Automation Manager

About the role

The Automation Manager is responsible for building and leading the automation and controls infrastructure that keeps Peak Energy's sodium-ion battery manufacturing facility running at full capacity, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across a 4-shift operation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the controls and automation function for Peak Energy's Sacramento manufacturing facility, maintaining system uptime across a 24/7, 4-shift production schedule
• Participate in design reviews for the acquisition of industrial manufacturing equipment, providing critical input on automation architecture, PLC platform compatibility, and control system specifications
• Lead and participate in international Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) and Site Acceptance Tests (SATs) for newly acquired industrial manufacturing equipment, ensuring systems meet Peak Energy's requirements before shipment and installation
• Build, hire, and develop a team of Controls Engineers and Controls Technicians (7–12 team members) sized and structured to support continuous 4-shift, 24/7 operations
• Define and own shift coverage models, escalation protocols, and response procedures; create all documentation governing how the controls team responds to automation issues at any hour
• Create, maintain, and continuously improve all automation documentation: control system designs, change management procedures, operator manuals, and maintenance protocols
• Evaluate the existing architecture implemented at Peak’s Burlingame manufacturing facility and incorporate applicable elements where appropriate
• Collaborate with equipment engineers, process engineers, and manufacturing leadership to ensure automation systems align with production goals and support ramp objectives
• Own controls and automation KPIs: system uptime, mean time to repair (MTTR), alarm rationalization, and preventive maintenance compliance
• Evaluate and implement safety standards for control systems, including emergency shutdown procedures, safety interlocks, and compliance with applicable regulatory requirements
• Identify and drive continuous improvement opportunities in automation that reduce manual intervention, improve yield, and increase throughput

Requirements

Minimum 5 years of experience managing Controls Engineers in an industrial manufacturing environment, with a track record of building and developing high-performing teams

Hands-on technical experience with Beckhoff PLCs and TwinCAT v3; comfortable writing code and assessing the code of others

Demonstrated experience establishing connectivity between PLC/SCADA systems and MES platforms for production traceability and real-time data acquisition

Direct experience participating in equipment design reviews and Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs), including international travel to vendor facilities

Proficiency with SCADA systems, HMI design, and industrial data acquisition platforms

Proven ability to define and document operational procedures (escalation protocols, shift response standards, maintenance routines) that a 24/7 team can execute reliably

BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent hands-on experience

Strong organizational and communication skills; able to translate complex system knowledge into clear procedures and reports for both technical and non-technical stakeholders

Comfort with the scheduling, staffing, and coordination demands of continuous manufacturing operations

Willingness to travel internationally (up to 25%) for Factory Acceptance Tests and equipment commissioning