Automation & Controls Project Manager

Automation & Controls Project Manager

The Automation & Controls Project Manager leads complex industrial automation and control systems projects from Front-End Engineering & Design (FEED) through detailed design, panel integration, commissioning, and start-up. This role combines deep technical expertise in control and safety systems with strong commercial and execution leadership to ensure projects are delivered safely, profitably, and in full alignment with client expectations. The position serves as the primary technical and commercial authority on assigned projects, guiding multidisciplinary teams and maintaining strong, long-term client relationships across a variety of industrial sectors.

Responsibilities include:

• Leading and owning all phases of automation and controls projects, including FEED, detailed engineering, panel integration, factory acceptance testing (FAT), site commissioning, and start-up.
• Serving as the technical authority for control, safety, and information system solutions across industrial process applications.
• Ensuring automation architectures, control philosophies, and system designs align with project scope, client standards, and industry best practices.
• Collaborating with engineering teams to resolve complex technical challenges during project execution and commissioning.
• Managing projects with a strong focus on contract value growth, margin protection, and revenue realization.
• Actively managing client scope, identifying changes and impacts early, and developing change orders to prevent margin erosion.
• Maintaining responsibility for project budgets, cost forecasting, earned value tracking, and financial reporting.
• Balancing technical decisions with commercial outcomes to deliver profitable and sustainable projects.
• Developing and maintaining detailed project schedules that cover engineering, panel fabrication, procurement, and field execution activities.
• Clearly communicating scope, schedule, and budget expectations to project team members and ensuring accountability for meeting milestones.
• Preparing and presenting project status reports, forecasts, and progress updates to clients and internal leadership.
• Proactively identifying execution risks and implementing effective mitigation strategies.
• Leading and managing automation engineers, designers, panel shop resources, commissioning and start-up personnel, and MCC fabrication partners.
• Planning and optimizing resource allocation to ensure high utilization and billability of project teams.
• Providing direction, mentorship, and technical guidance to junior engineers and project management staff.
• Fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high-performance project team culture.
• Serving as the primary client interface for assigned projects, building trust through strong technical leadership and proactive communication.
• Maintaining and growing long-term client relationships by consistently delivering high-quality automation solutions.
• Representing the organization in a professional, solutions-oriented manner during project meetings, design reviews, and site activities.
• Supporting proposal and business development efforts by reviewing RFQs, technical specifications, and commercial terms.
• Providing input on execution strategies, staffing plans, schedules, and technical approaches for new opportunities.
• Assisting in defining project execution plans that align with internal capabilities and client requirements.
• Taking a proactive role in corporate Quality, Health, Safety, and Environmental (QHSE) programs.
• Ensuring project execution complies with company standards, client safety requirements, and applicable regulatory expectations.
• Promoting a culture of safety excellence throughout engineering, fabrication, and field activities.
• Collaborating with project teams across offices to share expertise, standardize execution practices, and support multi-office projects.
• Contributing to continuous improvement of project delivery processes and technical standards.
• Managing automation teams onsite and guiding projects from initiation through completion.

Essential skills include:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering.
• PMP (Project Management Professional)…