Electrical & Controls Engineering Supervisor - Columbia/Okura

Columbia Machine World Headquarters•Vancouver, WA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

At Columbia we come to work every day driven by the belief that innovation can transform industries, empower communities, and create a more efficient, sustainable world. With operations spanning five continents and a commitment to excellence in service and support, our purpose extends beyond engineering advanced equipment. We are pioneering innovation and paving a better tomorrow with factory automation solutions worldwide. Summary The Electrical & Controls Engineering Supervisor leads the electrical design and controls engineering team supporting the development, manufacturing, and service of robotic palletizing and automation systems. The role combines technical leadership and hands-on engineering work, with approximately 50% management and 50% engineering responsibilities.

Requirements

Knowledge Software
PLC ladder logic (Rockwell RS Logix 5000, Studio 5000 Logix Designer, and others)
HMI programming (Fuji Electric V-SFT, Smart Editor, Rockwell Studio 5000 View Designer (PV5000), FactoryTalk® View Machine Edition (ME))
Microsoft Office Suite (Work, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
(ERP) Enterprise Resource Planning – Infor/M3 preferred, Columbia Vault Tool
(CRM) Customer Relationship Management – Microsoft D365 preferred
AutoCAD – basic skills.
Industrial communication protocols: EtherNet/IP
Setting up remote support and VPN Communications
Technical PLC programming (Allen Bradley preferred)
Electrical design
Familiarity with relevant technical standards (UL, NEC, A3, etc….)
Familiarity with electrical drawings, machine safety systems, industrial controls programming, Ethernet networks, etc.
Skills Interpersonal Communication skills: oral, written, and electronic
Analytical/Problem-Solving
Organizational
Project/Process Management
Engineering technical and design skills, analytical, graphical and creative.
Management and Leadership skills: planning, organizing, supervising and motivating.
Computer/Technical
Effective meeting skills
Project management skills across all project phases.
Abilities
Ability to deal with abstract and concrete variables, as well as have a high level of efficient creative problem solving and thinking ability.
Ability to foster a respectful work environment for others.
Ability to promote and work well with others in a team atmosphere.
Strong technical aptitude.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field required.
Approximately 5 years of relevant experience in electrical design, controls engineering, or industrial automation.

Nice To Haves

Professional Engineering (PE) License preferred.
Experience with control systems, PLC programming, and industrial automation.
Experience managing engineering projects, coordinating multiple schedules, and leading technical teams.

Responsibilities

Design, program, and test automated machinery and robotic systems using PLC ladder logic and other programs.
Develop and configure HMI interfaces
Design and configure industrial electrical systems using AutoCAD.
Configure and troubleshoot industrial communication networks and data transfer protocols.
Generate Bills of Materials and technical documentation for system production and installation.
Lead research and development initiatives to improve existing designs and develop new product options.
Ensure equipment designs meet safety standards, quality expectations, and regulatory requirements.
Provide technical support to Sales, Manufacturing, and Service teams including product demonstrations, troubleshooting, and system capability reviews.
Occasionally travel to customer sites to assist with equipment start-up and end-user training.
Improve engineering, manufacturing, and installation efficiency through standardization, design reviews, and process improvements.
Maintain engineering knowledge systems, documentation standards, and information sharing across the team.
Lead or support continuous improvement initiatives and cross-functional projects.
Participate in risk assessments and support initiatives that improve product safety, reliability, and quality.
Supervise the Electrical Design and Controls Engineering team to ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and to quality standards.
Assign project work based on engineer skillsets and workload while ensuring alignment with production schedules and project milestones.
Establish and maintain engineering standards, procedures, and documentation practices.
Conduct regular team meetings and ensure clear communication of priorities, expectations, and project status.
Mentor and coach engineers to support technical growth and career development.
Conduct regular performance discussions and annual reviews.
Identify training opportunities and coordinate skill development initiatives.
Support recruitment efforts by participating in job postings, interviews, and candidate evaluations.
Partner with Sales and Marketing to evaluate project feasibility, estimate costs, and support customer requirements.
Collaborate with Service and Customer Care teams to resolve technical issues and implement engineering solutions.
Support Manufacturing by providing technical guidance to production teams and assisting with engineering questions.
Communicate with parent company engineering teams regarding technical questions and product development feedback.
Contribute technical insight to strategic planning and product development initiatives.
Assist with budget planning and monitor engineering expenditures to support financial objectives.
Other duties as assigned.