Controls Group Leader

The Controls Lead is responsible for leading the Controls Engineering team and overseeing the plant’s production network strategy. This high-impact role provides technical leadership, manages projects, ensures standards are met, and supports automation and traceability initiatives. The ideal candidate will own both the leadership and infrastructure aspects of the controls team, ensuring production equipment and network systems are highly available, scalable, and secure.

• Lead and mentor Controls Engineers and Technicians; assign work, coach talent, and ensure skills development.
• Own the design, implementation, and reliability of the production network infrastructure.
• Develop and enforce automation and controls standards, including PLC, HMI, safety, and network practices.
• Champion traceability projects and integrations between machines and MES/ERP platforms.
• Coordinate with IT and Engineering to ensure alignment on network security and data communication protocols.
• Support capital equipment projects from specification to implementation, including network and controls architecture.
• Maintain documentation, backups, and lifecycle management of control systems and industrial networks.
• Drive standardization across the plant’s automation and data collection systems.
• Strong project and people leadership skills.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives across the plant.
• Effective communicator across technical and non-technical teams.
• Comfortable leading in high-urgency situations and resolving cross-functional challenges.

• 7+ years in automation and controls, including leadership or mentorship experience.
• Strong understanding of industrial networking, cybersecurity, and protocol integration.
• Expertise in PLCs (Siemens S7, Allen Bradley Control Logix), HMIs, and SCADA.
• Familiarity with production traceability and data logging systems.
• Working knowledge of IT infrastructure as it applies to manufacturing.

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Automation, or Mechatronics Engineering.
• Prior leadership experience in a high-volume manufacturing setting.
• Experience with SAP, MES, or other ERP integrations.
• Familiarity with ISO 14001, IATF 16949, and OSHA compliance.
• Combination of office and manufacturing floor.
• Regular exposure to noise, dust, oils, and industrial equipment.

• Must be able to walk, stand, bend, and lift (up to 30 lbs. regularly, occasionally over 30 lbs.).
• Ability to work on a computer and read detailed documentation.
• Vision and hearing required for safety and communication.
• Domestic and international travel as needed.

Full-time, Monday through Friday (6:30 AM – 4:00 PM), with flexibility to support urgent maintenance needs or production schedules.

IFA North America provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, IFA North America complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.