Controls Engineering Technician Supervisor

Overview

Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Controls Engineering Technician Supervisor? Then we're looking for you! Check out the job description and apply now! Put your skills to meaningful use, gain unique experience, and work with world-class team members with diverse backgrounds and expertise who share the same vision. Join the PECNA team today!

Responsibilities

Controls Engineering Technician Supervisor

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Meet the Recruiter: Eric Laffey

Summary: 

Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we’re building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you’ll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation.

Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation.

Job Summary: 

The Controls Engineering Technician Supervisor directly supervises and manages a shift-based team of Controls Engineering Technicians (CET I, II, and III) responsible for supporting the maintenance, troubleshooting, and reliable operation of controls and vision systems within Panasonic's battery manufacturing operations. Reporting to the Controls Engineering Manager, this role provides frontline leadership for assigned shift operations, overseeing real-time production support, fault diagnosis, equipment recovery, preventive maintenance activities, and escalation of complex automation issues involving PLC-based control systems, machine vision systems, robot vision systems, control networks, and related manufacturing technologies. Utilizing OEE data, loss trees, MMS data, team reports, and other operational metrics, the supervisor prioritizes work, allocates resources, monitors performance, and supports continuous improvement efforts to improve equipment reliability, manufacturing efficiency, and product quality. Through coaching, training, technician certification programs, development of standard work and troubleshooting documentation, and implementation of sustainable corrective actions, this role strengthens team capability while fostering a safe, collaborative, and high-performing work environment. Working closely with Production, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, and EHS teams, the Controls Engineering Technician Supervisor serves as a key floor leader, ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of manufacturing systems during the assigned shift.

Essential Duties:

Functional Leadership & Operations:

• Leads a team of CET Technicians (I / II / III) supporting controls and vision systems across all of Panasonic's battery production processes during the assigned shift
• Oversees support related to daily production activities and the escalation of line issues
• Directs the team in the initial isolation and recovery of issues (electrical / controls / mechanical), including identification, investigation, and troubleshooting of line problems
• Ensures equipment functionality is restored after work completion and that verification of normal operation (determination that equipment is "good to run" and testing prior to re-introduction) is properly performed
• Provides technical guidance and oversight to technicians performing troubleshooting activities involving PLCs (Mitsubishi, Omron, Keyence, etc.), vision systems, robot vision systems, equipment monitoring systems, and industrial control networks including DeviceNet, MechatroLink, EtherCAT, and CC-Link
• Manages the team to safely and reliably perform servo drive/motor fault diagnosis, tuning, and replacement, as well as troubleshooting of electrical systems up to 480VAC and electromechanical control systems
• Serves as the primary escalation point during the assigned shift for complex controls and automation issues impacting production, quality, reliability, or safety, and escalates appropriately to the Controls Engineering Manager as needed
• Ensures the team applies electrical drawings, specifications, manuals, and schematics as troubleshooting tools
• Manages shift staffing, resource allocation, and workload to support operational and safety objectives

Strategic Alignment & Continuous Improvement:

• Leads and supports the development of new processes and methods to reduce downtime and defects
• Plans and executes daily / weekly / monthly action items together with the team
• Conducts Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and collaborates with the engineering team to derive and implement countermeasures
• Manages loss trees (OEE breakdown) and improvement backlogs, and quantitatively monitors improvement results
• Identifies and supports process improvement opportunities, contributing to equipment reliability, product quality, throughput, and cost optimization
• Supports the implementation and adherence to established controls engineering standards, troubleshooting procedures, and best practices within the technician team
• Collaborates with engineering and cross-functional teams to identify recurring issues and support implementation of permanent corrective actions

Team Development & Knowledge Sharing:

• Plans and provides training to Tech I and Tech II to continuously enhance the team's technical skills
• Supports the development, administration, and continuous improvement of technician training and certification programs (QET, CCST, YRC1000, etc.)
• Guides the development of clear, standard work instructions, SOPs, and troubleshooting guides
• Identifies technical competency gaps and implements training and development to strengthen team capability
• Promotes a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning
• Leads by example with a strong work ethic and a "get the job done" approach, executing a high-performance culture and servant leadership
• Ensures complete and accurate records are maintained for all work performed on equipment and machinery

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Communicates quickly and accurately with related divisions and team members (e.g., Production, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality Control, EHS) and collaborates effectively
• Partners with operators and maintenance technicians to support equipment recovery efforts and provide technical guidance on troubleshooting and repair methods
• Manages a system to accurately and usefully hand over incomplete tasks to the next shift
• Collaborates with equipment suppliers, automation integrators, and external technical partners to support operational improvements
• Reports and communicates production status, technical risks, issues, and countermeasures to the Controls Engineering Manager and relevant stakeholders

Quality, Safety, Compliance, & Risk Management:

• Ensures technician work activities follow established processes for controls modifications, system validation, documentation control, and configuration management
• Leads the identification, assessment, and mitigation of risks associated with automation systems, equipment performance, safety, electrical safety (arc flash / LOTO, etc.), and regulatory compliance
• Enforces processes for controls modifications, system validation, documentation control, and configuration management
• Promotes compliance with NFPA 70E, NFPA 79, UL standards, OSHA, and other applicable regulatory requirements
• Leads and supports root cause investigations, corrective actions, and preventive actions related to automation, equipment, and manufacturing performance issues

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Directly supervises Controls Engineering Technician I / II / III on the assigned shift
• Responsible for hiring, onboarding, performance management, coaching, employee development, succession planning, and disciplinary actions in accordance with company policies
• Establishes team goals, performance expectations, and development plans to build a high-performing technician team
• Manages cross-shift workload, resource allocation, staffing plans, and shift handovers to support day and night shift members

Travel Requirement:

• Up to 10% travel as required for equipment acceptance testing, vendor visits, training, benchmarking activities, and support of business initiatives

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements:

• To ensure the health and safety in the workplace and for the protection of our employees, wearing PPE is a possibility and may include equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, bump cap, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator.

