Hiring: Controls & Automation Engineering Manager Company: Sterling Engineering Location: Buffalo Grove, IL Job Posted Time: 2026-09-03 10:32:20 Employment Type: Full-time About the job Experience: •8+ years of experience supporting industrial controls and automation within a manufacturing environment. •3+ years of engineering leadership experience managing Controls or Automation Engineers. Required Skills: •This leader will serve as the technical escalation point for complex controls issues while partnering with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and OEM equipment suppliers to support existing production equipment and future controls upgrades. •Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Controls Engineers supporting day-to-day manufacturing operations. •Provide technical leadership for troubleshooting PLC-controlled automation, HMI systems, industrial controls, and production equipment. •Support production by quickly responding to critical automation and controls issues that impact manufacturing uptime. •Lead root cause investigations and implement corrective actions to eliminate recurring equipment failures. •Partner with Manufacturing, Maintenance, Quality, and Operations to improve equipment reliability, Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), and production performance. •Work directly with OEMs and equipment suppliers to resolve complex controls issues, coordinate upgrades, and implement system improvements. •Evaluate controls modifications and equipment upgrades while ensuring minimal disruption to production. Qualifications: •Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical discipline. •Strong hands-on experience troubleshooting PLC-controlled manufacturing equipment. •Proven ability to perform root cause analysis and implement long-term corrective actions for equipment reliability. •In-depth knowledge of industrial automation, electrical controls, HMIs, industrial networking, and manufacturing equipment. •Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to work across Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, and Quality teams. •Knowledge of SCADA, machine vision systems, robotics, and motion control. •Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement experience. Compensation: •$140,000 - $160,000 / year Interested candidates, please apply directly through the job posting on company's career page or try via AI auto apply on this platform. Don't miss this opportunity to join a forward-thinking team!