Automation Maintenance Engineering Supervisor - Athlone, Ireland (m/f/x)*

IRL KCI Medical Limited; Ireland; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Solventum is seeking an Automation Maintenance Engineering Supervisor to lead the reliability of automated production systems, robotics, vision systems, and electrical/mechanical assets. You will provide technical leadership and foster a reliability-centered culture to maximise equipment performance and minimise downtime.

The role requires hands-on leadership, change management, and collaboration with Operations and Engineering teams to deliver sustainable improvements and safety excellence

Qualifications

• Essential Degree in Electrical/Automation Engineering or related field.
• Professional Reliability Certification or equivalent preferred.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or higher beneficial.
• Minimum 5–10 years in maintenance engineering, automation, or reliability roles.

Responsibilities

• Lead maintenance and reliability for automated production systems, robotics, vision systems, electrical and mechanical assets.
• Mentor a 4-cycle shift team of maintenance technicians with structured training plans.
• Drive safety, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the site.
• Partner with Operations, Quality, EHS and Supply Chain to deliver reliability improvements.
• Oversee change management, digital transformation, and capital projects for enhancements.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Industrial automation

Robotics

Machine vision

PLC programming

Industrial networks

Reliability engineering

CMMS PEMAC

Education

Electrical/Automation Engineering degree

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

Project Management certification

Tools

Siemens PLC

Allen-Bradley PLC

Schneider PLC

Beckhoff

SCADA/HMI software

Job description

Automation Maintenance Engineering Supervisor

At Solventum, we improve lives by helping healthcare professionals do their best work. Join a team using innovation and insight to make a real impact on the future of healthcare. All roles listed are with Solventum, and we’re committed to protecting your personal information—learn more in our Privacy Policy: https://www.solventum.com/en-us/home/legal/website-privacy-statement/applicant-privacy/. At Solventum, we enable better, smarter, safer healthcare to improve lives. As a new company with a long legacy of creating breakthrough solutions for our customers’ toughest challenges, we pioneer game‑changing innovations at the intersection of health, material and data science that change patients’ lives for the better while enabling healthcare professionals to perform at their best. The Automation Maintenance Engineering Supervisor is responsible for leading the maintenance and reliability function for automated production systems, robotics, vision systems, electrical and mechanical assets in the Automation production area. The role combines strong technical expertise with inspirational people leadership to drive equipment reliability, operational excellence, continuous improvement, and safe working practices. The successful candidate will provide technical leadership for automation, robotics, controls, electrical and mechanical maintenance activities while fostering a reliability‑centred culture focused on maximizing equipment performance and minimizing unplanned downtime. This position requires a hands‑on leader who can effectively manage change, develop high‑performing teams, and partner with operational stakeholders to deliver sustainable reliability improvements and business outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & People Development
  • Lead, coach, and develop a 4 Cycle Shift team of maintenance technicians
  • Create a high‑performance culture focused on safety, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
  • Conduct performance management, talent development, succession planning, and skills assessments with structured training plans
  • Foster employee engagement through effective communication, coaching, mentoring, and recognition
  • Champion site‑wide change management initiatives and support business transformation projects
  • Build strong cross‑functional relationships with Operations, Quality, EHS, and Supply Chain teams
  • Collaborate with Production Engineering on COGS and reliability projects
• Technical Skills in Automation, Robotics & Vision Systems
  • Provide technical leadership for automation systems, PLCs, SCADA, HMIs, industrial networks, and control systems
  • Lead troubleshooting and root cause investigations of complex automation and control system failures
  • Support the optimization and continuous improvement of robotic systems, automated material handling equipment, and manufacturing automation platforms
  • Oversee maintenance and performance improvements of machine vision and inspection systems
  • Ensure robust control system backup, cybersecurity, change control, and documentation processes are maintained
  • Support automation upgrades, retrofits, and capital investment projects
• Electrical & Mechanical Maintenance
  • Lead preventative, predictive, and corrective maintenance activities
  • Provide expertise in electrical, mechanical, pneumatic and electromechanical systems
  • Ensure maintenance work is planned and executed to maximize equipment availability
  • Coordinate major shutdown activities, equipment installations and project activities
  • Ensure effective spare parts management and critical strategies are implemented
  • Promote maintenance best practices and standardization across the shifts
• Reliability Engineering & Continuous Improvement
  • Drive a reliability‑centred maintenance strategy focused on equipment lifecycle management and performance optimization
  • Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) initiatives
