Controls Engineering Manager

Work Your Magic with us! Start your next chapter and join EMD Electronics.

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.  

Everything we do in EMD Electronics is to help us deliver on our purpose of being the company behind the companies, advancing digital living. We are dedicated to being the trusted supplier of high-tech materials, services and specialty chemicals for the electronics, automotive and cosmetics industries. We foster a global collaborative organization made up of individuals who have the passion to win, obsess about the customer, are relentlessly curious and act with urgency. Together, we push the boundaries of science to make more possible for our customers.

This role does not offer sponsorship for work authorization. External applicants must be eligible to work in the US.
 

Location: 

The Controls Engineering Manager is an onsite position located in Allentown/Breinigsville, PA areas.  There will be up to 20% domestic and international travel required to meet business needs.

Your Role:

We are seeking an experienced Controls Engineering Manager to lead our talented engineering team and drive the development of high-quality controls solutions. The ideal candidate will combine technical expertise with strong leadership skills to mentor engineers, oversee project delivery, and contribute to our technical strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership

• Oversee the architecture, design, and implementation of embedded systems and industrial automation solutions
• Ensure adherence to coding standards, best practices, and quality metrics for embedded and PLC software
• Drive technical decisions and evaluate new embedded technologies, microcontrollers, and industrial platforms
• Lead code reviews and provide technical guidance for embedded systems, PLC programming, and IoT integration
• Collaborate with product management to define technical requirements for industrial and embedded applications
• Manage hardware-software integration and system validation processes

Project & Delivery Management

• Plan, execute, and deliver projects on time and within budget
• Work with cross-functional teams including Product, Design, and QA
• Implement and improve development processes (Agile, Scrum, Kanban)
• Monitor project progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation strategies
• Ensure proper documentation and knowledge sharing within the team

Strategy & Innovation

• Identify opportunities for process improvements and automation
• Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement in engineering practices

Team Leadership & Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of controls engineers
• Conduct regular 1:1 meetings, performance reviews, and career development planning
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance team culture
• Manage hiring, onboarding, and retention of engineering talent
• Resolve team conflicts and remove obstacles to team success

Who You Are

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of controls engineering experience with focus on embedded systems or industrial automation
• 2+ years of people management experience leading engineering teams

Preferred Qualifications:

Technical Skills

• Background in software development (languages like C/C++, Python, etc.)
• Experience with embedded systems development and real-time operating systems (RTOS)
• Proficiency with PLC programming and industrial automation systems (Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Rockwell, etc.)
• Experience with microcontrollers and embedded platforms (ARM, STM32, ESP32, Arduino, etc.)
• Knowledge of industrial communication protocols (Modbus, CAN, Ethernet/IP, Profibus, etc.)
• Familiarity with database systems, time-series databases, and data structures
• Experience with hardware-software integration and system testing

Leadership Skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities
• Ability to balance technical excellence with business objectives
• Experience with talent acquisition and team building
• Conflict resolution and negotiation skills

Other Preferred Skills

• Master’s degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or related field
• Experience managing distributed or remote teams
• Background in industrial automation, manufacturing, or IoT systems
• Experience with specific embedded technologies and PLC platforms relevant to our stack
• Certifications in project management, agile methodologies, or industrial automation
• Previous startup experience or experience in fast-growing companies
• Experience with Industry 4.0, Smart Manufacturing, or Industrial IoT initiatives
• Proven track record of delivering complex embedded systems or industrial automation projects
• Experience with agile development methodologies in embedded/industrial environments

Pay range for this position: $152,600 - $205,000

The offer range represents the anticipated low and high end of the base pay compensation for this position. The actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level of experience, education, skills, and other job-related factors. Position may be eligible for sales or performance-based bonuses. Benefits offered by the Company include health insurance, paid time off (PTO), retirement contributions, and other perquisites. For more information click here.

What we offer: We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!

Apply now and become a part of a team that is dedicated to Sparking Discovery and Elevating Humanity!