Controls Engineering Manager

Position Overview:

Solid Power is seeking a Controls Engineering Manager to join our talented team working to revolutionize the battery industry through the development of next-generation, all solid-state rechargeable batteries. Solid Power is a dynamic, fast-paced, collaborative team environment. This position requires the ability to strategically support the operations and improvements of PLC based industrial controls equipment by delegating tasks and assigning responsibilities to controls engineers. This position will require both management and hands-on controls engineering. Additionally, the position requires the ability to assess ladder logic programs written by others and root-out problems as well as improve machine performance. The ideal candidate will have experience in managing controls engineers and leading a team that supports the operation of industrial control equipment. The candidate must have extensive experience with ladder logic programming and Human Machine Interface (HMI) programming. They must have experience with machine networking with EthernetIP and developing interfaces between industrial control components is required. Any experience with machine vision and robotics integration is highly advantageous for this role. This position requires the ability to work both directly with other engineers in a collaborative environment to collectively solve problems, as well as independently, taking an idea of how a machine should work and fully developing the controls to execute. The candidate must have strong skills in transparently communicating progress and status for updates and reports.

Job Duties:

• Manage a team of controls engineers including handling yearly reviews, creating, and communicating long term responsibilities, day-to-day task assignment, timecard, and expense report approval, approving and denying purchase requests, maintaining/improving team moral, and growing the controls team.
• Take full responsibility for all aspects of Industrial controls at Solid Power, providing strategies to support all Solid Power facilities.
• Provide weekly written and verbal report of the status of controls engineering projects.
• Design, develop, and/or supervise all aspects of electrical control systems, equipment, and machinery.
• Be the point of contact for all things controls related including managing controls software licenses, managing electrical CAD software licenses, coordinating training classes for other controls engineers.
• When necessary, create PLC programs, from the ground up, to control industrial battery manufacturing equipment.
• When necessary, troubleshoot and modify PLC programs written by vendors or other controls engineers.
• Diligently enforce a revision documentation and management system for PLC and HMI code.
• Coordinate the assignment of equipment owners and associated back-ups ensuring sufficient coverage for all PLC related activities, facilitating an immediate response to any “down machine” conditions during normal business hours (no after-hours on-call).
• Provide review and approval of proposed purchases for controls hardware including PLCs and associated IO, servo drives, AC drives, circuit breakers, pneumatic valve banks, and industrial safety components.
• Develop the skills of controls engineers to increase Solid Power’s depth of knowledge.
• Work closely, collaboratively, and effectively with other departments and team members.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Minimum of bachelor’s degree in electrical or mechanical engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 15 years of related industry experience.
• Minimum of 5 years managing engineers.
• Expert in Allen Bradley PLC programming with Studio5000 Logix Designer, Studio5000 View Designer, and FT View Studio.
• Experience with a task assignment/management system such as SCRUM a plus.
• Experience with Mitsubishi Q series PLC a plus.
• Experience with machine vision a plus.
• Experience with Fanuc robotics programming and integration a plus.
• U.S. citizenship or Permanent Residency required.

Salary Range: $96,000 - $167,000/year

Benefits: Solid Power offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical/dental/vision insurance, employer paid Life/AD&D/STD/LTD insurance, 401k with company match, paid holidays, PTO, cell phone reimbursement and and eligibility in our equity incentive and bonus plans.