2025 Engineering Leader Under 40: Brice Williams, 40

Brice Williams, 40
Department Manager
Matrix Technologies
Cincinnati, OH, United States

What Makes Brice an Engineering Leader

Brice is known for stepping up to any challenge, no matter its complexity. He began his career as a process engineer, excelling in the role and quickly expanding his expertise into PLC programming, HMI programming, controls design, and industrial network infrastructure design.

Transitioning from a plant role to an integrator role, Brice naturally grew into leadership. Today, he serves as operations leader for Matrix Technologies’ Cincinnati region, where his technical expertise and collaborative leadership style drive both client success and team growth.

Achievements, Advancements & Career-related Industry Contributions

Early in his career, while still working in an industrial plant, Brice led the migration of a 30-year-old control system with minimal downtime in a facility that ran 24/7. He also helped establish Rockwell’s PlantPAx as the companywide standard for process control—significantly advancing plant functionality. Alongside his automation work, he continued to support process engineering, safety, and quality programs, while serving on the plant’s management committee to help guide strategic decisions.

Since joining Matrix Technologies, Brice has supported multiple clients and built strong, ongoing relationships. He has played a key role in developing internal PlantPAx knowledge, conducting training sessions to grow expertise, and supporting a successful Rockwell audit of a full PlantPAx v5.1 distributed control system.

Two years into his tenure, Brice became the first department manager of the Cincinnati office. Under his leadership, the office has more than doubled in size and continues to grow, supporting both automation and traditional engineering client needs.

Non-work-related Activities & Hobbies

Brice has been an active member of a Jeep group for the past six years, guiding newcomers to off-roading and teaching best practices for safety. He finds it rewarding to watch beginners transition from nervousness to confidence over the course of a day on the trails.

He is also a pinball enthusiast, often seeking out local machines during his business travels to enjoy a game or two as a fun throwback pastime.

Interesting Details

Brice’s leadership is rooted in authenticity and care for his team. His colleagues know he is invested in their growth not only through his actions but also through his willingness to listen when they bring challenges forward.

Respected for his honesty and integrity, Brice accepts feedback with openness, processes it thoughtfully, and uses it as an opportunity to grow—all while remaining true to his core values.

Why Brice Chose This Career

Brice’s interest in engineering began at a young age with a love of math and science. After earning a degree in chemical engineering, he entered the workforce as a process engineer. Curiosity and necessity soon led him to explore control systems in the plant environment, where he quickly developed a passion for the field.

The opportunity to continually refine and improve systems for plant operations sparked his enthusiasm. Today, as a systems integrator, Brice thrives on helping diverse clients advance their plant automation, driving efficiency and innovation across industries.