  • Develop predictive maintenance programs utilizing condition monitoring and asset health assessment techniques
  • Analyse maintenance and operational data to identify opportunities for reliability improvement
  • Establish and monitor key reliability metrics including MTBF, MTTR, OEE, and asset availability
  • Lead continuous improvement initiatives that reduce downtime, increase productivity, and improve equipment performance
  • Drive a culture of proactive maintenance and defect elimination
• Change Management & Innovation
  • Lead and support organizational and technical change initiatives
  • Promote innovation and adoption of new technologies that improve safety, reliability, and operational performance
  • Manage equipment modifications and engineering changes through structured change management processes
  • Support digital transformation initiatives including smart maintenance technologies and data‑driven decision‑making
  • Identify opportunities for automation enhancements and process optimization
• Health, Safety & Compliance
  • Promote an uncompromising safety culture and ensure compliance with all health, safety, and environmental requirements
  • Ensure all maintenance activities are performed in accordance with site procedures and regulatory requirements
  • Conduct risk assessments, permit reviews, and safety audits as required
  • Support compliance audits and ensure maintenance documentation is accurate and up to date
  • Ensure machine safety standards and safeguarding requirements are maintained across all equipment
• Essential Knowledge, Skills & Experience
  • Strong electrical engineering and industrial automation maintenance knowledge
  • Strong mechanical maintenance and troubleshooting expertise
  • Experience supporting robotics, automated manufacturing systems, and material handling equipment
  • Knowledge of machine vision systems and automated inspection technologies
  • Experience with PLC programming and troubleshooting (Siemens, Allen Bradley, Schneider, Beckhoff, or equivalent)
  • Understanding of industrial networking and communication protocols
  • Strong understanding of reliability engineering principles and maintenance strategies
  • Experience with Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) (PEMAC)
• Leadership Competencies
  • Proven people leadership and team development experience
  • Strong coaching, mentoring, and performance management skills
  • Ability to influence stakeholders at all organizational levels
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Strong decision‑making and problem‑solving capabilities
  • Demonstrated ability to lead through change and drive organizational transformation
  • Ability to build and sustain high‑performing teams
• Reliability & Continuous Improvement Competencies
  • Reliability Cantered Maintenance (RCM)
  • Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA)
  • Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
  • Asset Lifecycle Management
  • Predictive & Preventive Maintenance Methodologies
  • Lean Manufacturing Principles
  • Continuous Improvement Techniques
  • Data Analysis and KPI Management
  • Operational Excellence Practices
• Qualifications
  • Essential Degree, Higher Diploma, or equivalent qualification in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, or related discipline
  • Relevant engineering or technical certification
  • Professional Reliability Certification
  • Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or higher
  • Project Management qualification
  • Change Management certification
  • Robotics and Automation certifications
  • Minimum 5-10 years’ experience in maintenance engineering, automation, reliability engineering, or industrial operations
  • Demonstrated & proven experience leading maintenance and engineering teams
  • Experience working in highly automated manufacturing, logistics, pharmaceutical, data centre, or industrial environments
  • Proven track record of delivering measurable reliability improvements and continuous improvement initiatives
  • Experience managing automation, robotics, vision systems, and complex industrial assets
  • Experience leading change management and transformation programmes
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
  • Equipment Availability uptime >95%
  • Asset Reliability Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)
  • Mean Time To Repair (MTTR)
  • Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
  • Preventive Maintenance Completion Rate 100%
  • Unplanned Downtime Reduction <5%
  • Reliability Improvement Projects Delivered
  • Safety Performance Metrics
  • Team Engagement & Development
  • Continuous Improvement Savings
  • Change Management Success Rate
• Core Values & Behaviours
  • Safety First
  • Leadership Through Influence
  • Accountability & Ownership
  • Customer Focus
  • Innovation & Continuous Improvement
  • Technical Excellence
  • Collaboration & Teamwork
  • Integrity & Respect
  • Reliability Mindset
  • Growth & Development Focus

Role Location

Athlone, Ireland

Remuneration

Salary - €high-reaching dependent on skills and experience plus excellent benefits package.

Eligibility

Must be legally authorized to work in country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status).

Supporting Your Well‑Being

Solventum offers many programs to help you live your best life – both physically and financially. To ensure competitive pay and benefits, Solventum regularly benchmarks with other companies that are comparable in size and scope.

Diversity & Inclusion *

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, civil status, disability, family status, or membership of the travelling community. Solventum is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in our recruitment process.