Engineering & Operations Manager – Industrial Automation (US)

About the Company

Engineering & Operations Manager – Industrial Automation (US) United States | Flexible location | Full time

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Engineering & Operations Manager to lead and grow our US industrial automation business. This is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping our US operations, supported by a strong pipeline of opportunities and the backing of an established global engineering company. You will be responsible for the day-to-day performance including engineering delivery, project profitability, customer relationships, business development and team growth. As the US operation expands, you will play a central role in shaping its engineering capabilities, customer base and long-term development. The position combines business and engineering leadership with direct technical involvement. You should be comfortable leading complex automation projects, engaging with customers, developing proposals and contributing hands-on engineering expertise when needed. This opportunity may appeal to an experienced Senior Engineer, Engineering Manager or Operations Manager ready to progress into broader business leadership while remaining closely connected to engineering, customers and project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Operations & Project Delivery
• Lead the day-to-day operations
• Oversee projects from initial scope and design through implementation, testing, commissioning and project closeout.
• Manage project budgets, schedules, scope changes and risks
• Coordinate with engineering teams in Ireland and the UK to access additional resources and specialist expertise as needed.
• Technical Leadership & Engineering Delivery
• Provide technical leadership across industrial automation and control systems, including instrumentation, PLCs, HMI/SCADA, process control, industrial networks and electrical interfaces.
• Serve as a senior technical point of contact for customers and support the engineering team in resolving complex technical challenges.
• Customer Relationships, Estimating & Proposals
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships, understanding operational challenges and identifying practical engineering solutions.
• Develop opportunities for additional engineering services and project work with existing and prospective customers.
• Lead the scoping, estimating and preparation of technical and commercial proposals, drawing on local resources and wider engineering expertise.
• Secure engineering work through technical engagement, customer relationships, referrals and industry contacts.
• Ensure proposals are technically and commercially sound, with clearly defined deliverables, assumptions, schedules and resource requirements.
• Maintain strong customer relationships and accountability from initial engagement through successful project delivery.
• Team Leadership & Development
• Lead, mentor and develop the US engineering team, including Lead Automation & Controls Engineers and other technical staff.
• Work with senior leadership to plan sustainable growth and develop the engineering capabilities needed to support it.

Qualifications

Required Experience and Qualifications

• Required experience and qualifications include:
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical discipline or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• 10 or more years of relevant experience in industrial automation, controls engineering or a closely related field.
• Strong hands-on technical experience across ISA-95 Levels 0, 1 and 2, including field instrumentation, automation and control systems and HMI/SCADA.
• Significant experience designing, programming, commissioning and troubleshooting PLC-based control systems, particularly Rockwell/Allen-Bradley and/or Siemens platforms.
• Strong practical knowledge of HMI/SCADA systems, industrial instrumentation, control panels, electrical drawings and industrial communications networks, including EtherNet/IP, PROFINET and Modbus.
• Extensive industrial site commissioning, troubleshooting and system startup experience.
• Proven ability to lead engineering projects from initial customer requirements through design, implementation, commissioning and project closeout.
• Experience leading engineers or technical project teams, including workload planning, mentoring and responsibility for engineering delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to build customer relationships, develop engineering estimates and proposals and secure project work.
• Sound commercial judgment, including project cost management, scope control, resource planning and profitability.
• Willingness and ability to remain technically involved in engineering delivery while managing broader operational responsibilities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with plant engineers, operations teams, customers and senior leadership.
• Ability and willingness to travel to customer facilities as project requirements dictate.

Required Skills

• Industrial automation, controls engineering or closely related field experience (10 or more years).
• Hands-on technical experience across ISA-95 Levels 0, 1 and 2.
• Designing, programming, commissioning and troubleshooting PLC-based control systems (Rockwell/Allen-Bradley and/or Siemens).
• Practical knowledge of HMI/SCADA systems, industrial instrumentation, control panels, electrical drawings and industrial communications networks (EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, Modbus).
• Industrial site commissioning, troubleshooting and system startup.
• Leading engineering projects from requirements through project closeout.
• Leading engineers or technical project teams, including workload planning and mentoring.
• Building customer relationships, developing engineering estimates and proposals and securing project work.
• Project cost management, scope control, resource planning and profitability.
• Remaining technically involved in engineering delivery while managing operations.
• Communication and interpersonal skills to engage with plant engineers, operations teams, customers and senior leadership.
• Ability and willingness to travel to customer facilities.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in the following areas would be advantageous, but we do not expect candidates to have expertise in every area:
• Engineering or operations management within a systems integration, industrial automation or engineering services business.
• Experience hiring, mentoring and developing engineering teams.
• Industry experience in one or more of the following sectors: Food & Beverage, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Life Sciences/Pharmaceuticals, Water &

Compensation & Benefits

- Base Salary: , depending on relevant experience, technical expertise and leadership background.

- Annual Performance Bonus: linked to operational performance, successful project delivery, profitable business growth and team development.

- 401(k) Retirement Plan: Employer matching contributions

- Health Insurance: Medical coverage with an employer contribution.

- Paid Time Off: paid vacation.

- Flexible Work Arrangements: Flexibility in US location and working arrangements, balanced with customer, project and team requirements.