and operational efficiency.This leader is a critical driver of OEE, downtime reduction, and digital plant capability, partnering closely with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, and OpEx & CI.Key ResponsibilitiesAutomation & Controls StrategyOwn the site-wide automation strategy aligned to production and reliability goalsStandardize PLC, HMI, SCADA, and network architecture across the facilityDrive long-term roadmap for:System modernizationObsolescence mitigationDigital integration (data, MES, analytics)Uptime & Technical SupportEnsure 24/7 controls system support model is in placeEscalation owner for major automation failures and chronic downtime issuesPartner with Maintenance to reduce MTTR for controls-related failuresDefine and implement:Troubleshooting standardsRoot cause analysis for automation failuresControls Engineering Team LeadershipLead team of:Controls EngineersSCADA Engineers(Indirect) Automation TechniciansSet performance expectations, development plans, and technical standardsBuild bench strength for a multi-shift automated environmentReliability & TPM IntegrationPartner with Reliability Engineering to:Eliminate repeat failure modesBuild predictive and preventative automation strategiesSupport TPM initiatives:Focused improvement (FI)Autonomous maintenance (AM) enablement via automationProject ExecutionLead automation scope for capital projects:Line installationsSystem upgradesProcess improvementsEnsure:Design standardsCommissioning excellenceSeamless startup performanceData & Digital SystemsOwn SCADA/MES data accuracy and availabilityEnable real-time visibility into:DowntimePerformanceProcess control parametersPartner with CI and data teams to convert data into actionable insightsCross-Functional IntegrationWork closely with:Operations → support throughput and line stabilityMaintenance → ensure execution capabilityReliability → eliminate root causesCI/OpEx → implement improvementsParticipate in daily/weekly performance reviews and loss elimination processesKey Performance Indicators (KPIs)Line OEE improvement (automation-driven losses)MTTR reduction (controls-related issues)Automation-related downtime (% of total downtime)Project delivery (on-time, on-budget, startup performance)Controls system standardization complianceSCADA/data integrity and uptimeTechnical ExpertiseStrong hands-on experience with:PLCs (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, etc.)HMI/SCADA systemsIndustrial networks (EtherNet/IP, Profinet, etc.)Experience with:Motion control, vision systems, robotics (preferred)System integration and commissioningUnderstanding of:CMMS systemsReliability/TPM principlesLeadership CompetenciesSystems thinker (understands end-to-end process flows)Bias for action in high-pressure downtime situationsStrong cross-functional influencerAbility to translate technical issues into business impactBuilds and develops technical talent pipelinesSuccess Profile (What Good Looks Like)Within 12 months, this leader:Establishes stable, standardized control systems across all linesReduces automation-driven downtime by 25–40%Implements 24/7 automation support modelFully integrates controls into:Reliability strategyDaily performance managementBuilds a high-performing controls + automation teamReporting StructureReports to: Plant Engineering ManagerDirect Reports:Sr. Controls EngineersSCADA EngineerIndirect Influence:Automation TechniciansMaintenance SupervisorsReliability EngineersWhy This Role Matters In a plant of this size and automation level:The Controls Engineering Manager is the single biggest lever for uptime, throughput, and operational stability.This role directly determines whether the facility operates at:Average performance (reactive, unstable), orTop-quartile performance (predictable, optimized, data-driven