Automation Manager
NBSTSA
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Johnson & Johnson is seeking an Automation Manager for its Cork site to lead the Automation and Manufacturing Systems team. You will be responsible for reliability, lifecycle, compliance, and the strategic development of manufacturing automation and data platforms.
The role combines hands‑on leadership with delivering new equipment and digital capabilities in a regulated environment. International travel up to 10% may be required.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Automation, IT, Science, or related discipline.
- Eight years in GMP manufacturing or similar with escalating leadership responsibilities.
- Three years in people management.
Responsibilities
- Lead site automation support for production‑critical equipment and systems including escalation, recovery, and after‑hours support.
- Diagnose faults across PLC/HMI, robotics, motion and vision systems, networks, interfaces, and data platforms.
- Drive automation activities from concept through FAT/SAT, commissioning, validation, handover and ramp‑up.
- Define automation architectures, standards, data requirements, cybersecurity controls, interfaces and diagnostics.
- Own roadmaps and lifecycle plans for manufacturing systems including OEE and OT networks.
- Develop a prioritized automation roadmap and investment plan aligned with site performance.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com.
As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.
Supply Chain Engineering
Automation Engineering
People Leader
Ringaskiddy, Cork, Ireland
Johnson & Johnson is currently seeking an Automation Manager to join our Site Engineering organization in Cork, Ireland.
At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow and profoundly impact health for humanity.
At Johnson & Johnson MedTech, we unleash diverse healthcare expertise, purposeful technology, and a passion for people to transform the future of medical intervention and empower everyone to live their best life possible. For more than a century, we have driven breakthrough scientific innovation to address unmet needs and reimagine health. In surgery, orthopaedics, vision, and interventional solutions, we continue to help save lives and create a future where healthcare solutions are smarter, less invasive, and more personalized.
The Automation Manager will lead the Automation and Manufacturing Systems team at our large-scale orthopaedic manufacturing site in Cork, Ireland. Reporting to the MAM Lead - Site Engineering, this position is accountable for the reliability, lifecycle, compliance, and strategic development of manufacturing automation, control systems, and manufacturing data platforms.
This role combines hands‑on operational leadership with the delivery of new equipment and digital capabilities in a complex, regulated manufacturing environment. The Automation Manager will partner with Operations, Maintenance, Process Engineering, Quality, IT/JJT, global standards teams, and equipment suppliers to restore production quickly, eliminate recurring failures, and ensure new assets are designed, integrated, validated, and launched for safe, compliant, and sustainable performance. International travel of up to 10% may be required.
- Lead the site automation support model for production‑critical equipment and systems, including escalation processes, recovery priorities, and out‑of‑hours support.
- Drive the diagnosis and resolution of faults across PLC/HMI systems, robotics, motion and vision systems, controls networks, historians, system interfaces, and manufacturing data platforms.
- Lead automation activities for new equipment from concept and user requirements through design review, FAT/SAT, commissioning, validation, handover, and production ramp‑up.
- Define and approve automation architectures, controls standards, data requirements, cybersecurity controls, interfaces, diagnostics, maintainability, and support requirements for new manufacturing assets.
- Own the site roadmap and lifecycle plan for manufacturing systems, including OEE, OT automation networks, OSI PI/data historians, and related manufacturing interfaces.
- Develop and deliver a prioritized automation and manufacturing systems roadmap, investment plan, project portfolio, and resource strategy aligned with site performance requirements.
- Support investigations, CAPAs, audits, and regulatory inspections, ensuring the timely and sustainable closure of automation and manufacturing systems actions.
- Lead, coach, and develop a high‑performing and inclusive team, while managing objectives, performance, budget, workflow, technical capability, succession, and team capacity.
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Automation, Information Technology, Science, or a related discipline.
- At least eight years of experience in a GMP‑regulated manufacturing or related environment, with progressively broader technical and leadership responsibilities.
- At least three years of people‑management experience.
- Demonstrated experience supporting and troubleshooting manufacturing automation and control systems in a live production environment.
- Experience delivering automated equipment through design, integration, commissioning, validation, production handover, and ramp‑up.
- Working knowledge of PLC/HMI systems, robotics, industrial networks, system interfaces, and manufacturing data platforms.
- Knowledge of relevant standards and methodologies, such as ISA‑88, ISA‑95, GAMP, and structured project delivery.
- Project management certification or at least three years of project management experience, together with fluent English and the ability to travel internationally up to 10%.
- Experience within medical device, pharmaceutical, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.
- Experience with MES, DNC, OEE, OSI PI/data historians, automation networks, and operational technology cybersecurity.
- Knowledge of Software Development Lifecycle, DevOps, software quality assurance, and validated system lifecycle practices.
- Experience specifying equipment controls and automation architectures and leading FAT, SAT, commissioning, and production ramp‑up.
- Lean, Six Sigma, PMP, FPX, or an equivalent certification, with demonstrated evidence of improved business performance.
- Experience collaborating across global teams and working with remote or vendor‑based support models.
The successful candidate will combine strategic thinking with hands‑on technical leadership. They will be able to define a long‑term automation roadmap while remaining actively engaged in critical operational and technical issues.
They will demonstrate calm, decisive, and structured leadership during production disruptions, supported by strong risk‑management, escalation, and crisis‑management judgement. Strong communication, stakeholder influencing, planning, prioritization, and problem‑solving capabilities will be essential. The role also requires a clear commitment to inclusive leadership, talent development, collaboration, accountability, and sustainable, measurable outcomes.
Johnson & Johnson announced plans to separate our Orthopaedics business to establish a standalone orthopaedics company, operating as DePuy Synthes. The process of the planned separation is anticipated to be completed within 18 to 24 months, subject to legal requirements, including consultation with works councils and other employee representative bodies, as may be required, regulatory approvals and other customary conditions and approvals.
Should you accept this position, it is anticipated that, following conclusion of the transaction, you would be an employee of DePuy Synthes and your employment would be governed by DePuy Synthes employment processes, programs, policies, and benefit plans. In that case, details of any planned changes would be provided to you by DePuy Synthes at an appropriate time and subject to any necessary consultation processes.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
€70,100.00 - €121,210.00
- annual bonus with set target (% of pay) depending on pay grade / location, where the actual amount is based on the employees' and companies' performance of the previous calendar year, or sales commissions.
- vacation days, parental leave for a minimum of 12 weeks, bereavement leave, caregiver leave, volunteer leave, well‑being reimbursement, programs for financial, physical and mental health.
- service anniversary and recognition awards, and subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees - and in some location's eligible dependents - can participate in several insurance plans.
For more information, visit Employee benefits | Supporting well‑being & career growth | Johnson & Johnson Careers.
*This is for informative purposes only. Amounts and actual benefits may vary by location and are subject to change.
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