Title: Manager, Controls & Automation
Location: Houston, TX (Onsite Daily)
Duration: Permanent, Direct-Hire
Work Requirements: US Citizens, GC Holders or Authorized to Work in the US.
 
Top Skills Required:

• Previous experience managing a team of Automation & Controls Engineers
• Hands-on technical experience in the development of PLCs and HMIs

 
Department: Automation and Service
Reports To: Vice President – Automation and Service
 
Position Summary
The Manager, Controls and Automation leads the development, deployment, and lifecycle support of the company's controls and automation systems and directly manages all Field Engineers. This position is responsible for automation software and hardware used in drilling, marine, power distribution, and battery energy storage system (BESS) applications, including PLCs, HMIs, communication networks, AC/DC drives, active front end (AFE) converters, and generator controls. The manager also owns sustaining support for Wrench and Catwalk, serving as the first line of defense for field and service issues, coordinating escalation to the development team, and leading deployment and verification of approved hot fixes. The manager provides hands-on technical leadership, oversees internal and third-party engineering resources, develops field engineering talent, and manages BESS programs, including marine type approval and continual product improvement.
 
The Manager, Controls and Automation is a senior-level leadership role within the Automation and Service Department. Employees in this position balance direct technical contributions with management of Field Engineers, controls and automation resources, and complex development and service programs. The role serves as the primary sustaining-support interface between field operations and the development team for Wrench and Catwalk. This position is accountable for technical quality, resource coordination, employee development, customer support, system reliability, timely escalation, and controlled deployment of urgent software corrections across multiple concurrent priorities.
 
Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Controls and Automation function and directly manage all Field Engineers, including work assignment, priority setting, performance management, and professional development.
• Manage automation engineering personnel and third-party technical resources supporting control-system development, deployment, commissioning, troubleshooting, and service.
• Understand and influence the company's controls and automation roadmap; translate functional and customer requirements into system architecture and scalable implementation plans.
• Oversee the conception, design, development, testing, deployment, maintenance, and continual improvement of PLC, HMI, data-logging, communication-network, and related control-system hardware and software.
• Apply control-system theory to develop and review control algorithms and architectures for drilling, marine, generator-control, power-distribution, drive, AFE, and BESS applications.
• Review and approve system diagrams, loop diagrams, block diagrams, network diagrams, drawings, design documentation, operating manuals, and related technical deliverables.
• Maintain the security of company software and associated intellectual property in accordance with company policy.
• Oversee the controls laboratory and development of simulation tools used to verify functional design requirements before field deployment.
• Own sustaining support and operational readiness for Wrench and Catwalk, including issue triage, defect tracking, release coordination, and continual improvement.
• Serve as the first line of defense for Wrench and Catwalk field and service issues by troubleshooting problems, gathering diagnostic information, documenting reproducible conditions, resolving issues within the team's capability, and escalating well-defined defects or enhancement needs to the development team.
• Coordinate with the development team and Field Engineers to test, communicate, deploy, and verify approved hot fixes and urgent software updates across affected field systems.
• Develop and maintain sustaining-support workflows, troubleshooting procedures, release information, and Field Engineer training for Wrench, Catwalk, and associated controls applications.
• Serve as technical lead for root-cause analysis of equipment failures and incidents; define, communicate, and implement corrective actions in a timely manner.
• Plan and coordinate Field Engineer coverage for installations, commissioning, field qualification, customer support, troubleshooting, and after-hours service needs.
• Recruit, technically assess, onboard, mentor, and develop Field Engineers and controls personnel through regular one-on-one meetings, career-path planning, technical training, and performance reviews.
• Promote an inclusive, accountable work environment; address performance concerns and team conflicts promptly and make employment decisions consistent with company policy.
• Oversee development and testing of marine BESS prototypes and manage type-approval activities with ABS, DNV, Lloyd's, or similar governing bodies, including design compliance, documentation, and approval coordination.
• Facilitate continual improvement of marine and drilling BESS applications using test data, field performance information, and customer and end-user feedback.
• Establish strong communication with customers and field users during and after qualification to drive data-informed improvements to controls and automation systems.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Project Engineering, Procurement, and Service teams to align technical solutions, schedules, and field execution.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

 
Qualifications & Requirements
Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science/Computer Programming, Automation, or a related discipline; equivalent relevant industry experience may be considered.
• Five (5) or more years of PLC programming and HMI development experience.
• Five (5) or more years of generator-controls and power-distribution-system experience.
• Demonstrated experience supervising and developing engineering or field-service personnel.
• Experience with standard industrial communication protocols, including Profibus, Profinet, Modbus, and CANBUS.
• Ability to develop and review control-system architecture, technical drawings, system documentation, and operating manuals.
• Strong project and program management skills, including the ability to manage multiple complex priorities and meet challenging deadlines.
• Strong written, verbal, customer-facing, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project.

 
Preferred Qualifications

• Seven (7) or more years of PLC programming related to drilling or marine controls and automation.
• Five (5) or more years of Siemens PLC development experience, including Step 7 and TIA Portal.
• Working knowledge of VFD/SCR drives and related equipment used in the drilling and marine industry, preferably Yaskawa, GE/Converteam, and Siemens systems.
• Experience managing marine BESS type approval with ABS, DNV, Lloyd's, or a similar governing body.
• Experience with production software support, issue triage, development-team escalation, and controlled deployment of hot fixes or urgent software releases.
• Experience leading a field engineering or technical service organization.

 
Physical & Working Conditions

• Work performed in office, controls laboratory, shop, yard, and customer field environments, including drilling rig, marine, or other industrial sites.
• Ability to safely walk, climb, stand, step, bend, stoop, kneel, twist, and occasionally crawl in variable day/night and hot/cold weather conditions.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds independently while walking on uneven surfaces.
• Ability to work safely around moving equipment, overhead machinery, electrical systems, noise, fumes, and airborne particles while maintaining spatial awareness and wearing required PPE.
• Ability to travel regularly, including extended travel to remote locations and overnight stays.
• Availability for extended hours, weekends, and on-call support as business needs require.

 
Reporting Structure
This position reports directly to the Vice President – Automation and Service. All Field Engineers report directly to the Manager, Controls and Automation. The manager also oversees assigned controls and automation resources and coordinates third-party technical support.
 
About INSPYR Solutions
Technology is our focus and quality is our commitment. As a national expert in delivering flexible technology and talent solutions, we strategically align industry and technical expertise with our clients' business objectives and cultural needs. Our solutions are tailored to each client and include a wide variety of professional services, project, and talent solutions. By always striving for excellence and focusing on the human aspect of our business, we work seamlessly with our talent and clients to match the right solutions to the right opportunities. Learn more about us at inspyrsolutions.com.
 
INSPYR Solutions 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, INSPYR Solutions complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.
 

INSPYR Solutions provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected status. INSPYR Solutions complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process should contact HR@inspyrsolutions.com for assistance.

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