Controls Engineering Manager

Potential with Quanex•Rice Lake, WI

2d•$97,000 - $145,500

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

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related field
Minimum 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