Controls Engineering Manager - Phoenix, Arizona

Controls Engineering Manager

Lead, mentor, and develop a Controls Engineering team supporting a 24/7 manufacturing operation. Drive initiatives that improve automation reliability, equipment uptime, and overall process performance. Establish and maintain controls engineering standards, methodologies, and best practices. Oversee industrial automation systems, including PLCs, SCADA platforms, HMIs, instrumentation, and process control infrastructure. Manage and maintain plant historian systems and related data collection platforms. Provide technical guidance and troubleshooting support for manufacturing and maintenance teams. Develop data-driven solutions that enhance process reliability and operational efficiency. Ensure compliance with site standards, regulatory requirements, and change management processes. Collaborate with equipment suppliers, contractors, and technology partners to implement effective automation solutions. Lead controls engineering activities for capital projects from planning through commissioning and startup. Manage project budgets, schedules, and resource allocation for automation-related initiatives. Support industrial network infrastructure and control system cybersecurity efforts. Participate in on-call support and provide technical assistance during outages, maintenance events, and critical operational situations.

MPI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or based on an individual's status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local law. MPI encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants.

The Successful Applicant

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related discipline.
• A minimum of 10 years of industrial controls or automation engineering experience within a manufacturing setting.
• At least 5 years of experience leading, supervising, or managing engineering teams.
• Proven background delivering capital projects and managing engineering initiatives from concept to implementation.
• Deep knowledge of industrial control systems, instrumentation, and process automation technologies.
• Hands-on experience with PLC programming, SCADA systems, HMI development, and industrial networking.
• Understanding of historian platforms, data acquisition systems, and process optimization tools.
• Experience with Foundation Fieldbus and other industrial communication protocols.
• Strong troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across the business.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced production environment.
• Experience in chemical processing or a highly regulated manufacturing environment would be advantageous.
• Professional Engineer (PE) certification is preferred but not required.

What's on Offer

• Opportunity to lead a critical engineering function within a global manufacturing organization.
• High-visibility leadership role with direct influence on plant performance and automation strategy.
• Exposure to advanced manufacturing technologies, industrial automation systems, and large-scale capital projects.
• Collaborative environment that encourages innovation, continuous improvement, and professional growth.
• Opportunity to mentor and develop engineering talent while building a strong technical team.
• Long-term career progression within a stable and globally recognized organization.
• The chance to make a measurable impact on operational efficiency, plant reliability, and business success.
• Work on technically challenging projects in a highly automated, technology-driven manufacturing environment.

Job summary:

Sector: Engineering & Manufacturing

Sub Sector: Production, Manufacturing

Industry: Industrial / Manufacturing

Where: Phoenix

Contract Type: Permanent

Consultant name: Delaney Sandner

Job Reference: JN-082026-7085138