Sr. Automation Program Manager: Manufacturing Robotics
Listed on 2026-08-31
-
Engineering
Automation & Mechatronics Engineer, Robotics, Manufacturing Engineer, Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma -
Manufacturing / Production
Automation & Mechatronics Engineer, Robotics, Manufacturing Engineer, Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma
Sr. Automation Program Manager:
Manufacturing Robotics
Full Time Asheville, NC, US
Senior Automation Program Manager | Manufacturing Robotics & Automation
Summary:Remote with Travel | Preferred Home Base:
Southern California, North Carolina, or Georgia
HBD Industries is launching a multi-site manufacturing automation initiative across our U.S. operations. We are seeking an experienced automation leader to identify, justify, and deploy robotic automation solutions that improve safety, quality, productivity, and throughput across our manufacturing facilities.
This is a highly visible role responsible for building the automation roadmap, evaluating opportunities, leading capital projects, and partnering with plant leadership to implement robotics and advanced manufacturing technologies.
Please Note: This role focuses on manufacturing robotics and factory automation deployment. It is not primarily a PLC programming, SCADA, or controls engineering position.
What You'll Do:- Identify and prioritize manufacturing automation opportunities across multiple plants
- Lead automation and robotics projects from concept through commissioning and production stabilization
- Develop business cases, ROI analyses, budgets, and project plans
- Manage system integrators, equipment suppliers, and external automation partners
- Lead the implementation of robotic work cells, machine tending, material handling, vision systems, palletizing, and other advanced manufacturing technologies
- Drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, and labor utilization
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- 5+ years of experience leading manufacturing robotics and automation projects in industrial production environments.
- Proven experience identifying, justifying, and deploying robotic automation solutions from concept through commissioning, start-up, and production stabilization.
- Experience developing capital project business cases, ROI analyses, equipment specifications, and automation roadmaps.
- Demonstrated success managing automation vendors, system integrators, contractors, and capital equipment suppliers.
- Strong project management, change management, and cross-functional leadership capabilities.
- Ability to influence plant leadership and operations teams to successfully adopt new technologies and automation solutions.
- Hands-on experience with industrial robotics platforms such as FANUC, ABB, KUKA, Yaskawa/Motoman, Universal Robots, or similar technologies.
- Experience implementing machine tending, material handling, automated inspection, or collaborative robot (cobot) applications.
- Strong understanding of robotic cell design, end-of-arm tooling (EOAT), machine integration, sensors, vision systems, and automated production equipment.
- Working knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, industrial networking, machine controls, and automation architectures sufficient to guide system integrators and equipment suppliers.
- Experience commissioning, troubleshooting, and optimizing manufacturing equipment in a production environment.
- Knowledge of machine safety principles, risk assessments, and industrial automation safety standards.
- Experience in machining, metal fabrication, forging, industrial manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, or other discrete manufacturing environments.
- Practical application of Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement (CI), Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Operational Excellence, Root Cause Analysis, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
- Experience using CI tools such as Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, 5S, Standard Work, OEE improvement, SMED, and waste reduction initiatives to drive productivity and operational performance.
- Experience deploying automation in facilities with limited prior automation infrastructure and limited manufacturing engineering resources.
- Experience leading multi-site automation implementations and technology adoption initiatives.
Join HBD and help build the next generation of manufacturing automation across our…
(If this job is in fact in your jurisdiction, then you may be using a Proxy or VPN to access this site, and to progress further, you should change your connectivity to another mobile device or PC).