Senior Manager, Controls Engineering

Universal Orlando•Orlando, FL

11d

About The Position

Manages Controls Engineering efforts supporting safety compliance, ride reliability, and show quality for Universal Orlando Resort’s high-technology ride and show attractions. The role leads the Controls Engineering Department, supports departmental goals and priorities, and assists the Vice President in maintaining cost controls within Engineering’s assigned budget. It works with attractions teams to identify, define, and prioritize capital issues to optimize the cost of ownership of ride and show assets. The manager is responsible for ensuring engineering and reengineering work meets high standards of safety, reliability, and quality, while maintaining compliance with applicable codes, regulations, and standards. The role serves as a Safety Control System expert, oversees configuration management and secure archiving of hardware and software documentation, prepares ride control system documentation and engineering reports, and conducts technical reliability evaluations and risk analyses. The position manages and develops staff, leads design reviews and team meetings, coordinates internal and external partners, oversees Rockwell Assurance partners and obsolescence initiatives, and manages spending within budget guidelines. It also promotes preventive maintenance, cost avoidance, continuous improvement, effective communication, and environmental, health, and safety responsibilities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, or a related field.
At least 10 years of experience in an engineering environment focused primarily on control and automation systems, preferably in a theme park environment, interacting with other Engineering and Maintenance disciplines.
Experience with Allen-Bradley PLC-based control systems; AC and DC motors and motor control systems; motion control systems; and show and animation control systems.
Proficiency with personal computers, word processing, spreadsheets, complex diagnostic test equipment, control system drawings, and technical documents.
Knowledge of ASTM regulations applicable to theme parks and the NEC.
At least 8 years of project management experience, especially in technical compliance, scheduling, and budgeting, and technical support for control systems, motor systems, and motion control systems.
At least 10 years of demonstrated experience in electrical engineering, control system design and installation using PLCs, ladder logic, variable frequency drives, and servo control systems; process and/or machine safety; field experience in a theme park technical environment; and process-control fault analysis and isolation.
PLC controls programming, maintenance, and troubleshooting certification or qualifications are required.
AC/DC drive (motor control) configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting certification or qualifications are required.
Strong analytical skills for engineering calculations related to design, analysis, testing, and implementation of electrical and control systems.
High-level knowledge and experience designing safety-critical systems, including ISO 13849-1, ISO 13849-2, ISO 12100, IEC 60204-1, IEC 62061, PL safety levels, UL 508A, NEC, ASTM, ASTM F24, and Universal Orlando safety standards.
Strong background in servo controls applied to hydraulic, pneumatic, and electromotive motion control systems.
High-level knowledge of Allen-Bradley PLC systems, C, Visual Basic, and other software platforms.
Experience with PLC-5, SLC-500, ControlLogix, CompactLogix, PanelBuilder 1400E, PanelBuilder32, RSView 32, RSLinx, RSLogix 5 through 5000, RSNetWorx, Allen-Bradley PLCs, and AC/DC motor control systems.
Ability to perform engineering calculations commensurate with baccalaureate training in electrical, electronic, and software engineering.
Experience generating control system specifications, acceptance test procedures, technical compliance documentation, system risk assessments, and failure analyses.
Proven application experience with Anitech, Gilderfluke show system controllers, 1305, 1336, and 750-series Allen-Bradley variable frequency drives, Data Highway Plus, Remote I/O, ControlNet, DeviceNet, Ethernet, DMX, and SMPTE.
Equivalent combinations of education and experience are accepted.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, or a related field.
Theme park engineering experience.
Cisco networking and wireless network certifications.

Responsibilities

Manage and lead the Controls Engineering Department and support its goals and priorities for safety and reliability.
Promote customer service and continuous process improvement throughout the team.
Reduce attraction cost of ownership through engineering improvements, effective preventive maintenance, cost savings, and proactive measures to prevent equipment failures and collateral damage.
Ensure Controls reengineering tasks meet safety, reliability, and quality standards.
Ensure compliance with applicable codes, regulations, and standards, including AISC, ASME, ASTM, ANSI, AWS, JIC, NEC, and OSHA.
Minimize downtime through appropriate partnership with Technical Services, with a focus on preventive maintenance.
Serve as the Safety Control System expert and maintain configuration management of hardware and software documentation in accordance with Engineering archiving and security guidelines.
Prepare ride control system documentation and ensure configuration files are stored in Asset Centre.
Prepare comprehensive engineering reports containing technical analysis, design solutions, and learned best practices.
Conduct technical reliability evaluations of engineering design concepts and constructs.
Develop risk analysis studies for new designs to improve ride reliability and maintainability.
Manage staff selection, hiring, induction, training, performance appraisal, and individual development plans.
Lead and motivate the Engineering team through design reviews, staff meetings, effective communication, recognition, and individual development.
Manage Rockwell Assurance partners and obsolescence initiatives.
Coordinate internal and external partners, including attraction maintenance, Document Control, Environmental Health and Safety, Facilities, Finance, Human Resources, Landscape and Water Quality, Operations, vendors, Quality Assurance, Security, and Sustaining Engineering.
Maintain and encourage close, friendly working relationships and model these behaviors.
Manage spending within assigned budget guidelines and minimize overtime.
Assist in identifying and developing detailed budget plans for tasks and projects that reduce attraction cost of ownership.
Follow established Universal Orlando Environmental, Health & Safety policies, procedures, training, and team-member involvement activities.
Perform other duties as assigned.