Controls Engineering Manager
About The Position
Quanex is looking for a Controls Engineering Manager to join our team in Rice Lake, WI or Owatonna, MN. We Offer You! Competitive Salary Bonus Potential 401K with 5% company match, yours to keep after 2 years 15% immediate return if you participate in the company’s ESPP Medical, Dental & Vision Plans Employer-paid disability plans and life insurance Paid Time Off & Holidays Flexible Work Schedules Tuition support for degree and continuous education Employee Resource Groups focused on employee empowerment What’s attractive about the Controls Engineering Manager position? Opportunity to work with a great team Supportive & collaborative culture The Company LIVES its values What Success Looks Like: Lead automation systems, control equipment, and controls-driven processes supporting manufacturing operations Manage and develop the controls engineering team, driving technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement Plan resources, balance workloads, and prioritize multiple controls engineering projects and operational needs Oversee the design and development of automated equipment and control systems (PLC/HMI, electrical, architecture) with a focus on safety, reliability, and user experience Provide technical guidance to operations to ensure equipment performance, compliance, and safety standards Manage the full lifecycle of automation and controls projects, ensuring alignment with schedules, budgets, and performance goals Recommend system upgrades or replacements; define requirements, evaluate vendors, and support capital planning Standardize engineering practices, documentation, and design methodologies to improve efficiency and consistency Review and approve RFEs, tools, and cost estimates related to automation, controls hardware, and equipment projects Set performance expectations, coach team members, address performance issues, and maintain safe, reliable operation of all automation systems What You Bring: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related fieldMinimum 5 years of experience directly related to controls engineering or automation project leadership. Experience with industrial automation systems, including PLC/HMI programming, SCADA, motion control, and industrial networks Experience with supplier negotiations preferred Management and/or project leadership experience required Experience with plastics extrusion or metal fabrication equipment is a plus, especially where automation and controls are integral The salary range for this position is $97,000 to $145,500 per year w/ bonus potential About Quanex, A Part of Something Bigger Quanex (NYSE: NX) is a global, publicly traded manufacturing company primarily serving OEMs in the fenestration, cabinetry, solar, refrigeration and outdoor products markets. We are A Part of Something Bigger by improving the performance and aesthetics of end products through continuous innovation, helping customers achieve greater production efficiencies, dedication to giving back to communities where we operate, producing shareholder value and helping our employees learn, grow, and thrive. Learn more at Quanex.com [https://www.quanex.com/].
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related fieldMinimum 5 years of experience directly related to controls engineering or automation project leadership.
- Experience with industrial automation systems, including PLC/HMI programming, SCADA, motion control, and industrial networks
- Management and/or project leadership experience required
Nice To Haves
- Experience with supplier negotiations preferred
- Experience with plastics extrusion or metal fabrication equipment is a plus, especially where automation and controls are integral
Responsibilities
- Lead automation systems, control equipment, and controls-driven processes supporting manufacturing operations
- Manage and develop the controls engineering team, driving technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement
- Plan resources, balance workloads, and prioritize multiple controls engineering projects and operational needs
- Oversee the design and development of automated equipment and control systems (PLC/HMI, electrical, architecture) with a focus on safety, reliability, and user experience
- Provide technical guidance to operations to ensure equipment performance, compliance, and safety standards
- Manage the full lifecycle of automation and controls projects, ensuring alignment with schedules, budgets, and performance goals
- Recommend system upgrades or replacements; define requirements, evaluate vendors, and support capital planning
- Standardize engineering practices, documentation, and design methodologies to improve efficiency and consistency
- Review and approve RFEs, tools, and cost estimates related to automation, controls hardware, and equipment projects
- Set performance expectations, coach team members, address performance issues, and maintain safe, reliable operation of all automation systems
Benefits
- Competitive Salary
- Bonus Potential
- 401K with 5% company match, yours to keep after 2 years
- 15% immediate return if you participate in the company’s ESPP
- Medical, Dental & Vision Plans
- Employer-paid disability plans and life insurance
- Paid Time Off & Holidays
- Flexible Work Schedules
- Tuition support for degree and continuous education
- Employee Resource Groups focused on employee empowerment
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
