Controls Engineering Manager

Controls Engineering Manager

Auburn Hills, MI

The Controls Engineering Manager is accountable for the controls hardware and software group execution performance in terms of achieving functional targets, beating project budgets, ensuring on-time delivery of scope, and delivering engineering excellence leveraging our PEM process. As a people manager, the Controls Engineering Manager is responsible for building and coaching/mentoring the controls engineering group resources through engagement, connection, development, performance management, and hiring plans/strategies. This will also include management of the group through resourcing planning and prioritization, capacity planning, and meeting group chargeability targets.

As a technical leader, you will stay current on technical specialists’ capability and skill level depth/breadth, balancing workload assignments to ensure targets are met and employees are engaged with proper work levels and ensure the quality of work is consistent and complies with industry and internal standards.

As a technical professional, you will provide support to the design, programming and commissioning of controls systems of projects including PLC’s, motion control and vision systems. Typically, equipment is assembled at the Convergix East Michigan facility, tested thoroughly (FAT), then installed at our customer site where it is tested again (SAT). It is critical to communicate challenges, set expectations, and predict risks to be successful at delivering an extraordinary customer experience (ECE) as well as an extraordinary employee experience (EEE).

What would a typical day look like?

Engineering Performance Management

• Accountable for the design groups performance in terms of achieving/defining functional targets, meeting/beating project budgets, and ensuring on-time delivery of scope.
• Ensure engineering excellence from the group through active participation with approval authority in critical project milestone review meetings that leverage a Stage-Gate Methodology (PEM).
• Accountable for responding to escalated project and operational challenges with strategic plans and tenacious follow-through to completion.
• Become the groups process owner to approve and enforce compliance of documented standard processes that are developed and maintained collaboratively by the technical / project leads.
• Maintain and improve the tools and systems that enable controls / software operational capacity to align with the commercial strategy of the Business Development Managers (BDM’s).
• Drive alignment across the business units within the controls / software groups to enable effective collaboration through standardized engineering practices, resource sharing, and document control.

People Management

• Accountable for the group’s talent development through active coaching, mentoring, training initiatives, and front-line management of both the leaders and resources.
• Prioritizing and allocating technical resources to successfully complete projects and ensure project schedules meet on-time delivery milestones.
• Lead performance management reviews of the controls / software group resources with input and/or involvement by the project leaders and/or location operational leaders.
• Develop partnerships with outsourced resources and Convergix to augment group needs and ensure alignment to Convergix quality expectations.
• Understand current and future work levels to pro-actively manage resources, capacity, and chargeability targets. Escalate staffing needs to the Director of Engineering as required.
• Develop reporting tools to communicate team resourcing and project execution performance.
• Participate in recruitment activities and onboarding of new group members.

Cross-Functional Contributions

• Assist the applications and sales teams in the creation of unique and inventive solutions to enhance their offerings and drive sales.
• Work with the Systems Design group to develop and communicate clear requirements, specifications, and design standards for project team alignment.
• Support the Project Managers with commercial strategies during project execution (i.e. scope changes, resourcing priorities, narrative management).
• Collaborate with Engineering leadership to formulate the long-term vision for the group.
• Partner with the sales team to assess and suggest standard product offerings for repeat use that synergize with offerings across the segment.
• Research upcoming technologies, with Convergix partners and suppliers to drive innovation into the Systems Segment and assist with developing competitive advantages for Convergix systems.

What qualifies you for this opportunity?

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, etc.)
• Passion for engineering, robotics, and automation equipment
• Strong technical and project management skills – an overall well-rounded skill set (technology, people, business acumen, etc.)
• Relentless pursuit of learning and growth in the world of industrial automation and passionate about transferring that knowledge and developing the people around them
• Amazing interpersonal skills within a multi-disciplinary team and diverse customers
• Reliable transportation and an ability to travel; Controls Engineering Manager should have the ability to travel within the US and Canada
• Proven leadership qualities including good oral and written communication skills.
• Passion to motivate / develop team members while acting as a mentor to promote Convergix values.
• Tenacity to solve problems and take ownership of solutions with a sense of urgency.
• Direct experience in programming and troubleshooting PLCs, HMIs, vision systems, robotics, material joining, and dispense process equipment.
• Proficient with cycle time analysis/simulations, process and flow breakdowns, and the development of critical requirements / specifications to drive design solutions.
• Familiarity with FANUC Roboguide / iRPick / iRVision, ABB RobotStudio, Visual Components, and IGNITION is a plus.
• Familiarity and/or proficiency with SolidWorks, ePLAN, and AutoCAD is a plus.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical and electrical drawings.
• Experience with compliance to equipment design standards (i.e. ANSI, CSA, OSHA, CE, etc.)
• Ability to explain detailed engineering concepts and ideas to a wide audience of people.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to feel objects, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, talk and hear.
• Specific vision abilities required for the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• Occasionally lifts or move up to 25 pounds

What does CONVERGIX Offer You?

Here at CONVERGIX, we offer a very generous compensation and benefits package including:

• Comprehensive benefits and 401K/RRSP packages (including health, dental, vision coverage and more!)
• Clear paths for career advancement and opportunities for professional development
• Hands-on experience with the latest automation technologies and tools
• The chance to be part of a globally recognized workplace that consistently develops cutting-edge solutions that set industry standards
• A diverse and inclusive atmosphere that provides support for employees from all walks of life

ABOUT CONVERGIX AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS

Convergix Automation Solutions designs, engineers and integrates hardware and software to automate its customers' operations. Convergix specializes in creative, custom solutions and serves customers in a broad range of industries. With over 900 employees and 25 locations worldwide, Convergix is a leading global diversified automation provider. Our vision is to become the ultimate trusted partner, capable of solving any industrial automation challenge with our passionate people, world-renowned processes and diverse experience.

Learn more about us: https://convergixautomation.com/

What does CONVERGIX value?

Our values are our foundational concepts on which we build CONVERGIX; we adhere to these no matter what mountain we climb.

• Integrity - Respect, Transparency, Commitment
• Excellence - Continuous Improvement, Innovation, Collaboration, Communication
• Passion - Momentum, Sense of Urgency, Growth, Success, Velocity

We thank all candidates for their interest, however only those considered for an interview will be contacted.

CONVERGIX Automation Solutions has an accommodation program in place that provides reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. If you require a specific accommodation because of a disability or a medical need, please contact Human Resources.