The Industrial Controls Project Executive owns the people, performance, and P&L health of the Industrial Controls Group's project portfolio. You are the operational leader who ensures our design teams, UL508A panel fabrication shop, and field integration crews deliver world-class control systems — safely, on schedule, and at or above budgeted margin.
You will lead across the full project lifecycle: from proposal support and design release, through panel fabrication and factory acceptance testing (FAT), to site acceptance testing (SAT), commissioning, and warranty. You collaborate daily with end-users, engineers, designers, project managers, and panel fabricators, and you serve as the escalation point for client and commercial issues.
This role reports directly to the Director of Industrial Automation and Controls and is a key leadership seat within the Industrial Controls Group, with a scorecard that cascades from the enterprise COO operating pillars. This is an onsite role: 5 days a week at the Felix office in Phoenix, AZ.
What You'll Do
- Manage, supervise, and develop department personnel across design and manufacturing teams; build a productive, accountable work environment.
- Provide mentorship, structured coaching, and career-path development; maintain a documented succession plan for every key seat in the group.
- Hire departmental staff in partnership with the HR Talent Acquisition group; own time-to-fill and quality-of-hire for the group.
- Delegate responsibilities with clear ownership and follow up to successful completion.
- Ensure all projects are delivered on budget and on schedule; own monthly project reviews, earned-value tracking, and margin forecasting for the group's portfolio.
- Track and publish performance metrics for the design team and manufacturing team; drive labor utilization and panel shop throughput targets.
- Own resource planning: maintain a rolling 12-month staffing and shop-capacity plan aligned to backlog and pipeline.
- Enforce disciplined change management — all scope changes priced, approved, and documented before work is performed.
- Interface with internal and external clients to resolve issues; serve as the executive escalation point and own client-relationship health for the group.
- Support proposal development, estimating reviews, and go/no-go decisions with operational and capacity input.
- Partner with business development to convert delivery excellence into repeat work and negotiated backlog.
- Ensure all panel fabrication complies with UL508A standards and applicable codes (NFPA 70, NFPA 79); maintain command of electrical drawings, control schematics, and engineering specifications.
- Own FAT/SAT quality gates: zero panels ship without documented, passing factory acceptance testing.
- Model and enforce Felix safety guidelines; ensure corrective actions are assigned, tracked, and closed within 48 hours; drive documented weekly safety observations and toolbox talks.
- Maintain and advance the group's technology standards — PLC/HMI/SCADA platforms, panel design libraries, and documentation templates — to reduce engineering cycle time and rework.
- Drive continuous improvement in job processes, shop workflow, and cost; standardize what works and eliminate what doesn't.
Leadership & People
Operational Execution
Client & Commercial
Quality, Safety & Compliance
Technology & Continuous Improvement
Who You Are
- 4-year degree in engineering, project management, or construction management — or equivalent work experience.
- 5+ years of management experience in industrial electrical controls, automation, UL508A panel shop, or manufacturing environment.
- Working knowledge of electrical drawings, control schematics, engineering specifications, and the UL508A fabrication process.
- Demonstrated P&L or budget accountability with a track record of on-time, on-budget delivery.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Project, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint.
- Strong oral and written communication skills; proven ability to lead teams and work collaboratively to meet shared objectives.
- Initiative, attention to detail, positive attitude, and the ability to work autonomously.
- Legal right to work in the U.S. without sponsorship indefinitely; valid driver's license with a good driving record; pre-employment drug screen.
- Water/wastewater or municipal infrastructure controls experience (SCADA, instrumentation, pump station and treatment plant automation).
- Familiarity with Allen-Bradley and/or Modicon PLC and HMI platforms and industrial networking (Ethernet/IP, Modbus).
- Experience leading FAT/SAT programs, commissioning, and startup in an integrator or design-build environment.
- PMP or equivalent project leadership credential.
Required
Preferred
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field.
- Extensive experience managing complex construction projects.
- Experience within industrial controls, water, wastewater, or related infrastructure markets.
- Proven ability to lead multiple projects, manage client relationships, and mentor Project Managers and Engineers.
- Strong understanding of estimating, project planning, budgeting, scheduling, and execution.
- Experience leading pursuits, bid reviews, proposal preparation, and client presentations.
- Deep knowledge of construction industry standards, contracting practices, project delivery methods, and risk management.
- Exceptional communication, relationship-building, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Ability to interpret project specifications, drawings, and technical documents.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, AutoCAD, Adobe Acrobat, and/or Bluebeam.
- OSHA 30 certification.
- Ability to work in office environments and visit construction sites; valid driver's license and ability to travel to project sites.
What We Do
Felix Construction Company is a full-service general engineering contractor and construction management company specializing in critical water and wastewater infrastructure across Arizona and Texas. Founded in 1987, the employee-owned firm provides integrated civil and electrical services, including the design and fabrication of custom control panels. Their expertise spans water production facilities, treatment plants, and pump stations for various public and private clients.
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