Automation Manager

Responsibilities

• Lead the controls and automation function for the Sacramento manufacturing facility to maintain 24/7 uptime
• Participate in design reviews for industrial manufacturing equipment and automation architecture
• Lead international Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) and Site Acceptance Tests (SATs)
• Build, hire, and develop a team of 7–12 Controls Engineers and Technicians
• Define shift coverage models, escalation protocols, and response procedures
• Establish and maintain PLC architecture standards using Beckhoff TwinCAT
• Design connectivity between PLCs and MES systems for real-time data and traceability
• Own automation KPIs including system uptime, MTTR, and preventive maintenance compliance
• Establish safety standards including emergency shutdown procedures and safety interlocks

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of experience managing Controls Engineers in industrial manufacturing
• Hands-on technical experience with Beckhoff PLCs and TwinCAT v3
• Experience establishing connectivity between PLC/SCADA systems and MES platforms
• Experience with equipment design reviews and international Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs)
• Proficiency with SCADA systems, HMI design, and industrial data acquisition
• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, or related discipline
• Willingness to travel internationally up to 25%

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in battery or semiconductor manufacturing
• Familiarity with Ignition by Inductive Automation
• Experience scaling from pilot to commercial-scale manufacturing
• Familiarity with energy storage system architecture

About the Company

Peak Energy Technologies is advancing globally proven Sodium-Ion battery systems as the storage standard for renewable energy. The team is composed of experts from companies like Tesla, Northvolt, and Apple, focused on setting new performance standards for grid resilience.