Distributed Control System Group Leader
Founded in 1920, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. The company’s innovation-driven growth model takes advantage of world-class technology platforms, deep customer engagement, and differentiated application development to grow its leading positions in attractive end markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. As a globally inclusive and diverse company, Eastman employs approximately 14,000 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company had 2023 revenue of approximately $9.2 billion and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA. For more information, visit www.eastman.com.
Responsibilities
As the DCS Group Leader, you’ll manage the industrial control systems engineering and support group, overseeing the design, implementation, improvement and maintenance of control systems within the plant. You will lead a team of control system engineers and technicians and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure the efficient and reliable operation of the site's manufacturing processes. Additionally, you'll partner with the Corporate Automation Council’s (CAC) leadership team to set corporate policy and procedures regarding industrial control system application and for the coordination of CAC-funded capital projects as part of ICS obsolescence management for the site.
Responsibilities
- Lead and manage a team of control system engineers and technicians, providing guidance, mentoring and performance feedback.
- Establish goals, training and development opportunities for direct reports. Coach for outcomes and recognize/reinforce high performance. Lead the team’s annual performance management process.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and prioritize control system needs and enhancements.
- Serve as a member of the department’s leadership team. Report on group and department KPIs, assist in the development and application of department policies and procedures and cascade leadership communications.
- Perform duties in a manner that emphasizes personal and process safety. Promptly report Safety, Health or Environmental incidents or issues to management.
- Create and maintain annual on-call schedule for the group. Participate in the division on-call rotation.
- Maintain time keeping and approvals for non-exempt employees.
- Perform monthly housekeeping record keeping.
- Develop and implement control system standards and architectures to optimize manufacturing processes, improve efficiency and ensure compliance with site and regulatory requirements.
- Oversee the design, development, implementation and support of control system projects, including hardware and software integration, DCS/PLC programming, HMI development and SCADA systems.
- Perform lifecycle planning and obsolescence management, working with site managers and capital coordinator to develop mitigation strategies and capital project plans that ensure the safety and reliability of control systems
- Review daily production reports for potential control system related issues being reported for proactive engagement
- Monitor control system performance to identify opportunities for improvement and implement corrective actions
- Stay up to date with industry trends and advancements in control system technologies and evaluate their potential application within the manufacturing facility
- Partner with vendors and suppliers to evaluate and select control system equipment and software
- Ensure control system compliance with relevant internal and regulatory standards
- Oversee the facilitation of the Computer Specialists Users Group to enable best practice sharing and initiative coordination
- Lead the Operator Cockpit subteam of the Manufacturing Excellence Committee
- Either in person or by delegate, serve on the CAC leadership team where corporate industrial control system policy, procedures and practices are developed, maintained and communicated
- Participate in CAC initiative subteams
- Work with CAC Obsolescence and Reliability Manager to make annual capital funding requests to support the lifecycle and obsolescence management process
- Work with CAC Security Manager to ensure compliance with CAC cyber security policies and practices. Monitor the ICS Security PowerBI dashboard and take appropriate remedial actions as necessary.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical discipline required
- 5+ years’ relevant professional experience required
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
Preferred
- Prior direct supervisory experience
- Proven experience in control system engineering, design, implementation and support in a manufacturing environment
Eastman Chemical Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, pregnancy, veteran status or any other protected classes as designated by law.
Eastman is committed to creating a powerfully diverse workforce and a broadly inclusive workplace, where everyone can contribute to their fullest potential each day.
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