Controls Engineering Manager

Ready to lead innovative automation projects and make a real impact? Kahler Automation in Fairmont, MN is looking for a Controls Engineering Manager to join our team!

In this key leadership role, you’ll guide and support our talented PLC and HMI Controls Engineering teams across both customer projects and product development initiatives. You’ll play a major role in driving innovation, standardization, and high‑quality automation solutions for the agriculture industry. This is an exciting opportunity for a hands‑on leader who enjoys mentoring engineers, improving processes, solving complex challenges, and helping teams succeed.

• Lead a skilled and collaborative engineering team
• Work on cutting‑edge automation solutions
• Minimal travel – primarily onsite in Fairmont, MN
• Make a direct impact on projects, products, and company growth

Full-time

Controls Engineering Manager

VP of Engineering & Operations

808 Timberlake Road, Fairmont, MN 56031

The Controls Engineering Manager leads the controls engineering projects team and development teams to ensure the successful delivery of automation solutions that meet customer needs. They are also responsible for ensuring that the development of PLC and HMI programs is executed in a consistent and standardized manner, adhering to internal standards. Strong technical knowledge of controls systems, along with excellent people management skills, are essential for this position.

Additionally, the Manager acts as a substitute for the Controls Engineering Supervisor for Projects and the Controls Engineering Supervisor for Development.

• Curious Attitude: An employee who is curious is motivated to take time to question and explore new things to find answers that will ensure the best outcomes for the organization.
• Focus on Quality: An employee who values quality has integrity and produces results that meet high standards set by the organization.
• Passion for Service: An employee who is service‑oriented displays a positive behavior and responds to customers using good business practices to meet their needs and expectations.
• Dedicated Spirit: A dedicated employee is one who takes ownership of their role and the whole organization to ensure that goals are achieved.

• Ensures that the goals of the controls engineering department align with the overall business objectives.
• Proficient in leading and motivating a team, collaborating with cross‑functional departments, and conveying technical information to various stakeholders.
• Direct team activities by establishing priorities, assigning tasks to ensure efficient use of personnel and resources.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of control engineers.
• Analyze work issues, resolve problems, and guide team members through challenges.
• Evaluate departmental resource needs and advise senior leadership on appropriate staffing levels based on business demands.
• Advise senior leadership on potential technical risks and mitigation strategies.
• Leads a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging open feedback from cross‑functional teams to identify control system problems, resolve recurring issues, and drive improvement initiatives.
• Manage the department and collaborate with other teams to deliver high‑quality products and ensure successful project outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with various teams including product management, project management, electrical design, CAD, software engineering, and production.
• Be a resource for the team during complex problem‑solving efforts; handle escalated incidents that cannot be resolved at other levels.
• Collaborate on high‑impact or complex customer projects, especially where technical coordination is critical.
• Assist with the development and troubleshooting of PLC logic, HMI configuration, and communication setups.
• Review project deliverables to ensure quality, completeness, and consistency.
• Contribute to the creation of training materials and actively support technical knowledge‑sharing sessions across teams as necessary.
• Serve as a technical liaison, ensuring Product Management and Training teams have the…