Project Manager - Automation

Take Charge of Your Career at Interstates

At Interstates, we don't just show up to work, we show up for each other. From our headquarters in Iowa to job sites across the country, we're doing award-winning electrical, controls, automation, and OT work that powers industrial facilities for clients here in the U.S. and around the world. Whether you're bending conduit, wiring panels, writing code, supporting projects, or helping things run behind the scenes, you'll be part of a crew that works hard, shares laughs, and takes pride in doing quality work. We believe in building strong teams, doing the right thing, and making a difference in the communities where we live. If you want to grow and do meaningful work, you'll feel at home here.

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager - Automation to lead and coordinate client-facing project delivery activities supporting automation and controls projects in the Omaha, NE, Sioux Falls, SD, Sioux City, IA and Sioux Center, IA area. This role also offers the flexibility of remote work. This role will help drive successful project delivery by keeping scope, schedule, budget, and customer expectations aligned from kickoff through startup and commissioning.

At Interstates, our success starts with yours.
Interstates Describes Its Culture as Family-Like

• Caring co-workers treat each other like family
• Be treated like an individual, not just a number
• Flexible schedules allow you to focus on your personal life as well as work life
• Lunch gatherings and social activities promote fun and camaraderie
• Support charities and your community through events sponsored and hosted by Interstates

Our Why:

• Providing opportunities for our people
• Making a difference with our clients
• Pursuing a better way

Sound too good to be true? Put in your application today, and allow Interstates to prove to you why we are an Industry Leader in more ways than one.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Review and fully understand the project's agreement/contract, specifications, clarification and exceptions, scope of work, budgets, and allowances prior to commencement
• Coordinate the planning and execution of automation projects, including controls engineering, panel fabrication, installation, startup, commissioning, and closeout
• Analyze and investigate new techniques for automation design, PLC/HMI development, control panel fabrication, and field installation work, along with opportunities for value engineering and more efficient project delivery methods
• Work with engineering, operations, and field teams to develop project execution plans, milestone schedules, and resource plans for automation project delivery
• Develop and update the overall project schedule, including engineering, panel build, software development, startup, commissioning, and subcontractor milestones
• Direct the coordination of project delivery activities with the project/site leader, engineering, startup, commissioning, and subcontractor work crews as required
• Responsible for discussion and resolution with project/site leader, operating manager, and estimator of potential problems, changes in the work, extra work, productivity, health and safety issues, impacts and/or revision to the project schedule as needed
• Coordinate and process change orders with clients/general contractors, suppliers, project/site leaders, engineering, startup, commissioning, and/or subcontractors
• Support startup and commissioning planning, including functional testing, loop checks, I/O verification, and turnover to operations
• Track RFIs, submittals, transmittals, and technical correspondence related to automation scope
• Identify risks related to equipment lead times, software development, integration challenges, and commissioning readiness, and help develop mitigation plans
• Support punch list management, project closeout documentation, and lessons learned for future automation projects
• Collaborate with field leadership to resolve installation, integration, and commissioning issues in a timely manner

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field
• Minimum 5 years of experience in project management, with at least 3 years leading projects
• Strong knowledge of project contracts, budgeting, scheduling, and cost control
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and coordinate multiple stakeholders
• Experience supporting automation, controls, or industrial technology projects preferred
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
• Commitment to safety and quality standards
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Able to track and organize projects and prioritize work
• Open to continuously adjusting project systems to plan and deliver projects successfully
• Strong team building, interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Comfortable speaking in front of clients, peers, and managers
• Familiarity with automation project workflows, including engineering, procurement, panel fabrication, installation, startup, and commissioning

Education: Bachelor's or associate's degree in Construction Management, engineering, automation, or a related technology field.

Travel: Able to travel to customer/project sites up to 25% of the time, with Omaha, NE, Sioux Falls, SD, Sioux City, IA or Sioux Center, IA as your home base. Preference to one of the locations listed, but open to remote for this role to help support business needs.

What You Should Know Before You Apply

Interstates may collect personal information as part of your job application, such as your contact details, work history, education, and any information you provide. This information is used only for recruitment, to evaluate your candidacy, and to meet legal requirements. For details about our privacy practices and your rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), please see our Privacy Policy. By applying, you acknowledge that you have reviewed this notice.

Interstates is an EEO provider and offers a drug-free workplace. Employment at Interstates is at-will and may be terminated at any time with or without notice or cause, except as otherwise provided by law.