Manager- Controls Engineering USA

First Solar (US)

68d • $127,700 - $182,000

About The Position

The Control Engineering Sustaining Manager will be required to drive and manage automation scope on projects for the site and will also be responsible to provide daily operational automation support for existing equipment on the production floor. A successful candidate will be required to manage, plan, and supervise the sustaining related activities for site controls systems to support manufacturing operations including: Operations management for the controls support organization in module manufacturing factory by managing MES Controls Engineers/Supervisors as direct reports and provide technical leadership and professional training development of all direct and indirect reports. Drive alignment and solution delivery for programs within the roadmap. Directs automation solutions involving data systems, shop floor processes, and manufacturing related software. Responsible for ensuring timely response to manufacturing tool automation issues as well as identifying and implementing proactive measures to minimize downtime and meet Controls System KPI. Project scope includes coordinating new equipment installation and implementation and new upgrade rollout on existing equipment; may involve external vendors. Works in a dynamic, cross geo, innovation-oriented environment, prioritizing multiple projects simultaneously while building and developing a high performing team.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master Electrical/Electronics or Instrumentation and Controls Engineering or Mechatronic (Robotic).
• Minimum 8 years of manufacturing equipment controls engineering experience.
• 3 – 6 years of team lead or supervisory experience or 2+ year of management experience.
• Excellent understanding/knowledge and experience in controls engineering techniques/practices/standards and ability to trouble-shoot electrical/electronic control systems.
• Excellent understanding and demonstrated competence in Industrial I/O networks, Corporate Ethernet architectures and systems used for integration of plant floor system to MES or Cloud layers.
• Automation system architecture including PLC based controls, Distributed I/O architectures, HMI server/client applications, PC based applications, and robotics.
• IO networking in the following network types: Ethernet/IP, Profibus, ModBus, DeviceNet, ProfiNet.
• Ladder based PLC programming and applications, including Allen-Bradley and Siemens brand systems.
• Programming Rockwell Automation Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) including Server/Client SCADA systems; Proface, WinCC, Ignition a plus.
• Robot systems including programming, safety requirements and design/implementation practices.
• Motion controls, including stepper motors, servo motors and AC/DC drives.
• Industrial vision inspection systems configuration and programming.
• Computer operating systems and software applications.
• LOTO procedures and safety.
• Relational databases and PC-based console applications.
• Microsoft SQL Server Database query and configuration.
• OPC Manufacturing connectivity (highly desired).
• Lean Six-Sigma understanding (desired).
• Theory-Of-Constraints (TOC) understanding highly desired.
• Failure-Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) applied understanding desired.
• Experience with AGV system implementation and demonstrated competence with integration with plant floor systems and ERP systems.
• Understanding with principles of Digital Twin Model concepts for Simulation and Emulation of control systems.
• Understanding with principles of AI in manufacturing environment.
• Experience in at least one multi-tiered architecture using C#, VB.NET, HTML, XML and SQL.

Nice To Haves

• Lean Six-Sigma understanding.
• Theory-Of-Constraints (TOC) understanding.
• Experience with AGV system implementation.
• Understanding with principles of Digital Twin Model concepts.
• Understanding with principles of AI in manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the Automation Technician Supervisors and Automation Technicians for the Manufacturing Plants to ensure 24x7 services availability and SLA.
• Manage team consisting of Automation Technicians Supervisors as direct reports and Automation Technicians as indirect reports including resource requirements are staffed to appropriate levels.
• Provide annual and quarterly goal planning, manage work assignments and load balancing, manage performance assessments, pay planning.
• Participate in a leadership role in interviewing, hiring of new team members, including interns and candidates for the MES Controls department.
• Build partnership with key business stakeholders in Manufacturing Engineering, Quality & Reliability, IT, Manufacturing Operations, MES Software, and Global Controls teams to support and drive operational improvement under global continuous improvement initiatives and contributes to improved KPIs for the Global Manufacturing operations.
• Project management of Controls scope within project and close interface with NPI/HRST team on change request plan, scope, costs, schedule and quality of deliverables are all agreed upon SLAs and KPIs.
• Participate in coordination of new equipment installation, implementation, continuous improvement projects, change requests, and tasks.
• Responsible for adherence to strategic alignment of global goals by partnering with other global controls teams/sites.
• Own and ensure that all operational issues related to control systems are resolved in a timely and effective manner.
• Responsible for maintaining and updating of manufacturing process tool electrical drawings; ensuring the tracking of equipment changes are documented and drawings are kept current.
• Responsible for controls related MES integration events and data collection and ensuring SLA’s are achieved.
• Prepare data using SQL and JMP to create presentations and documentation for SLA/project reporting.
• Maintains the focus of team projects and key change requests and communicates the status of each (both internally and externally if applicable).
• Responsible for fostering collaboration, open communication, and team building.
• Drives a culture of critical thinking, innovation & continuous improvement.
• Responsible for professional training and career development of assigned direct and indirect reports.
• Lead and mentor team members by encouraging creativity and innovation.
• Ability to handle conflicts, set priorities, attract/ nurture/ coach/ grow talent.
• Responsible for coaching and enacting appropriate disciplinary actions for assigned direct and indirect associates.
• Ensures adherence to all safety and environmental procedures and good housekeeping standards. Execute Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) controls for software source code management.

Benefits

• Relocation assistance may be provided where applicable.
• 401k
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Paid time off
• Employee stock purchase plan

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees