Engineering Manager

Engineering Manager – Controls & Automation

Position Summary

The Engineering Manager serves as the senior technical leader for the engineering organization, combining technical excellence, resource management, and strategic leadership. This role is responsible for defining technical direction, developing engineering talent, overseeing engineering resources, and ensuring the organization remains at the forefront of emerging automation and controls technologies.

The Engineering Manager leads a team of engineering leaders while maintaining accountability for the technical growth and development of a broader engineering organization of approximately 35–40 professionals. This individual serves as a trusted technical authority, helping teams solve complex technical challenges, establish best practices, and implement innovative solutions across multiple industries.

This position offers a clear path for future advancement into senior leadership, including potential Director of Engineering responsibilities as the organization continues to grow.

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: Director of Engineering / Senior Leadership
• Direct Reports: 3 Lead Engineers
• Oversight: Approximately 35–40 engineering and technical resources

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Strategy

• Establish and drive the organization's technical vision and engineering strategy.
• Evaluate and implement emerging technologies, tools, and industry best practices.
• Serve as the primary technical resource for complex engineering challenges.
• Guide engineering teams in solving difficult technical issues through structured problem-solving and collaboration.
• Research and recommend new technologies, platforms, and methodologies that enhance organizational capabilities.
• Maintain awareness of industry trends and technological advancements to ensure long-term competitiveness.

Engineering Resource Management

• Direct and manage engineering resources across multiple projects and business initiatives.
• Provide leadership and guidance to Lead Engineers and technical teams.
• Ensure appropriate allocation of technical resources to meet project and business objectives.
• Partner with leadership to forecast future staffing and technical capability needs.
• Drive continuous improvement in engineering performance and effectiveness.

Talent Development & Technical Growth

• Lead the development and growth of engineering talent across the organization.
• Establish technical development plans and career growth opportunities.
• Foster a culture of learning, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with engineering process leadership to support training, certifications, and professional development initiatives.
• Support performance review processes and help establish standards for technical growth and accountability.
• Recognize team accomplishments while maintaining ownership of overall departmental performance.

Engineering Standards & Best Practices

• Establish and maintain engineering standards, programming methodologies, and technical best practices.
• Partner with engineering process leadership to improve procedures, documentation, and quality standards.
• Support technical consistency across projects, industries, and engineering disciplines.
• Act as a consultant and advisor on technical standards, automation architecture, and programming approaches.

Project & Business Support

• Maintain visibility across the organization's project portfolio and provide technical guidance when needed.
• Support business development efforts through technical expertise and customer engagement.
• Collaborate with customers, vendors, and industry partners to develop innovative solutions.
• Serve as a technical representative for the organization within the automation and controls industry.

Required Qualifications

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.

Experience

• 10 years of experience in industrial controls, automation, or systems integration.
• Previous experience leading engineering teams or technical project teams.
• Experience managing or leading at least five team members on complex engineering projects.
• Proven success balancing technical leadership with resource management responsibilities.

Technical Expertise

Strong controls and automation background with demonstrated experience in:

• PLC Programming
• HMI Development
• Industrial Automation Systems
• SCADA Platforms
• System Integration

Experience with one or more of the following technologies is highly preferred:

• Allen-Bradley / Rockwell Automation
• FactoryTalk
• AVEVA
• Ignition

Candidates should possess expertise in at least one platform while maintaining broad knowledge across multiple automation technologies.

Programming & Troubleshooting

• Strong programming background with the ability to review, understand, and evaluate code.
• Ability to sit alongside engineers and effectively assess programming approaches and technical solutions.
• Comfortable troubleshooting complex technical issues and identifying paths to resolution.
• Demonstrated ability to find answers through collaboration with colleagues, vendors, and technical resources when solutions are not immediately known.

Preferred Industry Experience

Experience in one or more of the following industries:

• Industrial Automation
• Manufacturing
• Water/Wastewater
• Oil & Gas
• Process Industries
• Systems Integration

Leadership Competencies

Servant Leadership

• Low ego, high impact leadership style.
• High integrity and accountability.
• Willingness to recognize and celebrate team successes while taking ownership of department outcomes.
• Focus on developing others and building strong engineering teams.

Strategic Thinking

• Ability to balance short-term execution with long-term technical strategy.
• Vision for future technology adoption and capability development.
• Strong business acumen and organizational awareness.

Communication & Influence

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong relationship-building skills with employees, customers, vendors, and leadership teams.

Location Preferred:

• Lincoln, Nebraska
• Omaha, Nebraska

Relocation assistance may be considered for highly qualified candidates.

Compensation:

Salary Range: $115,000 – $150,000

Career Growth Opportunity

This role offers significant advancement potential as the organization continues to expand. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape the future direction of engineering operations and may progress into a Director of Engineering-level position over time.