Manager, Controls Engineering
Trex · Little Rock, AR
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Controls
- Base pay
- $115k–$150k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 12 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management controls role at Trex (industrial) in Little Rock, AR. 1 Decking Brand, you’ll probably want to enjoy the finished product yourself.
- They ask for
- 5+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- PLC, AutoCAD
- Base pay
- $115k–$150k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in Arkansas: typical posted base $82k–$120k. This one lists $115k–$150k.
Median of the low and high ends of 5 live postings that list pay, out of 11 controls engineer openings in Arkansas, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Arkansas plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 10 other live controls postings in Arkansas.
- Experience asked
- Typical (5+ years)
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ PLC 91%
- Robotics 55%
- Automation 55%
- ✓ AutoCAD 36%
- ✓ Team leadership 27%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for New product launch, 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 Trex
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?
- 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: Trex in Little Rock
3 other open roles at this site.
- Senior Industrial Maintenance Technician · Reliability · Technician
- Process Engineer II · Process
- Quality Technician 1 · Quality · Technician
Full description from TrexAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Put safety first – Always!
- ◆Lead and foster our “people first” culture.
- ◆Lead and manage the controls engineering department, including team development and performance management.
- ◆Set departmental goals and strategic objectives, aligning them with the organization's mission.
- ◆Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate control systems into the organization's processes.
- ◆Provide technical leadership and guidance on complex control system projects.
- ◆Oversee the design and development of control systems, ensuring quality, efficiency, and innovation.
- ◆Establish and maintain technical standards, guidelines, and best practices within the controls engineering department.
- ◆Drive continuous improvement in control systems, processes, and technology adoption.
- ◆Manage the department's budget, resources, and project timelines.
- ◆Act as a liaison between the controls engineering team and senior management to report on departmental performance and initiatives.
Experience
We are looking for leaders with Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer related field and 5+ years controls design and programming in a manufacturing environment.
- ✓Required Skills & Experience
- ✓Expertise in PLC Programming, SCADA systems, control network design, and advanced control strategies
- ✓Strong leadership and project management skills
- ✓Exceptional problem-solving and decision-making abilities
- ✓Excellent teamwork and communication skills
- ✓Extensive knowledge of MS Office applications and AutoCAD 2D.
At Trex, we believe in persevering even when there’s no road map, embracing groundbreaking as a way of life. We encourage multiple perspectives and welcome diverse people who problem-solve, adapt, and innovate – always with a firm foundation in safety and integrity.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
When you work at Trex, you’re helping to grow and enhance a true original. You join a company that boldly launched an entire industry… and still leads the way.
The Manager, Controls Engineering is a leadership role responsible for overseeing and directing the controls engineering department within our organization. This individual will play a pivotal role in ensuring the successful design, development, and maintenance of control systems for our industrial processes. The Controls Engineering Manager will lead a team of controls engineers and technicians, set departmental goals, and collaborate with other departments to drive the strategic vision of the organization.
Direct reports
- •Controls Engineers, Controls technicians, Contractors
Job location
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Position type
Full-Time/Regular
Salary
At Trex, individual base salaries are determined based on various factors, including relevant skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location. We are committed to maintaining pay equity and consider the internal equity of our existing team members when finalizing compensation offers. In addition to competitive pay, Trex offers a comprehensive benefits package, which is detailed below.
Benefits & perks
We believe that real effort should be rewarded. We take care of you as part of our Trex family so you can take care of yours. Here are some of the perks beyond the paycheck:
- •Time Off: We’ll give you paid holidays and paid vacation.
- •Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance : Choose from a variety of options. We’ll cover a generous share of the cost. Plus, you can earn lower rates through our wellness program.
- •401(k) With Company Match : Save for your retirement and we’ll match it dollar for dollar.
- •Tuition Reimbursement: We’re all about lifting each other to the next level. When you’re ready to get the degree, we’ll pick up part of the tab.
- •Training and Education : We offer dozens of options to boost your performance – both online and on-site nearby.
- •Stock Purchase Program : Invest in Trex at a discounted price.
- •Employee Discount Program: When you make the World’s No. 1 Decking Brand, you’ll probably want to enjoy the finished product yourself. We’ll give you a discount.
Who we are
Over 30 years ago, our founders created the world’s first high-performance, low-maintenance composite decking and outdoor living products. That entrepreneurial spirit still drives us today as we continue to redefine our industry and lead the way for what’s next in outdoor living. Today, Trex is the world’s #1 brand of sustainability-made, wood-alternative decking, and deck railing – all proudly manufactured in the USA. As a publicly traded company [NYSE: TREX], we take pride in being the largest recycler of plastic film in the country as well as caring for the communities and the planet where we live. We nurture meaningful connections, from local engagement and investment to eco-friendly products and sustainable manufacturing processes.
Everything we do is grounded in our values and guided by our beliefs. We are looking for candidates who embody our core values:
- •Do the Right Thing
- •Act with Boldness and Authenticity
- •Drive Sustainability
- •Innovate and Adapt
At Trex, you’ll become part of a diverse yet unified team that sustains the trailblazing spirit and strengths that made Trex the industry leader – learning, adapting, solving and succeeding.
We welcome new ideas and fresh perspectives, and we encourage you to bring your best to help us shape the future of Trex.
Career advancement
At Trex, you can take pride in craftsmanship. There’s an art and a science to what we do, and we never stop working to refine and improve. That means no matter how long you’ve bee
