Engineering Manager - Controls Software

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Astec is a global, environmentally focused infrastructure and manufacturing company of asphalt road building and aggregate processing. Our mission is to design and build the most innovative products for the industries we serve. Leveraging innovative solutions and technologies, we serve customers all over the world.

ABOUT THE POSITION
The Control Systems Engineering Manager oversees the design, development, and implementation of control systems to ensure they meet performance, regulatory and safety standards. They lead a team of controls software engineers, coordinating efforts to optimize system functionality and efficiency. They manage project timelines and budgets, ensuring successful delivery of control systems projects. The role is responsible for New Product Development a well as Continuous Improvement projects.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (may include but not limited to)

• Team Leadership:
  • Lead and manage a team of control systems engineers.
  • Provide mentorship and training to team members.
  • Conduct performance evaluations and foster professional development.
  • Recruit, on-board, and retain top talent and drive a high performance work environment.
• Project Management:
  • Oversee the planning, execution, and completion of control systems projects.
  • Ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and meet quality standards.
  • Coordinate with other departments and stakeholders to align project goals.
  • Identify and mitigate project risks.
• System Design and Development:
  • Develop and implement control system architectures and strategies.
  • Develop and implement control systems from a systems perspective.
  • Design control algorithms and software for various applications.
  • Ensure systems comply with industry standards and safety regulations.
• Testing and Validation:
  • Conduct rigorous testing and validation of control systems.
  • Implement quality assurance processes to ensure system reliability and performance.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve issues during the testing phase.
• Software Version Control and Repository Management
  • Enforce and maintain a robust version control strategy to manage code changes effectively, ensuring consistency and traceability.
  • Oversee the organization and maintenance of code repositories, ensuring they are structured and managed to support efficient development workflows.
  • Enforce code review processes to maintain code quality and facilitate knowledge sharing among team members.
  • Manage branching and merging strategies to support parallel development efforts and ensure smooth integration of code changes.
  • Manage access control policies to ensure that only authorized personnel can modify critical codebases.
  • Continuous Integration: Integrate version control systems with continuous integration (CI) tools to automate testing and deployment processes, enhancing overall development efficiency.
• Integration and Optimization:
  • Integrate control systems with hardware and other software components.
  • Optimize system performance through continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Implement upgrades and modifications to enhance system functionality.
• Documentation and Compliance:
  • Maintain detailed documentation of control system designs, modifications, and testing procedures.
  • Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
  • Prepare reports and presentations for management and stakeholders.
  • Develop, deploy, and oversee training of all stakeholders (Operations, Field Service, Sales, etc.) on new software improvements and changes.
• Budget and Resource Management:
  • Develop and manage budgets for control systems projects.
  • Allocate resources effectively to meet project demands.
  • Monitor expenditures and ensure cost-effective solutions.
• Collaboration and Communication:
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including hardware engineers, software developers, product managers, production, and project managers.
  • Communicate project status, challenges, and solutions to stakeholders.
  • Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Technical Support and Maintenance:
  • Provide technical support for control systems during and after implementation.
  • Oversee maintenance and troubleshooting of existing systems.
  • Ensure systems are updated and maintained to prevent downtime.
• Strategic Planning:
  • Participate in long-term strategic planning for control systems development.
  • Identify emerging technologies and trends to incorporate into future projects.
  • Develop strategies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of control systems.

