Automation & Software Engineering Manager

Creekstone Farms Premium Beef•Arkansas City, KS

About The Position

The Automation & Software Engineering Manager is responsible for leading a multidisciplinary team of automation, controls, and software engineers to design, develop, implement, and maintain automation systems and software applications that support business operations, manufacturing processes, and strategic initiatives. This role combines technical leadership, project management, people development, and cross-functional collaboration to drive operational excellence, innovation, quality, and safety. The successful candidate will establish engineering standards, manage software development and automation projects, oversee system integrations, and ensure reliable, scalable, and secure solutions that meet organizational objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
5+ years of software engineering, controls engineering, automation engineering, or related experience.
3+ years of leadership or management experience.
Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams.
Experience managing complex automation and software implementation projects.
Software development methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Waterfall).
PLC programming and industrial control systems.
SCADA, HMI, and industrial networking.
Programming languages such as: C#, Python, Java, JavaScript, SQL
Cloud and enterprise technologies.
Database management and systems integration.
Cybersecurity best practices for industrial and software environments.
Source control and DevOps tools.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred.
Experience in manufacturing or industrial environments.
Knowledge of Industry 4.0 and digital transformation technologies.
Experience with robotics, machine vision, IIoT, and MES systems.
PMP, Agile, Six Sigma, or similar professional certification.
Familiarity with FDA, ISO, GMP, or other regulated environments, as applicable.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of software, controls, automation, and systems engineers.
Establish performance expectations and support employee growth through coaching, training, and career development.
Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Manage staffing, resource allocation, and succession planning for the engineering team.
Conduct performance reviews and support talent development initiatives.
Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of industrial automation systems, including: PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, Robotics, Motion control systems, Vision systems.
Drive automation initiatives that improve productivity, quality, safety, and cost performance.
Support development of equipment standards and automation architecture.
Ensure systems comply with applicable regulatory, safety, and cybersecurity requirements.
Lead troubleshooting efforts for complex automation and controls issues.
Direct software development activities including architecture, design, coding, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
Establish software development standards, coding practices, and quality assurance processes.
Oversee integration between enterprise systems, manufacturing systems, equipment platforms, and databases.
Ensure software solutions are scalable, maintainable, and secure.
Manage software release cycles, version control, and change management processes.
Lead automation and software engineering projects from concept through implementation.
Develop project scopes, schedules, budgets, and resource plans.
Monitor project performance and proactively address risks, issues, and constraints.
Coordinate internal resources and external vendors to ensure successful project delivery.
Communicate project status and key metrics to senior leadership.
Evaluate and implement emerging technologies to support business objectives.
Develop long-term automation and digital transformation strategies.
Identify opportunities to reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and enhance system reliability.
Champion Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Support data analytics and reporting capabilities to improve operational decision-making.
Ensure engineering solutions comply with company standards, industry regulations, and quality requirements.
Support Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) initiatives and safe engineering practices.
Participate in risk assessments and machine safety reviews.
Maintain documentation, validation records, and engineering standards.