Spec Mfg Technology Automation

Job Title

Automation Manufacturing Technology Specialist

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As an Automation Manufacturing Technology Specialist, the person will provide technical leadership for packaging automation, end‑of‑line systems, and automated material handling across manufacturing sites. This role will focus on developing and deploying automation solutions, equipment improvements, and process standards that improve safety, quality, productivity, labor efficiency, changeover efficiency, flow, and equipment reliability. Beyond specific projects, this position will help build long‑term organizational capability by developing standards, applying lessons learned, supporting supplier development, and replicating best practices across sites.

• Provide technical leadership for packaging automation, end-of-line systems, and automated material handling across manufacturing sites, supporting both current project needs and long-term capability development.
• Provide technical leadership and direction for packaging automation initiatives, helping project teams evaluate technical options through data-driven analysis, engineering judgment, and calculated risk assessment.
• Define and review technical requirements, equipment specifications, process scope, layouts, throughput requirements, and acceptance criteria for new or upgraded packaging automation systems.
• Direct project teams technically across automation, controls, robotics, vision systems, safety, product handling, case handling, labeling, palletizing, and process integration.
• Lead or support the development of automation solutions such as case erectors, product feeding/loading, robotic pick-and-place, conveyors, case sealing, labeling, vision inspection, palletizing, and automated material movement.
• Define and support interfaces between packaging automation and end-of-line automation, for future including AGV/AMR integration, automated material movement, pallet flow, and warehouse connectivity.
• Partner with controls, logistics, warehouse, and operations teams to ensure packaging automation solutions are designed with future AGV/AMR integration and autonomous material handling in mind.
• Partner with plants to identify opportunities to improve safety, ergonomics, quality, labor productivity, waste, capacity, changeover time, flow, and equipment reliability.
• Work with suppliers to develop, challenge, and validate machine concepts, layouts, automation approaches, throughput assumptions, and technical proposals.
• Participate in and provide technical direction during design reviews, FAT, installation, commissioning, SAT, startup, and production ramp‑up.
• Develop and apply standards, best practices, lessons learned, and technical guidelines for packaging automation and end-of-line systems.
• Collaborate with controls, mechanical, EHS, quality, operations, maintenance, supply chain, and project engineering teams to ensure robust and scalable solutions.
• Identify technical risks early and drive mitigation plans to reduce design gaps, rework, late-stage changes, startup delays, cost increases, and performance shortfalls.
• Evaluate equipment flexibility for different SKUs, box sizes, product formats, packaging materials, changeovers, and future growth needs.
• Support business cases, CAPEX planning, project roadmaps, and prioritization by providing technical input, feasibility assessment, cost/benefit evaluation, and risk analysis.

• Bachelor’s degree in Control and Automation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related engineering discipline or higher (completed and verified prior to start)
• Ten (10) years of engineering experience, preferably in manufacturing, project, converting, automation, or equipment design in a private, public, government or military environment
• Three (3) years of experience with packaging automation, end-of-line systems, robotics, material handling, or manufacturing equipment projects.
• Five (5)…