Senior Manager, Automation Projects Engineering

About Us

Founded in 2015 to develop the world’s first industrially scalable laser metal additive manufacturing solution, Vulcan Forms is reshaping how the world manufactures critical products. We build and operate advanced digital infrastructure that enables innovation, accelerates growth, and supports sustainability across aerospace, defense, medical, and other essential industries. Through our vertically integrated capabilities, including scalable additive manufacturing and precision machining, we deliver true end-to-end production at scale by combining cutting‑edge technology with a foundation of proven industrial craftsmanship.

Our team brings deep expertise in manufacturing, materials science, software, automation, and operations, united by a shared commitment to quality, curiosity, and accountability. We foster an inclusive culture where people take ownership, solve meaningful problems, and continuously learn, because we believe diverse perspectives lead to better outcomes.

As the Senior Manager of Automation Projects Engineering, you will be the driving force behind the execution of advanced automation programs that scale Vulcan Forms' production capabilities. This role is built for a strategic leader who looks at the bigger picture—someone who defines how our technology, processes, and people intersect to deliver 24/7 “lights‑out” manufacturing solutions. Rather than focusing on the delivery of an individual machine or a single technical problem, your scope is organizational.

You will own the technology roadmap, program‑level KPI planning, and Cap Ex budgets, while cultivating a culture of engineering excellence across your team. Success in this position means successfully guiding engineers through complex technical challenges, fostering their career growth, and acting as a key partner to company executives and cross‑functional teams to turn ambitious automation concepts into seamless factory realities.

• Talent Evaluation & Team Management:
  Drive career development, growing core engineering skills, and managing performance loops for your team.
• Strategic Technical Delivery:
  Maintain clear visibility and status of all automation projects within your scope, effectively communicating health and metrics up to executive leadership and down through your report structure. Ensure all programs meet rigorous high‑level KPIs.
• Technical Development
  
  Roadmap:
  
  Lead the continuous improvement of our automation infrastructure by driving the technology roadmap and executing program‑level KPI planning.
• Organizational & Technical Process improvements:
  Establish systems to ensure all in‑house standards and processes are continually improving through feedback on completed projects and forward‑looking architectural changes.
• Executive & Cross‑Functional Partnership:
  Act as a primary automation authority interfacing with Company Executives, Program Management, and Customer Management teams, as well as management‑level internal teams.
• Technical Discussion Support:
  Serve as the ultimate escalation point and champion for your project engineers during complex technical discussions, ensuring systems remain robust, repeatable, and safe.

• 10+ years of hands‑on experience in manufacturing engineering, factory automation project management, or industrial systems development within a high‑stakes, high‑precision production environment.
• 3+ years of formal people management experience with direct responsibility for performance management, resource allocation, and team career development within a matrixed engineering organization.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Robotics Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Proven track record of successfully managing multi‑million dollar capital equipment lines and navigating cross‑functional complexities to deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Strong foundational expertise in the lifecycle deployment of industrial robotics, PLC‑based control systems, automated material handling, and custom automation machinery to effectively support team engineering reviews.

• Direct experience leading…