Automation Manager

Automation Manager

The Automation Manager serves as a first‑line technical leader responsible for overseeing automation engineering activities and ensuring reliable, efficient, and compliant operation of control systems across a manufacturing site. This role combines hands‑on engineering execution with people leadership, managing automation resources, developing team capabilities, and leading high‑impact automation projects, system upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives in a highly automated, regulated environment.

• Directly supervise and mentor a team of automation engineers, technicians, and controls specialists, providing guidance, coaching, and support for their professional development.
• Set clear performance goals for team members, conduct regular performance reviews, and support individual development and training plans.
• Allocate team resources across capital projects, maintenance support, and continuous improvement initiatives to meet operational and strategic objectives.
• Establish, enforce, and continuously improve automation standards, engineering procedures, and best practices for control systems across the site.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, and innovation within the automation team and across cross‑functional partners.
• Act as project lead or subject matter expert on select automation projects, system upgrades, and complex integrations, ensuring successful delivery from concept through commissioning.
• Provide hands‑on design, programming, configuration, and commissioning support for PLC, HMI, SCADA, and DCS systems.
• Ensure automation systems meet operational performance, reliability, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, operations, IT, maintenance, and quality teams to deliver integrated automation and control system solutions.
• Review and approve automation design packages, control narratives, and change control documentation to ensure technical accuracy and compliance.
• Lead the automation roadmap for the site, including system modernization, digital transformation, and process optimization initiatives.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities for automation or advanced control to improve efficiency, reduce risk, and enhance product quality.
• Oversee vendor and system integrator relationships, including defining scope, guiding project execution, and managing performance.
• Ensure alignment of automation systems and projects with corporate IT/OT cybersecurity standards and practices.
• Track, analyze, and report automation‑related KPIs and reliability metrics to drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure all automation work adheres to GMP, OSHA, and other relevant regulatory standards applicable to regulated manufacturing environments.
• Oversee and approve documentation such as functional design specifications, test protocols, and validation records.
• Maintain system lifecycle documentation and ensure that changes are properly controlled, documented, and recorded in accordance with change control procedures.
• Manage and support Distributed Control Systems (DCS), primarily Siemens PCS 7, while leveraging experience with other DCS platforms as applicable.
• Provide hands‑on project engineering support, including programming, configuration, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis for automation and control systems.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for contractors and external partners, answering technical questions, reviewing work, and ensuring project execution aligns with site standards and specifications.
• Deliver ongoing onsite production support for automation systems in a 24/7 manufacturing environment, helping to maintain uptime and product quality.
• Balance approximately 80% technical engineering responsibilities with leadership and management duties, transitioning over time to managing a team of 3–8 direct reports.
• Support safe work practices in areas with exposure to chemicals, moving parts, vibration, and noise, and comply with all site safety procedures.

• Strong expertise in control system design and architecture for PLC, HMI, SCADA, and DCS platforms.
• Proficiency in PLC and HMI programming,…