Manufacturing Automation Engineering Lead

Job Summary

The Manufacturing Automation Engineering Lead drives the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of automation systems within manufacturing operations. This position is responsible for driving productivity, quality, safety, and cost improvements through the deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies, robotics, PLC-based controls, industrial networking, and Industry 4.0 solutions. The lead collaborates with operations, maintenance, quality, IT, and plant leadership to achieve business objectives.

• Work with, develop, and possibly mentor teammates and or manufacturing engineers.
• Establish departmental goals, priorities, and resource plans.
• Support the management of engineering budgets, staffing, and contractor resources.
• Foster a culture of innovation, safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Develop and execute manufacturing automation roadmaps aligned with business objectives.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, quality, throughput, and cost through automation.
• Lead capital projects involving robotics, automated assembly, material handling systems, vision systems, and process automation.
• Manage equipment specifications, vendor selection, procurement, installation, and commissioning activities.
• Ensure successful project execution from concept through production launch.

• Oversee design and support of PLC, HMI, SCADA, and industrial network systems.
• Establish controls standards and best practices across manufacturing facilities.
• Support troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of automation-related equipment issues.
• Ensure cybersecurity considerations are incorporated into industrial control systems.

• Utilize Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and TPM methodologies to drive operational excellence.
• Analyze production performance and implement process improvements.
• Lead initiatives focused on OEE improvement, downtime reduction, cycle time optimization, and quality enhancement.
• Support digital transformation and smart manufacturing initiatives.

• Partner with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and IT to achieve manufacturing goals.
• Coordinate with equipment suppliers, integrators, and external contractors.
• Present project updates and business cases to senior leadership.

• Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and company safety requirements.
• Incorporate machine safety standards into automation system designs.
• Support risk assessments, safety audits, and regulatory compliance activities.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, Mechatronics, Automation, or related field) or combination education and experience.
• 7+ years of manufacturing engineering, controls engineering, automation, or related experience.
• 2+ years of leadership or supervisory experience.
• Experience managing automation and capital equipment projects.
• Strong knowledge of industrial automation systems, including:
  • PLC programming (Rockwell, Siemens, Mitsubishi, etc.)
  • HMI and SCADA systems
  • Robotics and Vision Systems
  • Industrial networking and communication protocols
  • Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

• Master’s degree in engineering, Manufacturing, or Business Administration.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Experience with Industry 4.0, IoT, AI-driven manufacturing analytics, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Experience in aerospace, automotive, electronics, consumer products, or high-volume manufacturing environments.

• PLC Programming and Troubleshooting
• Robotics Integration
• Vision Inspection Systems
• SCADA/MES Systems
• Industrial Ethernet Networks
• Data Analytics and Manufacturing KPIs
• Machine Safety Standards
• Capital Project Management
• Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma
• Root Cause Analysis

• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
• Production Throughput
• Automation Project ROI
• Manufacturing Cost Reduction
• Downtime Reduction
• First Pass Yield…