Automation Project Lead (Antwerpen)

Pauwels Consulting; Antwerpen; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Pauwels Consulting in Belgium seeks an Automation Project Lead to drive innovation within industrial operations, bridging operational needs with technical solutions. You will lead automation projects from concept through to design, analyze end-to-end processes, and design architectures that integrate LIMS, MES, and safety layers, while building solid business cases.

The ideal candidate holds a Master’s degree in Engineering and 6+ years’ experience in manufacturing, with fluent English and

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering with specialization in Automation or related field.
• 6+ years in industrial production environments (manufacturing, chemicals, or pharma).
• Proven track record delivering automation projects from concept through design and handover.
• Strong knowledge of industrial automation systems and IT/OT integration (LIMS/MES).
• Ability to translate operations needs into clear functional and technical specs and build business cases.
• Fluent in English; strong stakeholder management and structured problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Lead automation projects during concept and design phases, ensuring alignment with the program strategy.
• Analyze end-to-end processes to identify automation opportunities and apply lean principles.
• Translate operational needs into functional and technical requirements and specifications.
• Design and evaluate automation architectures, integrating systems across LIMS, MES, and safety layers.
• Build comprehensive business cases for technical investments and align with cross-functional departments.
• Manage project scope, timelines, and resources while coordinating with internal teams and external suppliers.
• Ensure project definitions are validated and ready for handover to the engineering team for implementation.

Skills

Automation systems

Project management

IT/OT integration

LIMS

Education

Master's degree in Engineering (Automation / Electrical / Mechanical / Industrial)

Job description

Our client, a leader in materials technology and recycling, is seeking an Automation Project Lead to drive innovation within their industrial operations. This role focuses on leading projects from initial concept through to solution design, bridging the gap between operational needs and technical implementation.

Responsibilities

• Lead automation projects during the concept and design phases, ensuring alignment with the program strategy.
• Analyze end-to-end industrial processes to identify automation opportunities and apply lean principles.
• Translate operational needs into structured functional and technical requirements and specifications.
• Design and evaluate automation architectures, integrating systems across LIMS, MES, and safety layers.
• Build comprehensive business cases for technical investments and facilitate alignment across cross-functional departments.
• Manage project scope, timelines, and resources while coordinating with internal teams and external suppliers.
• Ensure project definitions are validated and ready for handover to the engineering team for implementation.

Requirements

• You have a Master's degree in Engineering, specifically in Automation, Electrical, Mechanical, or Industrial engineering.
• You bring 6+ years of experience in industrial production environments such as manufacturing, chemicals, or pharmaceuticals.
• You have proven experience delivering automation projects from initial concept through to design and handover.
• You possess strong knowledge of industrial automation systems and the integration of IT and OT layers, including LIMS and MES.
• You're able to translate complex operational needs into clear functional and technical specifications and build solid business cases.
• You're an analytical thinker with strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to work in a structured, solution-oriented manner.
• You're fluent in English.

Nice to Haves

• Possession of a VCA certificate.
• Knowledge of Dutch.