Automation Engineer Manager

Automation Engineering Manager

SCP is seeking a seasoned and proven Automation Engineering Manager to lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of manufacturing automation and new-product industrialization initiatives.

This individual will serve as the primary technical and project leader connecting SCP's internal engineering and maintenance teams with outside automation integrators, equipment suppliers, and technology partners. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience taking complex automation projects from initial concept and requirements development through equipment design, installation, validation, production launch, and sustained performance.

The Automation Engineering Manager must combine strong technical competency with exceptional project management, leadership, vendor management, and data-analysis capabilities. This role will be expected to create clarity around project requirements, establish measurable performance standards, identify risks early, and ensure automation projects deliver the expected improvements in quality, throughput, labor efficiency, reliability, and manufacturing cost.

The position will also play an important role in new product introduction and manufacturing process development, helping SCP transition new products and processes from engineering development into reliable, scalable production.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead automation projects from concept through production implementation and stabilization.
• Develop clear automation project scopes, requirements, specifications, timelines, budgets, milestones, and acceptance criteria.
• Translate manufacturing requirements into detailed equipment and automation specifications.
• Manage multiple automation projects simultaneously while maintaining visibility to schedule, cost, risk, and performance.
• Lead equipment design reviews, project reviews, FATs, SATs, installation, commissioning, and production validation.
• Establish measurable success criteria for each automation project including cycle time, uptime, yield, quality, labor reduction, scrap, and return on investment.
• Identify project risks early and develop effective mitigation and recovery plans.

Vendor & Systems Integrator Management

• Serve as SCP's primary technical interface with automation integrators, machine builders, controls companies, robotics suppliers, vision-system suppliers, and other outside engineering partners.
• Evaluate and select appropriate vendors and technology partners.
• Hold outside vendors accountable to technical specifications, timelines, budgets, documentation requirements, and equipment performance.
• Conduct regular project reviews with vendors and internal stakeholders.
• Challenge equipment designs and proposed solutions to ensure systems are robust, maintainable, scalable, and appropriate for SCP's manufacturing environment.
• Ensure SCP maintains ownership and access to critical equipment documentation, programs, drawings, data, and technical knowledge.

Internal Engineering Leadership

• Work collaboratively with manufacturing engineers, process engineers, controls engineers, technicians, maintenance personnel, operators, quality personnel, and production leadership.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers and technicians supporting automated manufacturing systems.
• Establish engineering standards and best practices for automation equipment.
• Develop internal troubleshooting and maintenance capability so SCP is not unnecessarily dependent upon outside vendors.
• Ensure effective knowledge transfer from equipment suppliers to SCP's internal technical teams.

New Product Introduction & Manufacturing Development

• Partner with product engineering and manufacturing teams during the development and introduction of new products.
• Develop manufacturing concepts and processes capable of producing new products safely, reliably, and economically at production volumes.
• Evaluate manufacturing technologies, equipment requirements, tooling concepts, automation opportunities, and process risks.
• Participate in design-for-manufacturing and design-for-automation reviews.
• Develop and execute manufacturing launch plans for new products.
• Ensure manufacturing equipment and processes are validated before full production release.
• Support prototype, pilot, pre-production, and production ramp activities.

Manufacturing Data & Digital Systems

The successful candidate must be highly comfortable working with manufacturing data and using data to drive technical decisions.

Responsibilities include:

• Define the critical data required from automated manufacturing processes.
• Establish methods for automatically collecting machine, process, production, quality, and downtime data.
• Work with internal data and software teams to connect equipment data to SCP's broader manufacturing data architecture.
• Develop meaningful KPIs and dashboards for automated equipment and manufacturing processes.
• Analyze cycle time, downtime, machine utilization, quality, scrap, throughput, and equipment performance.
• Use data to identify root causes and prioritize improvement opportunities.
• Help move SCP toward real-time visibility of manufacturing performance and equipment condition.
• Support implementation of sensors, machine connectivity, databases, historian systems, PLC-generated data, and other Industry 4.0 technologies.

Continuous Improvement & Manufacturing Performance

• Identify opportunities for automation, mechanization, error-proofing, and improved process control.
• Improve equipment OEE, uptime, throughput, quality, and reliability.
• Reduce manufacturing variability, manual intervention, and opportunities for human error.
• Lead structured root-cause analysis for equipment and process failures.
• Develop corrective actions that permanently eliminate recurring problems.
• Partner with Operations to ensure automation solutions support actual production requirements rather than simply achieving technical functionality.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of relevant manufacturing engineering and automation experience.
• Demonstrated experience successfully leading significant manufacturing automation projects.
• Experience managing machine builders, systems integrators, robotics companies, and outside engineering firms.
• Strong project-management experience involving capital equipment projects.
• Experience with automated manufacturing equipment, PLC-controlled systems, robotics, sensors, machine vision, motion systems, servo systems, and industrial controls.
• Demonstrated understanding of manufacturing processes, machine design, tooling, fixtures, and production systems.
• Experience supporting new product introduction and manufacturing process development.
• Strong troubleshooting and structured root-cause-analysis skills.
• Strong proficiency working with manufacturing data and performance metrics.
• Ability to analyze and interpret large amounts of process and equipment data.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead engineers, technicians, suppliers, and cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with several of the following would be highly desirable:

• PLC and HMI platforms
• Robotics and collaborative robotics
• Machine vision
• Servo and motion control
• Automated inspection and testing systems
• Automated material handling
• Manufacturing execution systems
• SQL/databases or manufacturing historians
• Power BI or similar data-visualization platforms
• Statistical process control
• OEE and manufacturing KPI systems
• Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies
• PFMEA and Control Plans
• Equipment validation and capability studies
• High-volume discrete manufacturing
• Ceramic, machining, furnace, assembly, or testing processes

The Opportunity

This role represents an opportunity to help build the next generation of SCP's manufacturing organization. The Automation Engineering Manager will have significant influence over how SCP designs its future manufacturing systems, introduces new products, implements automation, captures manufacturing data, and develops the engineering capabilities required to support the company's continued growth.

We are looking for someone who has already demonstrated the ability to successfully deliver complex automation systems in a manufacturing environment and is ready to take ownership of building that capability at SCP.