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.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• 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.

Automation Strategy & Implementation

• 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.

Controls & Industrial Systems

• 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.

Continuous Improvement

• 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.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• 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.

Compliance & Safety

• 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.