Industrial Automation Project Lead

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

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