Power Design, Inc.

Lead Automation Engineer

Power Design, Inc.$100K — $130K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 7+ years in industrial automation or robotics engineering with deployment experience in manufacturing environments.
  • Hands-on experience with various cobot platforms and machine vision systems.
  • Strong PLC/SCADA expertise, capable of reading ladder logic and troubleshooting controls issues.
  • Direct experience in running FAT/SAT processes including writing acceptance criteria.
  • Skilled in critically evaluating vendor capabilities between demonstrations and actual deployments.
  • Electrical, mechanical, or industrial engineering background preferred.
  • Experience in prefab, manufacturing, or electrical construction is a plus.

Responsibilities

  • Lead technical evaluations and select automation systems for manufacturing.
  • Own the FAT and SAT processes for robotics deployments, establishing and executing acceptance criteria.
  • Develop and maintain standards for controls architecture across manufacturing sites.
  • Act as the primary technical contact for automation vendors, assessing capabilities and negotiating scope.
  • Collaborate with the Integration Engineer to ensure systems provide real-time operational data into Oracle Fusion.
  • Support capital investment case preparations with comprehensive technical content.
  • Assist CI team with automation deployments in the wire division when required.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to shape the automation function from the ground up.
  • Work in a role that requires immediate impact within the first 90 days.
  • Engagement with leading automation technologies and vendors.
  • Collaboration with a diverse team across manufacturing domains.
  • Possibility for continuous learning and professional growth in a dynamic environment.
Full Job Description
Lead Automation Engineer

About the Opportunity

The Senior Director of Robotics & Automation is building the function from the ground up. As Lead Automation Engineer, you are the technical anchor for the manufacturing domains: prefab, LFG and switchgear manufacturing, and the wire division (supported by CI). You own vendor evaluations, FAT/SAT execution, controls architecture, and deployment credibility across the manufacturing floor. When a cobot vendor says their system can do something, you are the person in the room who knows if that's true. This is not a role for someone who needs time to ramp up - you will be evaluating vendors and leading deployments in the first 90 days.

Position Responsibilities
  • Lead technical evaluation and selection of automation systems across prefab and LFG/switchgear manufacturing - cobots, machine vision, bending automation, heavy material handling robotics.
  • Own FAT (Factory Acceptance Testing) and SAT (Site Acceptance Testing) for all manufacturing robotics deployments. Define acceptance criteria, run the tests, sign off or escalate.
  • Develop and maintain controls architecture standards across manufacturing domains - PLC/SCADA, safety systems, and integration points with the Operational Technology (OT) data layer.
  • Serve as the primary technical interface with automation vendors. Evaluate claims, negotiate scope, and protect PDI from being oversold on capability or timeline.
  • Partner with the Integration Engineer to ensure every deployed system feeds real-time operational data into Oracle Fusion. No shadow systems.
  • Support capital investment cases with technical content - scope definition, system specs, risk flags, and realistic implementation timelines.
  • Work closely with the CI team on wire division automation deployments as needed.


Here's What We're Looking For
  • 7+ years in industrial automation or robotics engineering, with direct deployment experience in manufacturing environments.
  • Hands-on experience with two or more: cobot platforms (Universal Robots, FANUC, KUKA), machine vision (Cognex, Keyence), industrial robotics for bending automation or heavy material handling.
  • Strong PLC/SCADA background. You can read ladder logic, troubleshoot controls issues on the floor, and define integration requirements for the OT layer.
  • Experience running FAT/SAT processes - you have written acceptance criteria, not just participated in testing.
  • Ability to evaluate vendors critically. You know the gap between a demo and a production deployment.
  • Electrical, mechanical, or industrial engineering background preferred.
  • Experience in prefab, manufacturing, or electrical construction is a significant plus.
  • Demonstrate and uphold Power Design's core values, which include integrity, accountability, teamwork, innovation, and growth.

About Power Design, Inc.

Power Design, Inc. is an electrical contractor that provides electrical construction services for commercial, institutional, and industrial projects. The company offers preconstruction, design-build, construction, and post-construction services. Power Design has completed projects in various industries, including healthcare, hospitality, education, and retail. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida. Power Design has been recognized as one of the top electrical contractors in the United States by Engineering News-Record. The company has also been recognized as one of the best places to work in the Tampa Bay area.
Learn more about Power Design, Inc.
Size
2,000 employees
Industry

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