Principal Engineer, Automated Solutions

About Us

Are you ready to shape how cutting-edge technologies are positioned, understood, and adopted by real markets? At Venture One, we build ventures and commercialize breakthrough technologies emerging from advanced research. Our focus spans Aerospace and Space, Security and Defense, Sustainability, Environment and Energy, and Transportation, with technologies across Cryptography, Secure Systems, Directed Energy, Advanced Materials, Autonomous Systems, and more.

About Us

Are you ready to shape how cutting-edge technologies are positioned, understood, and adopted by real markets? At Venture One, we build ventures and commercialize breakthrough technologies emerging from advanced research. Our focus spans Aerospace and Space, Security and Defense, Sustainability, Environment and Energy, and Transportation, with technologies across Cryptography, Secure Systems, Directed Energy, Advanced Materials, Autonomous Systems, and more.

About

The Role

The Principal Engineer acts as the lead technical authority for a large-scale industrial automation program, taking on the end-to-end engineering leadership scope and seed the best suitable solution for factory Automation to build the dark factory. Working alongside a dedicated Technical Program Manager and lead the technical team members of the project. The role owns engineering design integrity and technical governance across multiple automation packages (machining, surface treatment, testing, assembly, storage, transport, and digital/MES), working with a network of specialist vendors and delivery partners.



Key Responsibilities

• Act as the senior technical authority for the program, owning engineering design decisions and technical risk across all automation packages
• Review and approve vendor engineering designs, technical specifications, and Factory/Site Acceptance Test (FAT/SAT) documentation
• Ensure engineering solutions meet performance, safety, quality, and regulatory requirements
• Provide technical governance across the program lifecycle, from design through procurement, manufacturing, installation, commissioning, and support
• Lead technical risk identification and mitigation planning, escalating design or delivery risks to program leadership
• Provide technical sign-off input at key engineering milestones (design freeze, FAT, SAT)
• Guide and mentor engineering and technical engineers across automation packages
• Support technical evaluation of vendors, technologies, and proposals
• Represent engineering in client and internal program reviews
• Work closely with the Technical Program Manager to align technical scope with program schedule and commercial commitments
• Lead the technical engineering team in day-to-day activities, providing direct technical direction and leadership
• Validate partner and vendor engineering solutions and contribute engineering ideas and improvements
• Own solution delivery to the highest quality standard, targeting near 100% operational availability and reliability
• Review technical designs and secure client approval on the Design Approval Package (DAP)

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Mechatronics Engineering, or related field (Master’s degree preferred)
• 12-15+ years of experience in industrial automation, manufacturing engineering, or systems integration, including senior technical leadership roles
• Proven track record leading engineering design and integration across multi-vendor automation programs
• Experience of dark factory design and implementation (fully unmanned / lights-out manufacturing concepts)
• Strong knowledge of automation systems, including robotics, CNC, MES/SCADA, and material handling
• Experience with FAT/SAT processes and engineering acceptance criteria

• Experience in defense, aerospace, or other regulated/high-security manufacturing environments
• Exposure to smart factory / Industry 4.0 architectures
• Experience on large-scale greenfield factory build programs