Automation Controls Manager Jobs in Rochelle, IL

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Prepare and manage capital and expense budgets for manufacturing engineering, including expenditure planning, project justification, and ongoing tracking of spend.
• Lead the manufacturing engineering team in supporting shop floor operations, capital projects, new product introductions, estimating, methods improvement, cost reduction, and strategic business initiatives.
• Large scale project management, cross functional team leadership, large scale capital management plan.
• Work cross-functionally with Operations, Product Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Maintenance, and other functional teams to improve manufacturability, product quality, throughput, and profitability.
• Supervise floor plans, plant layouts, and facility concepts for new buildings, line expansions, and upgrades to existing manufacturing operations.
• Lead manufacturing readiness for new product introductions and engineering changes, including process design, tooling, equipment needs, launch support, and start-up stabilization.
• Direct start-up activities for new and revised manufacturing lines, debug processes, improve productivity, and ensure readiness of raw materials, tooling, equipment, and quality controls.
• Define, develop, optimize, validate, and stabilize manufacturing processes for both new and existing products.
• Ensure manufacturing processes are documented, standardized, and sustained through work instructions, SOPs, process controls, and training.
• Lead safe process and equipment design, including ergonomic improvements, risk reduction, and compliance with applicable safety, environmental, and internal standards.
• Supervise Tool Room activities through the Tool Room Supervisor and provide guidance on the design and use of tools, jigs, fixtures, and related manufacturing systems.
• Define and specify standards for equipment design, build, purchase, installation, and startup.
• Oversee the selection, procurement, and implementation of new and used equipment, as well as in-house equipment design and construction methods.
• Evaluate, justify, implement automation, manufacturing technologies, and process improvements to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.
• Use lean manufacturing principals to analyze workflow, labor utilization, capacity, floor space, and material flow to optimize throughput and operational efficiency.
• Establish, monitor, and report key manufacturing engineering performance metrics, including productivity, quality, scrap, cycle time, and project execution results.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean manufacturing principles and structured problem-solving methods to eliminate waste, improve flow, and sustain gains.
• Manage technical relationships with equipment suppliers, contractors, and service providers, including specifications, acceptance criteria, installation coordination, and startup support.
• Ensure high responsiveness to shop floor issues by leading root cause analysis, implementing permanent corrective actions, and supporting sustainable process performance.
• Determine team priorities and lead hiring, coaching, performance management, training, and development for the manufacturing engineering organization.
• Report project status, performance results, and major initiatives in management meetings and carry out other reasonable tasks as directed by the business from time to time.

Education/Experience:

Bachelor's degree (BS) in an engineering related field from four-year college or university plus 10 to 15 years minimum experience in a manufacturing engineering environment.

Certificates and Licenses:

PE preferred.

Metal Forming Experience:

10-15 year experience in metal forming. Mus have experience in the design of dies and tools for forming metal.  Ability to troubleshoot manufacturing issues and concerns.  Experience in developing training for engineers, maintenance, and production personnel.  Ability to develop preventative maintenance programs.  Experience in purchasing capital equipment and running capital projects.

Technical Skills

• Metal Forming
• Machine, Process, and Part Design
• Plant Layouts and Material Flow Optimization
• Automation and Manufacturing Technology Evaluation
• Metrology
• Continuous Improvement, Lean, and Structured Problem Solving
• Data Collection, Analysis, and KPI Reporting
• Creation of Work Instructions, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and Process Documentation
• Safety Analysis, Ergonomics, and Risk Reduction
• Project Plan Development, Management, and Execution
• New Product Introduction and Engineering Change Implementation

Language Skills:

Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.  Ability to effectively present information and make presentations and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to apply advanced mathematical concepts such as exponents, logarithms, quadratic equations, and permutations.  Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis.

Reasoning Skills:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables for problem solving.

Computer Skills:

To perform this job successfully, the qualified individual should be proficient in the use of Microsoft suite applications, CAD (SolidWorks preferred) and ERP Systems (JD Edwards preferred).

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Manages the manufacturing engineering function and carries out managerial responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include setting priorities, planning and assigning work, hiring, coaching, developing, and appraising performance, addressing complaints, resolving problems, and building a high-performing manufacturing engineering team aligned with business objectives. Five years managerial experience required.

Core Values:

• Deliver Service
• Be Positive
• Embrace Family
• Be a Team Player
• Show Integrity
• Have Grit

Job Type: Full-time / Salaried

Benefits:

• 401(k) with company match
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness Program
• Paid holidays
• Paid time off