Position Summary

The Automation Project Manager is responsible for defining, developing, and executing the company's automation roadmap. Collaboration with business leaders on selecting the best "first" projects will be a critical first milestone for this role. It will follow with responsibility to actively manage the selected projects across the finish line to measurably improve safety, quality, delivery, or productivity. This role will partner with another new role, Automation Project Engineer, to get the projects done.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead shop-floor assessments to identify, validate, and prioritize automation opportunities.
• Facilitate feasibility studies including technical, operational, safety, quality, and financial evaluations.
• Quantify expected improvements in safety, quality, productivity, throughput, or operating costs.
• Evaluate alternative technologies, concepts, and implementation approaches.
• Present recommendations and investment proposals to plant and senior leadership teams for approval.
• Lead automation projects from initial concept through production stabilization.
• Develop project charters, schedules, budgets, risk assessments, and implementation plans.
• Coordinate cross-functional implementation teams including operations, maintenance, quality, safety, supply chain, IT, finance, and external integration partners.
• Manage equipment suppliers, system integrators, contractors, and technical consultants.
• Track project performance against scope, schedule, budget, and expected benefits.
• Identify and mitigate technical and operational risks throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure successful startup, commissioning, validation, and throughput achievement.

Experience and Education

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Three (3) years of manufacturing experience with increasing responsibility in automation, robotics, manufacturing engineering, operations engineering, or advanced manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience leading automation projects from concept through implementation.
• Experience developing capital project justifications, ROI analyses, and business cases.
• Proven success managing external suppliers, system integrators, and technical contractors.
• Experience commissioning, troubleshooting, and stabilizing manufacturing equipment.
• Strong project management and cross-functional leadership experience.
• Experience leading organizational change and technology adoption initiatives.

Preferred

• Experience leading automation deployments in factories with limited prior automation exposure, and limited manufacturing engineering resources.
• Experience in forging, machining, metal fabrication, industrial manufacturing, or heavy manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, TPM, and Continuous Improvement methodologies.

Technical Skills

• Deep understanding of industrial robotics, automation systems, controls, sensors, and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to perform automation feasibility studies and financial evaluations.
• Experience developing technical specifications for both the internal and external resources required for an automation project.
• Skilled at developing statements of work with external contractors, locking down on formal contracts with them, then managing the contractor to successfully deliver on their commitments.
• Understanding of robot integration, machine controls, PLCs, HMI systems, and industrial networking.
• Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis capabilities.
• Understanding of machine safety standards and risk assessment methodologies.
• Proficiency with project management tools and engineering documentation systems.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.

Organizational Relationships

• Reports to VP Operational Excellence.

Travel Required

The automation projects will require on-the-ground project management at the sites where the implementations are taking place. The role will require up to two (2) weeks per month of travel. There is no fixed schedule for the travel. Projects that are in the early phases will require less travel. Sites in the final phases of a project will require more. This role will determine where and when they will be at the factories. When not in an HBD factory, the role can work from home. Home base would preferably be in southern California, North Carolina, or Georgia. These are areas where the automation projects will most likely start.

The estimated base salary range for this position is $130,000 - $150,000. Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, skills, education, certifications, geographic location, internal equity, and business needs.

Employment visa sponsorship is not available for this position now or in the future. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.