Director of Controls Engineering

First Quality•McElhattan, PA

About The Position

Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions. Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you’ll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®. We are seeking a Director of Controls Engineering for our Adult Absorbent Hygiene business located in McElhattan and Lewistown PA . This position will be responsible for managing and directing Control Engineer/Controls Technicians, OEMs, and contractors across multiple shifts and work areas, providing electrical and controls maintenance and project work involving specifying, designing, and implementing complex controls systems and software programming on production equipment and associated machinery. Also, identifying and implementing improvement programs in personnel skills, training, production equipment controls, processes, and preventative maintenance programs resulting in reduced manufacturing costs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electronics, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
Minimum of 10 years’ experience supervising in a high volume product environment requiring continuous support.
Minimum of 8 years’ experience with industrial controls.
Advanced knowledge of all PLC based hardware and software.
Knowledge of product specifications, quality specifications, goals, efficiency, scrap and production.
Excellent communication skills both oral and written.
Excellent analytical skills.
Proven ability to lead and develop high performance work teams.
Advanced human relations and interpersonal skills.
Advanced Computer skills including specific controls programming software and basic e-mail, word processing, and spreadsheet applications.
Advanced analytics, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to operate in a fast-paced environment
Ability to work cross-functionally.

Responsibilities

Observes all safety rules and use the proper safety equipment at all times.
Follows necessary GMP, FDA, and ISO regulations/guidelines.
Recruits, trains, administers, and directs all Controls Engineering and Maintenance personnel.
Continually assesses personnel to ensure proper skills are developed and applied to support production requirements.
Develops and applies any training programs to ensure skills are kept current.
Applies knowledge of electrical controls, machinery controls, and components to provide technical direction for Project Engineers, OEMs, and vendors to design, install, interface, and start up new controls systems and equipment.
This may include electrical component selection, electrical and software design approval, machine acceptance testing, and start up problem solving.
Tracks production performance, and conceives, develops, tests, and implements technical solutions for controls and automation problems.
Develops and administers any annual preventative maintenance and inspection programs.
Assists and/or leads project start up for electrical and controls projects not handled by Project Engineering.
Works with various departments to develop and assist in training and start up validation processes.
Troubleshoots production utility equipment controls systems, components, and programs.
Assists Production, Maintenance, and Engineers to meet daily priorities, coverage, and special projects.
Oversees Controls support during machines installations and upgrades.
Also, interfaces auxiliary equipment and identifies and corrects errors in programming and wiring.
Assists in project planning and forecasting as part of the budgeting process.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities
Paid time off (three-week minimum)
Medical, dental and vision starting day one
401(k) with employer match
Paid parental leave
Child and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $2500)
Bundle of joy benefit (year's worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby)
Tuition assistance
Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums
...and more!