Senior Director, Automation and Electrical Engineering
Heidelberg Materials · Irving, TX
- Level
- Director+
- Team
- Controls
- Travel
- 50%
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 10+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A director-level controls role at Heidelberg Materials (industrial) in Irving, TX.
- They ask for
- 10+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- PLC, Automation
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage · about 50% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in Texas: typical posted base $98k–$158k.
Median of the low and high ends of 14 live postings that list pay, out of 90 controls engineer openings in Texas, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Texas plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 89 other live controls postings in Texas.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (10+ vs 4+)
Typical $97k–$154k, from 13 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 4+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ PLC 79%
- ✓ Automation 78%
- Robotics 41%
- ✓ Python 27%
- EHS / safety 27%
- Root cause 26%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Power BI / Tableau, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at Heidelberg Materials
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- The posting says about 50% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Heidelberg Materials in Irving
1 other open role at this site.
- Electrical Maintenance Manager · Reliability · Manager
Full description from Heidelberg MaterialsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Line of Business: Service & Support
About Us
Heidelberg Materials is one of the world's largest suppliers of building materials. Heidelberg Materials North America operates over 450 locations across the U.S. and Canada with approximately 9,000 employees.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
What You'll Be Doing
- •Provide strategic leadership for North American automation, optimization systems, and electrical engineering initiatives across aggregates and asphalt operations
- •Drive Best Value Design (BVD) outcomes and identify optimization opportunities across sites
- •Partner closely with Area CCA, country leadership, HDigital, and project teams to plan and prioritize initiatives
- •Lead Support execution of automation and electrical engineering projects across multiple functions, including ESH, procurement, engineering, and construction
- •Deliver expert-level technical guidance on automation and optimization systems across North America
- •Strengthen collaboration and stakeholder alignment, including leadership of OT/IT integration efforts
- •Support coordinated CCA engineering and performance improvement activities across aggregates, asphalt, and limited ready-mix concrete operations
- •Ensure consistent engineering standards, scalability, and performance improvements across all supported operations
- •Deliver the Aggregates Remote Optimization Centre (AROC) solution across North America
What Are We Looking For
- •Bachelor’s Degree in Automation or Electrical Engineering with 10+ years of relevant industrial engineering experience, ideally within aggregates, mining, asphalt, or RMC
- •Strong project management expertise delivering automation, system implementation and electrical engineering initiatives across multiple locations and scales
- •Advanced technical knowledge in plant automation, PLC systems (Rockwell/Allen-Bradley), SCADA, process control, and electrical distribution systems
- •Working knowledge of IT/OT integration including network architecture, industrial protocols (MQTT, Modbus, OPC-UA), cybersecurity, and Windows server environments
- •Hands-on experience with automation tools and platforms (Ignition 8.1, Opto 22, RedLion, SQL databases, IIoT systems) and data tools (e.g., Python, Tableau, advanced spreadsheets)
- •Proven ability to build relationships globally, navigate multicultural environments, communicate effectively, and travel internationally as needed
Work Environment
- •Combination of office and industrial plant settings
- •Regular interaction with operations, maintenance, digital and engineering teams
- •Will require travel up to 50% to support multiple sites across the region
- •Dynamic environment focused on safety, performance, and collaboration
What We Offer
- •Competitive base salary
- •401(k) retirement savings plan with an automatic company contribution as well as matching contributions
- •Highly competitive benefits programs, including:
- •Medical, Dental, and Vision along with Prescription Drug Benefits
- •Health Saving Savings Account (HSA), Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- •AD&D, Short- and Long-Term Disability Coverage as well as Basic Life Insurance
- •Paid Bonding Leave, 15 days of Paid Vacation, 40 hours of Paid Sick Leave and 10 Paid Holidays