Manager, Machine Safety

The Manager, Machine Safety plays a critical role at the intersection of sales and project management. This position collaborates closely with project managers and business development to lead technical scoping and proposal development for machine safety automation solutions. By developing automation and safety projects from concept to fruition, and guiding the engineering team in opportunity development, the role ensures a smooth transition from concept to execution while achieving branch sales, profitability, and customer satisfaction goals.

Values

At PPC Partners we believe in the Power to Serve along with the Pursuit of Excellence
. Our behaviors are guided by A Servant’s Heart – Focus on the Needs of Others, Wisdom – Insightful, Integrity – Honesty and Trustworthy, Courage – Decisive and Confident in Others, Humility – Modest and Respectful, Passion – Unfailing Dedication, Hunger – Driven to Succeed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Responsibility 1:
Sales & Customer Development

• Identify, qualify, and develop automation opportunities through customer engagement, networking, and proactive outreach.
• Lead customer discovery meetings and site visits to assess feasibility, collect requirements, and establish trust.
• Create conceptual machine safety automation solutions with the support of the machine safety team and branch.
• Develop and deliver compelling technical proposals, estimates, and presentations tailored to client needs, emphasizing on‑time delivery of quotes.
• Empower the Machine Safety Engineer team in developing and maintaining ongoing relationships with clients throughout the project lifecycle to ensure satisfaction and repeat business.

Responsibility 2:
Project Scoping & Estimating

• Translate customer needs into high‑level solutions including mechanical, electrical, and software scopes.
• Collaborate with engineering and project management teams to define scope, timelines, and budgets.
• Collaborate with Business Development and the Project Manager on the pricing strategy and proposal process, including margin analysis, quoting, and contract negotiation.
• Oversee risk assessment and alignment of solutions with internal capabilities and customer expectations.

Responsibility 3:
Technical Leadership & Support

• Guide and mentor engineers in scope development, estimating, and technical customer interactions.
• Ensure a seamless handoff to the execution team, participating in kickoff meetings and early‑phase technical oversight as needed.
• Monitor project outcomes and contribute to lessons‑learned processes for continuous improvement.

Responsibility 4:
Team & Process Development

• Support career development of Machine Safety Engineers through coaching, mentoring, and skill‑building.
• Contribute to the refinement of sales engineering processes and tools.
• Act as a key liaison between the sales, project management, engineering, and execution teams.

Safety/Hazard Recognition & Elimination

• Pre‑plan and identify methods to eliminate hazards daily by work task.
• Observe and address habits and hazards of others, bringing them to their attention.
• Uphold safety as the most important company goal and support the achievement of zero accidents.
• Promote and encourage open communication between field and office regarding safety concerns, suggestions, improvements, and PPE needed.

Training

• Obtain safety training as expected by all company personnel.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, industrial automation, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in automation, machine safety, technical sales, or project engineering.
• Strong technical knowledge in control systems, automation hardware/software, and industrial processes.
• Proven ability to scope complex technical projects and communicate clearly with customers and internal stakeholders.
• Previous experience mentoring or managing technical teams preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Familiarity with ERP systems and project estimation tools.
• Travel required to customer sites and conferences as needed.

This position requires a decisive leader able to lead a group independently and collaboratively, with a passion for hands‑on work and a strong drive…