Control Systems Manager Job Houston area,Texas USA,Manufacturing / Production

Job Summary

Cougar USA is a leading supplier of water control systems for commercial building applications, specializing in pre‑engineered and custom‑designed solutions for water pressure, level, temperature, flow, and quality. The Control Systems Manager leads Systems Production operations, building and developing a high‑performance team of engineering, programming, assembly, and testing professionals to deliver on‑time, first‑time‑right (OTFTR) project execution while maintaining quality, profitability, safety, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Development
- Recruit, onboard, train, and develop high‑performing team members across engineering, assembly, programming, and testing.
- Foster accountability, collaboration, technical growth, and continuous improvement.
- Coach team members on Cougar standards, production processes, safety practices, and technical competencies.
- Conduct performance management activities and succession planning.
Production & Operational Management
- Lead day‑to‑day production activities to ensure On‑Time, First‑Time‑Right execution.
- Manage workloads and production priorities across engineering, assembly, programming, and testing functions.
- Coordinate schedules and resources to meet customer promise dates and production deadlines.
- Identify and resolve production bottlenecks, expedite requests, material delays, and technical issues.
Engineering & Technical Oversight
- Provide leadership and support for panel engineering, PLC/HMI programming, testing, and system troubleshooting.
- Assist with development and review of custom control panel designs, applications, and system configurations.
- Support standardization efforts for programming, documentation, and production processes.
- Ensure systems meet customer requirements, UL standards, and Cougar quality expectations.
Cross‑Functional Coordination
- Collaborate with Leadership, Sales, Operations, and Service teams to support forecasting, quoting accuracy, procurement, shipments, and customer support activities.
- Work closely with Sales to establish realistic lead times and support technical quoting needs.
- Coordinate with Operations and Procurement to manage production material availability and scheduling.
- Partner with Service teams to provide technical support and issue resolution for installed systems.
Process Improvement & Quality Assurance
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, efficiency, and profitability.
- Monitor production metrics and implement corrective actions when needed.
- Ensure compliance with UL standards, internal quality procedures, and operational best practices.
- Improve documentation, workflow processes, and communication across production teams.

Metrics & KPIs

On‑Time First‑Time‑Right Delivery Performance
Business Unit Gross Profit Dollars
Custom Panel Margin Performance
Production Throughput & Schedule Adherence
Safety Performance & Compliance
Team Development & Training Progress
Quality Assurance & Rework Reduction

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Industrial Technology, or related field preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 7+ years in control systems, electrical panel manufacturing, industrial automation, or related environment.
- 3+ years of leadership or production management experience preferred.
Technical Skills
- Strong knowledge of industrial control systems, PLCs, HMIs, UL panel standards (UL 508A preferred), and panel manufacturing processes.
- Experience supporting engineering, programming, testing, and troubleshooting activities.
- Familiarity with CAD systems, Net Suite, and production management tools.
- Ability to support both standard and custom control system applications.
Leadership & Organizational Skills
- Proven ability to lead technical teams in a fast‑paced production environment.
- Strong organizational and time‑management skills with the ability to prioritize urgent and important tasks effectively.
- Ability to balance operational execution with strategic process‑improvement initiatives.
- Strong decision‑making and problem‑solving capabilities.
Communication & Customer Service
- Excellent verbal and written…