Project Manager Automation

GEA Systems North America; Skanderborg; On-site; DKK 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

GEA Systems North America in Skanderborg is seeking an experienced Automation Project Manager to lead automation projects from concept through commissioning and handover. You will coordinate cross-functional teams and external suppliers to ensure on-time delivery within budget while meeting quality and safety requirements.

You will plan deliverables, manage PLC/SCADA development, FAT/SAT, commissioning, and handover, and maintain comprehensive automation documentation for a structured handover

Qualifications

• Highly organized with strong lifecycle oversight and proactive problem-solving.
• Excellent communication to mediate between stakeholders and manage change.
• Degree in automation engineering or related technical discipline.
• Experience in automation engineering and project delivery in food and dairy industries.
• Fluent English (spoken and written).

Responsibilities

• Lead automation projects from concept through commissioning and handover.
• Manage scope, budget, schedule, resources, and stakeholders.
• Coordinate PLC/software development, HMI/SCADA, and instrumentation integration.
• Plan FAT/SAT, commissioning, start-up, and handover to Service.
• Ensure complete automation documentation and structured handover to customer.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder communication

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Education

Degree in automation engineering

Tools

PLC programming

HMI/SCADA

SCADA systems

Industrial communication

Job description

As part of our continued growth, we are seeking an experienced automation project manager with technical expertise to lead automation of complex projects, typically lasting 12 to 18 months.

Joining GEA, you will gain a strong network of colleagues from different functions, including our project execution team. We value knowledge sharing and collaborate closely with our customers to ensure tailored solutions that meet their production needs.

At our office in Skanderborg, you will become part of our Liquid Technologies department, where we deliver advanced liquid processing and engineering solutions primarily to the food and dairy industries.

Internally, you will work with project managers, automation engineers, process and mechanical engineers, as well as colleagues in Commissioning, Procurement and Service. Externally, you will collaborate with customers, automation suppliers, software and system integrators, and commissioning subcontractors.

Responsibilities / Tasks

The Automation Project Manager is responsible for leading and delivering automation projects from concept through commissioning and handover. The role involves managing project scope, budget, schedule, resources, and stakeholders while ensuring compliance with quality, safety, and operational requirements.

You will assess technical and delivery options, coordinate supplier actions and implement corrective measures to protect delivery and project profitability. Where changes affect scope, costs or milestones, you will present your recommendations to the Project Manager.

More specifically, you will:

• Lead automation and control system projects throughout the complete project lifecycle.
• Plan deliverables, automation activities, milestones and resources in line with the overall project plan.
• Coordinate PLC and software development, HMI/SCADA, process control, instrumentation integration, functional specifications and documentation, ensuring that control concepts meet process requirements and integrate with equipment and other disciplines.
• Manage external suppliers and subcontractors, from scope definition and technical alignment through to monitoring schedules, costs, documentation, performance and compliance with agreed delivery requirements.
• Plan and coordinate FAT and SAT, where applicable, and support commissioning, start-up, troubleshooting and the resolution of functional issues.
• Ensure that all automation documentation, including as-built records, is complete and organise a structured handover to the customer and Service.

Your Profile / Qualifications

You are highly organised and excel at maintaining an overview of the entire project lifecycle, identifying potential challenges early and proactively finding effective solutions. Your strong communication skills allow you to mediate between stakeholders, manage change effectively and resolve unforeseen issues as they arise.

Finally, we imagine that you:

• Bring a degree in automation engineering, control engineering, computer engineering or a related technical discipline - equivalent relevant technical qualifications and experience may also be considered.
• Have experience in automation engineering and project delivery within food and dairy industries.
• Possess knowledge of the control technologies outlined above, as well as industrial communication and automation documentation.
• Have experience in supplier management, project planning, budget and schedule monitoring, FAT/SAT, commissioning and handover.
• Speak and write English at a full professional level.