MINIMUM EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Electrical Engineering or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree is Computer Science with significant experience in controls software development.
• Minimum five (5) years of experience as a controls software engineer.
• Experience developing controls software for heavy construction equipment preferred.
• Technical knowledge of electrical and software systems for heavy construction equipment.
• Experience working with C/C , CodeSys, Parker IQAN, Danfoss Plus 1 or any PLC software.
• Engineering drawing reading and interpretation skills.
• Experience with Internet of Things preferred.
• Experience developing and deploying telematics highly desirable.
• Experience with Microsoft Azure highly desirable.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Job-related Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to work satisfactorily as a team member and communicate with all levels within the company.
• Ability to manage project timelines and maintain schedules when challenges arise and/or outside factors affect outcomes.
• Maintain positive, cooperative working relationships by working, interacting, and communicating with various personalities getting along with customers, vendors, co-workers and management working both individually and as part of a team.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills (both verbal and written).
• Ability to identify problems or potential problems at both a strategic and functional level and make or recommend decisions to resolve the same.
• Ability to influence others via communication to get desired results.
• Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment on a customary and regular basis.
• Willingness to accept responsibility and take on new challenges.
• Ability to author or comprehend high-level project scopes and requirements.
• Ability to understand complex technical problems.
• Good organization and time-management skills.
• Follow and actively support all company policies and procedures, to include a primary emphasis on safe operations.
• Follow Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity program guidelines at all times.
• Language Skills:

• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence and effectively present information to customers and/or employees of organization and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public.
• Reasoning Ability Skills:

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Must have strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Pre-employment drug screen, physical, and background check.
• Flexibility to work additional hours as required.
• Occasional travel (including international).
• Valid driver's license and ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

SAFETY
Astec is dedicated to a culture of Behavior Based SAFETY and a Healthy Environment!

• Proficient in promoting safe and healthy work environment.
• Notify area supervisor of product discrepancies or equipment malfunctions.
• Adhere to established company policies and procedures paying special attention to safety regulations.
• Report defective materials, equipment, or questionable conditions to the area supervisor/manager to identify and correct the root cause.
• Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with training guidelines.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to remain in a stationary position a minimum of 50% of the time, move and frequently operate a computer and other office equipment and occasionally properly employ objects, tools and/or controls. The employee is frequently required to communicate and exchange accurate information. The employee is regularly required to reach and occasionally attain non-standard physical positions for varying amounts of time. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
The employee must regularly transport up to 10 pounds and occasionally transport up to 25 pounds. Lifting devices must be used or help must be requested for anything over 25 pounds.
Required to occasionally ascend/descend, balance and work at various heights.
Ability to travel by land and/or air for extended periods of time.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Our Culture and Values
Employees that become part of Astec embody the values below throughout their work.

• Continuous devotion to meeting the needs of our customers.
• Honesty and integrity in all aspects of business.
• Respect for all individuals.
• Preserving entrepreneurial spirit and innovation.
• Safety, quality and productivity as means to ensure success.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to a climate-controlled office environment and is occasionally exposed to a shop manufacturing environment.

Office environment exposures include frequent and extensive telephone and computer use. The noise level in the office setting is usually moderate consistent with an office environment.

Shop manufacturing environment exposures include exposure to moving mechanical parts, machinery, tools and equipment, vibration, fumes or airborne particles, motorized vehicles, welding and machining operations, outside weather conditions and exposure to the risk of electric shock. The employee may occasionally be exposed to varying levels of dirt, dust, toxic or caustic chemicals, very warm and/or very chilly temperatures. The noise level in the shop can be very loud at times consistent with an industrial assembly facility and may require hearing protection.

Mines, road construction and forestry job site exposures include exposure to climate conditions indicative of the geographic location and the season. Field duties require that the employee work in close proximity to heavy roadbuilding and construction equipment (dump trucks, loaders, cranes, crushers, pavers, cold planers, material transfer vehicles, stabilizers, wheel loaders, excavators, skidders, feller buncher, chippers, grinders etc.) and traffic associated with mines, road construction, forestry and recycling sites. The employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts and fumes or airborne particles. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places, toxic or caustic chemicals, vibration and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in this environment is usually loud and may require hearing protection.
The employee is occasionally exposed to travel hazards associated with automobile and/or airplane travel.



Equal Opportunity Employer
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Astec does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, gender (sex), sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, citizenship status, a person’s veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law or executive order.