The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.

Qualifications

Requirements - Required and/or Preferred

Education, Certifications, and Licenses:

Required:

• Associate's Degree in a technical, engineering, manufacturing, automation, mechatronics, industrial technology, or related field
• Relevant experience may be substituted for required education

Preferred:

• Bachelor's Degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related technical discipline
• Certified Automation Professional (CAP)
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent continuous improvement certification
• Control Systems Technician (CCST) certification
• NFPA 70E Electrical Safety certification or training
• Industrial automation, PLC, robotics, or machine vision certifications (Mitsubishi, Omron, Keyence, Cognex, Yaskawa, etc.)

Essential Qualifications:

• 3+ years of progressive leadership experience leading technicians, maintenance personnel, manufacturing teams, or other technical personnel in a manufacturing or industrial environment
• Experience assigning, prioritizing, and coordinating work in a shift-based manufacturing environment
• Hands-on experience in a high-volume manufacturing environment
• Experience troubleshooting electrical systems up to 480VAC and electromechanical control systems
• Advanced understanding of PLC software such as Mitsubishi, Omron, Keyence, and Sysmac, with proficiency in PLC fundamentals and the ability to follow logic for troubleshooting
• Advanced understanding and troubleshooting ability for vision systems
• Knowledge of servo drive/motor fault diagnosis, tuning, and replacement
• Ability to interpret mechanical and electrical drawings, wiring diagrams, manuals, and SOPs and apply them to troubleshooting activities
• Training and experience in Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
• Ability to utilize loss trees (OEE breakdown), improvement backlogs, and operational metrics to manage performance and drive improvements
• Strong documentation, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities while delivering quality results in a fast-paced environment
• Working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking
• Alignment to Panasonic's seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude)

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience leading technical, maintenance, automation, or manufacturing teams within an industrial environment
• Experience supervising controls, automation, maintenance, electrical, mechatronics, or engineering technician teams
• Experience in a high-volume manufacturing environment (1M+ units per day) such as battery, electronics, automotive, or related manufacturing operations
• Experience with industrial automation software and tools such as GC-Configurator, IAI Software, MPE720, MR Configurator 2, SigmaWin 7, or similar platforms
• Experience utilizing Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), industrial databases, or data analysis tools to support manufacturing operations
• Knowledge of wire and cable sizing, termination, and electrical load requirements
• Knowledge of industrial machinery design and applicable NFPA, UL, OSHA, and related safety standards
• Familiarity with Six Sigma methodologies and continuous improvement tools
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook) for reporting and analysis

Physical Demands:

Physical Activities: Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to:

• Sit: 20%
• Walk: 30%
• Stand: 40%
• Lift: 10%

Required Lifting and Carrying: Rare (<1%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%), Continuous (67-100%)

For this position, the required frequency is:

• Up to 10 lbs.: Frequent
• Up to 20 lbs.: Occasional
• Up to 35 lbs.: Rare
• Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Rare

Benefits & Perks - What's In It For You:

Panasonic Energy prioritizes total well-being and offers comprehensive benefits options to support physical, emotional, financial, social, and environmental health:

• Health Benefits – Offering medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
• Voluntary Benefits – Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
• Panasonic Retirement Savings & Investment Plan (PRSIP) – 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.
• Paid Time-Off Benefits – Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.
• Educational Assistance – Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.
• Health Management and Wellbeing Programs –Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources. Available to eligible employees starting the first day of the month following your start date. Eligibility for each benefit may vary based on employment status, location, and length of service.
• Employee Recognition Program - High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
• Annual Bonus Program - Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.
• On-site Food Options: Several on-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events.

Where You'll Be:

For our onsite roles, Panasonic Energy is committed to fostering an ideal working environment that goes beyond the conventional. We understand the significance of moments that matter in your onsite experience, and we prioritize creating a workspace that not only promotes productivity but also ensures a fulfilling and positive work atmosphere. Join us at Panasonic Energy, where your onsite presence is valued, and we strive to make each moment count in your professional journey.

Who We Are:

Meet Panasonic Energy! At Panasonic Energy, you'll do work that matters as we are dedicated to transforming the world through the acceleration of sustainable energy. By producing safe, high-quality lithium-ion batteries, you become part of a team that plays a crucial role in creating technologies that move us.

Our journey began in 2017, and now, as the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory, we are expanding operations to De Soto, Kansas, providing you with the opportunity to experience career growth in more ways than one.

As an innovative thinker, you'll thrive here, as we continually push the boundaries of lithium-ion battery technology and production capabilities to enhance efficiency and performance in EVs.

Being part of Panasonic Energy means positively contributing to society, aligning with our commitment to building a better world through sustainable energy solutions.

We care about what you care about, fostering an environment where your contributions make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation. Join us and be part of a team that values your work, encourages innovation, and actively contributes to a positive societal impact.

In addition to an environment that is as innovative as our products, we offer competitive salaries and benefits.

We Take Opportunity Seriously:

At Panasonic Energy, we are committed to a workplace that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. Fairness and Honesty have been part of our core values for more than 100 years and we are proud of our diverse culture as an equal opportunity employer.

We understand that your career search may look different than others and embrace the professional, personal, educational, and volunteer opportunities through which people gain experience. If you are actively looking or starting to explore new opportunities, submit your application!

Supplemental Information:

Pre-employment drug testing is required.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Due to the high volume of responses, we will only be able to respond to candidates of interest. All candidates must have valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction.

Thank you for your interest in Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America.

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