Project Manager - Controls & Automation

Factory Technologies, Inc., a Systems Integrator located in Modesto CA., is currently seeking to hire a Project Manager. This position will require development work within an office environment and support at client sites. This is not a remote role and is based in Modesto, CA.

Along with the traditional controls engineer technical skills, as a member of the FTI team, you will be most successful by exhibiting the following non-technical skills/traits:

• Communication, communication, communication
  • All team members need to strive for excellent communication skills; oral, written and listening.
  • Discuss task/milestone/project successes, failures, roadblocks with your team.
  • Let the team know of unexpected changes to the project and/or personal life schedule - as soon as you can. Text, phone, email - whatever it takes.
  • Let the team know of unexpected changes to the scope of work.
  • Provide daily updates on progress. Know your audience and cater your updates accordingly.
  • Feedback - ask for it and provide it respectfully.
• Sharing/collaboration - share your time, your skills and the information you have gathered over the years. As a senior manager, you will be expected to support/develop/lead/mentor junior engineers, drafter’s, shop personnel and new employees.
• Focus - support others when needed and allow others to focus on their tasks as needed.
• Be curious, not judgmental - ask questions to get details.
• Adaptability/flexibility - the controls systems integrator world is fast paced and changes regularly. Team members need to be able to change directions routinely.
• Problem solving/critical thinking - senior team members are key to solving problems whether they be technical or other.
• Repeatability/scalability - think about the work you’re completing and how it may be reused and/or scaled for the future. Reuse existing work where appropriate.
• Self-awareness - understand where you’re at and what your strengths/weaknesses are.
• Empathy - put yourself in someone else’s shoes before judging. All engineers find mistakes in others work. Remember that others will find mistakes in your work too.
• Active Listening - listen with the intent to understand, not just to react/respond.
• Conflict resolution - support reducing inevitable tensions both internally and externally.
• Resilience - some days can be difficult. Some projects can be difficult. Remember that those difficult times are temporary.
• Take care of yourself - everyone is different and you will be supported to avoid burnout. You need to be your own gatekeeper and communicate issues, goals and needs.
• Participate - improvements can only be made with participation. Without participation, everything else is just complaining.
• Time Management/prioritization - senior team members take on a lot of work and can be asked to be in two places at once. Prioritizing can be a daily challenge. Communicate your issues and come to the table with a proposed solution.

The following skills and requirements are desired:

• BS in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical or Mechatronics Engineering or 10+ years equivalent relevant controls integration experience.
• Development of project budgets, proposals, schedules and presentations.
• Ensure projects meet stated objectives in terms of project scope, time, and profitability.
• Conduct/lead project meetings.
• Development of function descriptions for automation projects.
• Specification of automation components and software.
• Lead and mentor a project team using effective problem-solving techniques to accomplish company and project goals.
• Be an ambassador of our company brand.
• Maintain relationships with established customers and develop new relationships with new customers.
• Support the execution of strategic initiatives.
• Possess expert level knowledge in PLC/HMI programming and systems integration in industrial applications using various Allen-Bradley, Schneider, GE and Siemens platforms.
• Strong competency in using Rockwell Automation products, WonderWare and Inductive Automation HMI/SCADA software.
• Must be able to read and generate P&ID’s, flow diagrams and electrical schematics.
• Advanced knowledge of networking and communication protocols, such as but not limited to, EtherNet, Asi, Modbus, IO-Link, ControlNet and DeviceNet.
• High level knowledge of process instrumentation and VFD’s.
• Excellent communication skills; oral, written and listening.
• High level knowledge of, or interest in, mechanical systems and manufacturing equipment.
• Must be able to work unsupervised and as part of a team as required.
• Flexibility when required to work outside of normal business hours as required by client’s needs.
• General knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint).
• Must possess a valid driver’s license with a clean DMV record.

And finally…

• The successful candidate will receive a competitive salary offer, including medical and dental benefits, 401K with company contributions and vacation/holiday pay.
• Work from home opportunities will be available during the core development phase of a project. When not at customer sites or working from home, employees report to our Modesto, CA office.