Director Controls Engineering

2 months ago

State College, United States First Quality Full time

First Quality was founded in 1989 and, in nearly three decades, has grown to be a global privately held company with over 4,000 employees. Its corporate offices are located in Great Neck, New York, with manufacturing facilities and offices in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Georgia, and Canada. First Quality is a diversified family of companies manufacturing consumer products ranging from Absorbent Hygiene (adult incontinence, feminine care, and baby care), Tissue (bath and towel), and Industrial (print and packaging materials), serving institutional and retail markets throughout the world. First Quality focuses on private label and branded product lines.


Our core business philosophy is built on a proud culture driven by safety and quality, respect, humility, integrity, customer focus, and teamwork. With leading edge manufacturing technologies and processes and visionary leadership, First Quality is positioned to continue significant growth in the coming years. We are seeking an experienced Director of Controls Engineering for our First Quality facilities located in McElhattan, PA; Lewistown, PA; and Macon, GA (35% travel).


This position is responsible for managing and directing all Controls Engineering department functions across the Absorbent Hygiene division. Provide engineering leadership in the electrical, controls, maintenance, and project functions including specifying, designing, and implementing complex controls systems and software programming on production equipment and associated machinery. Identifying and implementing improvement programs in personnel skills, training, production equipment controls, processes, and preventative maintenance programs resulting in reduced manufacturing costs.


Primary responsibilities include:

  • Works closely with the engineering leaders to drive cross functional and divisional projects and initiatives for the AbHy division.
  • Drives efficiency improvement and scrap reduction efforts through the application of best practices in Controls and all other engineering disciplines.
  • Recruits, trains, administers, and directs all Controls Engineering and Maintenance and personnel as needed. Continually assesses personnel to ensure proper skills are developed and applied to support production requirements. Develops and applies any training programs to ensure skills are kept current.
  • Applies knowledge of electrical controls, machinery controls, and components to provide technical direction for Project Engineers, OEMs, and vendors to design, install, interface, and start up new controls systems and equipment. This may include electrical component selection, electrical and software design approval, machine acceptance testing, and start up problem solving.
  • Sets standards for Controls system designs and drives these across the AbHy divisions of the company.
  • Tracks production performance, and conceives, develops, tests, and implements technical solutions for controls and automation problems. Develops and administers any annual preventative maintenance and inspection programs.
  • Assists and/or leads project start up for electrical and controls projects not handled by Project Engineering. Works with various departments to develop and assist in training and start up validation processes.
  • Develops proposals, budgets, CERs, and ereq recommendations as needed.
  • Troubleshoots production utility equipment controls systems, components, and programs.
  • Assists Production, Maintenance, and Engineers to meet daily priorities, coverage, and special projects.
  • Oversees Controls support during machines installations and upgrades. Also, interfaces auxiliary equipment and identifies and corrects errors in programming and wiring.
  • Assists in project planning and forecasting as part of the budgeting process.
  • Ability to operate as an individual contributor and leader as needed based on business dynamics and facilitation needs.
  • Supports and promotes safe practices and environmental commitments in alignment with company commitments, policies, and compliance requirements.
  • Facilitates and performs Controls training workshops.


The ideal candidate should possess the following:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Electronics, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
  • Minimum of 10 years’ experience supervising in a high volume product environment requiring continuous support.
  • Minimum of 8 years’ experience with industrial controls.
  • Advanced knowledge of all PLC based hardware and software.
  • Knowledge of product specifications, quality specifications, goals, efficiency, scrap and production.
  • Excellent analytical and communication (oral/written) skills.
  • Proven ability to lead and develop high performance work teams.
  • Advanced human relations and interpersonal skills.
  • Advanced Computer skills including specific controls programming software and word processing and spreadsheet applications.
  • Advanced analytics, decision-making, and problem -solving skills.
  • Ability to operate in a fast-pace environment
  • Ability to work cross-functionally.
  • This role requires 35% travel to other FQ sites and suppliers.


Excellent compensation and benefit package


First Quality is committed to protecting information under the care of First Quality Enterprises commensurate with leading industry standards and applicable regulations. As such, First Quality provides at least annual training regarding data privacy and security to employees who, as a result of their role specifications, may come in to contact with sensitive data.


First Quality is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, or protected Veteran status.

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