Manager, Controls and Automation

Title: Manager Controls & Automation
Location: Houston TX (Onsite Daily)
Duration: Permanent Direct-Hire
Work Requirements: US Citizens GC Holders or Authorized to Work in the US.

Top Skills Required:

• Previous experience managing a team of Automation & Controls Engineers
• Hands-on technical experience in the development of PLCs and HMIs

Department: Automation and Service
Reports To: Vice President - Automation and Service

Position Summary
The Manager Controls and Automation leads the development deployment and lifecycle support of the companys controls and automation systems and directly manages all Field Engineers. This position is responsible for automation software and hardware used in drilling marine power distribution and battery energy storage system (BESS) applications including PLCs HMIs communication networks AC/DC drives active front end (AFE) converters and generator controls. The manager also owns sustaining support for Wrench and Catwalk serving as the first line of defense for field and service issues coordinating escalation to the development team and leading deployment and verification of approved hot fixes. The manager provides hands-on technical leadership oversees internal and third-party engineering resources develops field engineering talent and manages BESS programs including marine type approval and continual product improvement.

The Manager Controls and Automation is a senior-level leadership role within the Automation and Service Department. Employees in this position balance direct technical contributions with management of Field Engineers controls and automation resources and complex development and service programs. The role serves as the primary sustaining-support interface between field operations and the development team for Wrench and Catwalk. This position is accountable for technical quality resource coordination employee development customer support system reliability timely escalation and controlled deployment of urgent software corrections across multiple concurrent priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Controls and Automation function and directly manage all Field Engineers including work assignment priority setting performance management and professional development.
• Manage automation engineering personnel and third-party technical resources supporting control-system development deployment commissioning troubleshooting and service.
• Understand and influence the companys controls and automation roadmap; translate functional and customer requirements into system architecture and scalable implementation plans.
• Oversee the conception design development testing deployment maintenance and continual improvement of PLC HMI data-logging communication-network and related control-system hardware and software.
• Apply control-system theory to develop and review control algorithms and architectures for drilling marine generator-control power-distribution drive AFE and BESS applications.
• Review and approve system diagrams loop diagrams block diagrams network diagrams drawings design documentation operating manuals and related technical deliverables.
• Maintain the security of company software and associated intellectual property in accordance with company policy.
• Oversee the controls laboratory and development of simulation tools used to verify functional design requirements before field deployment.
• Own sustaining support and operational readiness for Wrench and Catwalk including issue triage defect tracking release coordination and continual improvement.
• Serve as the first line of defense for Wrench and Catwalk field and service issues by troubleshooting problems gathering diagnostic information documenting reproducible conditions resolving issues within the teams capability and escalating well-defined defects or enhancement needs to the development team.
• Coordinate with the development team and Field Engineers to test communicate deploy and verify approved hot fixes and urgent software updates across affected field systems.
• Develop and maintain sustaining-support workflows troubleshooting procedures release information and Field Engineer training for Wrench Catwalk and associated controls applications.
• Serve as technical lead for root-cause analysis of equipment failures and incidents; define communicate and implement corrective actions in a timely manner.
• Plan and coordinate Field Engineer coverage for installations commissioning field qualification customer support troubleshooting and after-hours service needs.
• Recruit technically assess onboard mentor and develop Field Engineers and controls personnel through regular one-on-one meetings career-path planning technical training and performance reviews.
• Promote an inclusive accountable work environment; address performance concerns and team conflicts promptly and make employment decisions consistent with company policy.
• Oversee development and testing of marine BESS prototypes and manage type-approval activities with ABS DNV Lloyds or similar governing bodies including design compliance documentation and approval coordination.
• Facilitate continual improvement of marine and drilling BESS applications using test data field performance information and customer and end-user feedback.
• Establish strong communication with customers and field users during and after qualification to drive data-informed improvements to controls and automation systems.
• Collaborate with Engineering Operations Project Engineering Procurement and Service teams to align technical solutions schedules and field execution.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Requirements
Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering Computer Science/Computer Programming Automation or a related discipline; equivalent relevant industry experience may be considered.
• Five (5) or more years of PLC programming and HMI development experience.
• Five (5) or more years of generator-controls and power-distribution-system experience.
• Demonstrated experience supervising and developing engineering or field-service personnel.
• Experience with standard industrial communication protocols including Profibus Profinet Modbus and CANBUS.
• Ability to develop and review control-system architecture technical drawings system documentation and operating manuals.
• Strong project and program management skills including the ability to manage multiple complex priorities and meet challenging deadlines.
• Strong written verbal customer-facing decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including Word Excel PowerPoint and Project.

Preferred Qualifications

• Seven (7) or more years of PLC programming related to drilling or marine controls and automation.
• Five (5) or more years of Siemens PLC development experience including Step 7 and TIA Portal.
• Working knowledge of VFD/SCR drives and related equipment used in the drilling and marine industry preferably Yaskawa GE/Converteam and Siemens systems.
• Experience managing marine BESS type approval with ABS DNV Lloyds or a similar governing body.
• Experience with production software support issue triage development-team escalation and controlled deployment of hot fixes or urgent software releases.
• Experience leading a field engineering or technical service organization.

Physical & Working Conditions

• Work performed in office controls laboratory shop yard and customer field environments including drilling rig marine or other industrial sites.
• Ability to safely walk climb stand step bend stoop kneel twist and occasionally crawl in variable day/night and hot/cold weather conditions.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds independently while walking on uneven surfaces.
• Ability to work safely around moving equipment overhead machinery electrical systems noise fumes and airborne particles while maintaining spatial awareness and wearing required PPE.
• Ability to travel regularly including extended travel to remote locations and overnight stays.
• Availability for extended hours weekends and on-call support as business needs require.

Reporting Structure
This position reports directly to the Vice President - Automation and Service. All Field Engineers report directly to the Manager Controls and Automation. The manager also oversees assigned controls and automation resources and coordinates third-party technical support.

About INSPYR Solutions
Technology is our focus and quality is our commitment. As a national expert in delivering flexible technology and talent solutions we strategically align industry and technical expertise with our clients business objectives and cultural needs. Our solutions are tailored to each client and include a wide variety of professional services project and talent solutions. By always striving for excellence and focusing on the human aspect of our business we work seamlessly with our talent and clients to match the right solutions to the right opportunities. Learn more about us at .

INSPYR Solutions provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race color religion sex national origin age disability or addition to federal law requirements INSPYR Solutions complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

INSPYR Solutions provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race color religion sex national origin age disability genetics or any other protected status. INSPYR Solutions complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process should contact for assistance.

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Required Experience:

Manager