Vice President, Advanced Manufacturing Engineering

Our employer, founded in 2000, is a leading provider of premium metal payment cards and secure authentication solutions. Headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey, the company serves major financial institutions, producing over 30 million metal cards annually and holding a dominant share in the premium metal card segment. It also offers advanced digital security through a proprietary platform that includes three-factor authentication and cold storage for digital assets, generating over $420 million in annual sales.

Job Summary:


We are seeking an experienced and visionary Vice President, Advanced Manufacturing Engineering to lead our automation initiatives across various manufacturing processes. The successful candidate will have a strong background in industrial manufacturing, with a proven track record in automation deployment within industries such as packaging, automotive, space, or manufacturing. This role is integral to driving efficiency and scale and enhancing the overall productivity of our operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Automation Strategy & Roadmap: Develop and own the automation roadmap, ensuring alignment with business goals and objectives. Focus on end-to-end process automation from raw material handling to final packaging.
• Process Improvement & Innovation: Identify, design, and implement automation & manufacturing technology solutions to improve existing manual processes, enhance efficiency, and reduce costs.
• Leadership & Team Building: Build and lead an automation team, providing guidance, mentorship, and support. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful project execution.
• Project Management: Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of automation projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget. Manage a project delivery cycle of 12-18 months.
• Technical Expertise: Apply deep knowledge of robotics and mechanical engineering to design, iterate, and deploy automation systems. Ensure the integration of new and existing equipment.
• Business Impact & Metrics: Establish and track outcome metrics to measure the effectiveness of automation initiatives. Focus on reducing labor costs per unit and overall operational efficiency.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Work closely with senior management to align automation efforts with strategic business goals. Communicate progress, challenges, and successes effectively.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering; Master's degree preferred.
• Experience: 7-10 years of experience in automation and/or industrial manufacturing deployment within packaging, automotive, space, or manufacturing industries. Experience in mid-management or lead roles, overseeing automation projects and teams.

Skills:

• Strong understanding of robotics and mechanical engineering principles.
• Proven experience in process improvement and automation implementation.
• Excellent project management skills with a track record of delivering complex projects.
• Strong leadership and team-building abilities.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Holistic mindset with the ability to understand the broader business impact of automation initiatives.

Attributes: Enthusiastic, innovative, and results-driven with a commitment to excellence.