Sr. Strategic Automation Project Manager - Remote with Travel

Job Description

Job Description

Title: Sr. Strategic Automation Project Manager

The Value You’ll Bring:

As part of our Engineering organization, you will lead the development and execution of strategic automation and capital engineering initiatives that modernize manufacturing capabilities, improve equipment performance, and support long-term business growth. You will serve as a key technical leader responsible for aligning engineering investments with enterprise objectives while driving the successful delivery of complex automation projects across multiple facilities.

The Strategic Automation Project Manager is responsible for managing a portfolio of automation, controls, robotics, and equipment modernization projects from concept development through commissioning and operational handoff. This position combines strategic project leadership with strong engineering expertise in industrial automation systems, controls architecture, equipment integration, and manufacturing technologies.

The ideal candidate brings a strong engineering mindset, practical experience with automation technologies, and the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams through all phases of project execution. Success in this role requires balancing technical excellence, project governance, budget performance, and stakeholder alignment to deliver scalable engineering solutions that support the organization's future manufacturing vision.

What You’ll Do:

Design Work: Develop and manage a multi-year automation engineering roadmap that supports facility expansion, equipment modernization, and advanced manufacturing initiatives. Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, IT, and external partners to define technical requirements, project scope, and implementation strategies. Evaluate emerging automation technologies including robotics, machine vision, digital technologies, predictive analytics, IIoT platforms, and advanced process controls for engineering application. Serve as the project leader for automation and controls modernization initiatives involving PLCs, robotics, motion control, integrated production systems, and industrial software platforms.

Design Implementation: Lead strategic automation and capital engineering projects from conceptual design through startup, commissioning, validation, and project closeout. Manage project budgets, schedules, resources, procurement activities, technical risks, and overall project performance throughout the project lifecycle. Provide technical leadership during equipment selection, controls architecture development, factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), and startup activities. Review and guide electrical, controls, instrumentation, networking, and automation system designs to ensure alignment with company standards and long-term supportability. Coordinate engineering consultants, OEMs, system integrators, contractors, and internal project teams to ensure successful project delivery.

Reports and Proposals: Develop engineering business cases, capital requests, project justifications, and ROI analyses for automation investments. Monitor project performance against scope, budget, quality, safety, and schedule objectives while providing regular updates to senior leadership.

Engineering Standards: Establish project governance, technical documentation standards, and communication processes to ensure project alignment and execution excellence. Support development and standardization of automation platforms, PLC programs, HMI standards, industrial networking, SCADA systems, and equipment connectivity strategies.

People Management: Drives a positive employee experience through leadership by way of employee development and coaching.

What We’re Seeking:

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Controls Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related technical discipline required.
• 8+ years of engineering experience with industrial automation, controls systems, capital project execution, or equipment integration.
• 3+ years of project leadership experience leading cross-functional engineering teams and managing capital projects.
• Strong understanding of industrial automation systems including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, instrumentation, VFDs, motion control, robotics, and industrial networks.
• Basic coding and scripting experience with the ability to understand software integration, databases, data collection systems, APIs, and industrial communication protocols.
• Experience with automation project execution including controls design, equipment procurement, installation management, commissioning, and startup support.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, P&IDs, controls narratives, and automation architecture documentation.
• Strong understanding of capital project management principles, engineering design reviews, budgeting, scheduling, and risk management.
• Experience with robotics, machine vision, IIoT technologies, MES systems, and digital manufacturing platforms preferred.
• Excellent communication, leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to travel up to 50% to support engineering initiatives.

Other Skills That Make You Stand Out :

• PMP certification, PE license, or equivalent project management and engineering credentials preferred.
• Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and Siemens TIA Portal experience.
• Ignition, Wonderware, FactoryTalk, or similar SCADA platforms.
• Robotics integration experience (Fanuc, ABB, KUKA, Yaskawa).
• Machine vision and inspection systems.
• Industrial Ethernet and OT network design.
• Equipment OEM management and system integration oversight.
• Electrical power distribution and control panel design exposure.
• Manufacturing data systems and Industrial IoT platforms.
• Capital planning and engineering portfolio management.
• Working knowledge of PLC programming and controls logic development in platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Schneider Electric, or similar automation systems.

MAP Engineering, also known as Management Alliance Programs, is a top engineering company that is located in the Greater Milwaukee area, provides engineering solutions that exceed expectations of our clients. Capital projects require a significant commitment of company resources that include funding, people and time.

Company Description

MAP Engineering, also known as Management Alliance Programs, is a top engineering company that is located in the Greater Milwaukee area, provides engineering solutions that exceed expectations of our clients. Capital projects require a significant commitment of company resources that include funding, people and time.