Manager, Controls and Automation

Description

Aspen is a technology leader in sustainability and electrification solutions.
What we do- Aspen’s aerogel technology enables customers and partners to achieve resource efficiency, e‑mobility and clean energy goals. Aspen’s Pyro Thin® products address thermal runaway in the electric vehicle market. Cryogel® and Pyrogel® are valued by leading energy infrastructure companies.
What we value- Our core values—We Do the Right Thing, Problem Solvers, Allies, Drive Forward—guide decisions and inspire meaningful impact across teams and communities.

The Manager, Controls and Automation leads a team that implements, maintains and improves control systems for efficient plant operation. This role navigates the strategic roadmap, executes on initiatives, and develops standards and system specifications in collaboration with Manufacturing, Maintenance, Engineering and IT. Based at the Rhode Island facility.

• Develop and lead a team of Automation and Control Engineers, providing inspiration, direction, guidance, support and mentorship.
• Accountable for the success of team members, including goal setting, performance evaluations, feedback, training and professional development.
• Accountable for successful execution of automation projects from concept design to implementation and validation.
• Ensure compliance with safety and quality standards in all C&A activities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize control systems and enhance manufacturing processes.
• Manage resource allocation to support strategic momentum.
• Monitor and analyze key performance metrics related to automation and control systems, making data‑driven decisions to improve overall plant performance.
• Champion long‑term platform improvement efforts, including Field Device Management, Alarm management, enhanced control loop monitoring, and high‑performance graphics per industry standards.
• Evaluate, select and implement new control systems, equipment and technologies that align with the plant’s long‑term vision.
• Exhibit exceptional project management skills, managing multiple projects of varying complexity.
• Initiate and lead project design reviews to ensure P&IDs, instrumentation specs and other engineering documents meet C&A standards.
• Work with stakeholders and engineering teams to develop Functional Requirement Specifications, User Requirement Specifications and Control Narratives.
• Develop training materials and provide ongoing training for control system users.
• Participate in developing or implementing testing protocols for process optimization, enhancement and troubleshooting.
• Adopt and follow Aspen’s core values of Safety, Quality, Integrity, Teamwork, Customer and Innovation at all levels.
• Provide regular updates to plant leadership and stakeholders on C&A initiative progress, highlighting successes, challenges and potential solutions.

• Work closely with production, engineering and maintenance to identify and communicate daily issues, priorities and production changes.
• Identify automation opportunities that enhance manufacturing processes and efficiency.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define automation requirements, prioritize projects and allocate resources effectively.
• Participate in daily production meetings, weekly staff meetings and other scheduled meetings.
• Lead as an integral part of the team during plant outages from equipment shutdown through startup of the processes.
• Provide troubleshooting expertise to isolate problem causes and guide corrective actions (controls/graphics, field devices, electrical, IT platforms).
• Develop support and escalation procedures for multi‑level support in troubleshooting controls‑related issues for a 24/7 operation.

• Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws.
• Interview, hire, train and develop employees; plan, assign and direct work; set goals and appraise performance; reward and discipline employees; address complaints and resolve problems.

• Complete knowledge of and adherence to safety regulations and standards for control and…