Rockwell Automation is a global technology leader focused on helping the world’s manufacturers be more productive, sustainable, and agile. With more than 28,000 employees who make the world better every day, we know we have something special. Behind our customers - amazing companies that help feed the world, provide life-saving medicine on a global scale, and focus on clean water and green mobility - our people are energized problem solvers that take pride in how the work we do changes the world for the better.
We welcome all makers, forward thinkers, and problem solvers who are looking for a place to do their best work. And if that’s you we would love to have you join us!
Job Description
Engineering Manager, Hardware & Firmware
Are you an engineer ready to step into your first leadership role — or an experienced manager who succeeds at the intersection of technology and people? This is your opportunity to lead a team delivering next-generation industrial automation solutions at the heart of Rockwell Automation's Allen Bradley PLC product line.
As Engineering Team Lead / Manager (Hardware & Firmware), you will lead a team of electrical hardware and embedded software engineers in New Product Development and Sustenance Engineering. You will balance hands-on technical influence with people leadership — shaping a motivated engineering team. You will demand a collaborative mindset, with engagement across Engineering, Product Management, Business, Project Management, and Quality.
Who We Are Looking For
Experienced leaders with a track record in hardware or firmware engineering who bring, great collaboration influence, and the ability to shape technical direction at scale. You refuse to stop at "good enough" because you preoccupy yourself with the promise of possibilities yet to explore.
In both cases, you bring:
- A leadership mindset: motivated by contributing to success through your team, not just through individual effort.
- Curiosity in action — asking questions and exploring new ideas that challenge the status quo.
- A continuous improvement orientation — looking for smarter, faster, more engaging ways to work and seeing improvements as the path to world-class performance.
- Awareness of new technologies and industry trends, with the desire to take ownership of personal learning and build new skills to stay ahead.
Main Responsibilities
Team Leadership & People Development
- Lead and coach a team of Hardware and Firmware engineers across New Product Development (NPD) and Sustenance Engineering.
- Create an environment where people feel respected to make a meaningful contribution — unlocking collaboration, innovation, and stronger engineering outcomes.
- You will Promote team, capability building, and career growth — supporting engineers through mentorship, development opportunities, and career pathing tools.
- Monitor team performance and lead continuous improvement efforts in design capabilities and processes.
Technical Strategy & Engineering Excellence
- You will build and sustain technical competencies; ensure compliance with engineering processes for all design activities.
- Champion competitive benchmarking — evaluate how company products compare to competitors in function, features, performance, cost, and inter-connectivity.
- You will promote and embed Agile/SAFe principles and practices, looking for smarter, faster, more engaging ways to develop and deliver.
Collaboration & Business Agreement
- Partner with the reporting manager to collaborate with Business and Product Management on technology roadmaps, future resource capacity planning, and capability development needs.
- You will Identify new technologies required to sustain and advance product market.
- Ensure team priorities are aligned with broader organisational and goals — moving quickly, acting decisively, and remain focused on what matters most.
- You will manage project budgets and engineering spend according to organizational context.
The Essentials - You Will Have:
- Minimum 10 years of relevant design experience in New Product Development and/or Sustenance Engineering.
- Minimum 3 years of managerial experience leading hardware or firmware design engineers.
- Certification and/or practical experience in Agile / SAFe principles and practices.
- Experience or familiarity with Rockwell Automation – Allen Bradley PLCs is a strong advantage.
- Bachelor's Degree in Electronics Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, or equivalent discipline.
You Might Also Have:
- You can present in big group settings and engage team members.
- Experience building, sustaining, and energizing teams; win the right way with integrity and by creating trust, connection, and belonging.
- Cultivate a "find solutions" culture — constructive, forward-looking.
- You will be Collaborator across diverse functional teams at all organizational levels — sharing excellence across teams to deliver that benefit customers, employees, and business alike.
What We Offer:
Our benefits package includes …
- Comprehensive mindfulness programmes with a premium membership to Calm
- Volunteer Paid Time off available after 6 months of employment for eligible employees
- Company volunteer and donation matching programme – We match your volunteer hours or personal cash donations to an eligible charity with a charitable donation.
- Employee Assistance Program
- Personalised wellbeing programmes through our OnTrack programme
- On-demand digital course library for professional development
... and other local benefits!
At Rockwell Automation, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right person for this or other roles.
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Rockwell Automation’s hybrid policy aligns that employees are expected to work at a Rockwell location at least Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays unless they have a business obligation out of the office.