Robotics Engineer

Sterling Engineering Ltd - Ireland & Europe; Ireland; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling Engineering Ltd - Ireland & Europe is seeking a Lead Robotics and Automation Programme Lead to drive projects from concept through implementation. You will combine project engineering, project management, and system-level technical leadership to deliver robust automation solutions.

You will act as the technical owner for robotics applications, oversee external integrators and suppliers, assess feasibility and risks, build business cases, and lead PoC efforts.

Qualifications

• Experience leading robotics and automation projects from concept to startup.
• Experience with system integrators, suppliers, and technology partners.
• Ability translate operational needs into technical requirements.
• Strong stakeholder communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead robotics projects from concept, requirements, and business case through implementation and startup.
• Define operational requirements, scope, deliverables, success criteria, and project plans.
• Manage scope, schedule, budget, risks, stakeholders, and external partners.
• Evaluate robotics solutions including robots, cobots, AMRs, and vision systems.
• Review system integrator proposals and recommendations.
• Develop business cases based on productivity, capacity, efficiency, and safety.
• Lead proof-of-concept projects and decide whether to progress or discontinue.
• Coordinate alignment across technical, operations, and cross-functional teams.
• Travel internationally as required.

Skills

Robotics & Automation

Project Management

System Integration

Vendor Management

Requirements Engineering

Technical Leadership

Stakeholder Management

Risk Management

Job description

25-30% travel required within Ireland, Europe and US

Role Overview

Lead robotics and automation projects from concept through implementation, combining project engineering, project management, and system-level technical leadership.

Act as the technical owner for robotics applications, assessing technology, feasibility, risks, integration requirements, and solution options while managing external system integrators and suppliers.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead robotics projects from concept, requirements definition, and business case through implementation and startup.
• Define operational requirements, scope, deliverables, success criteria, and project plans.
• Manage scope, schedule, budget, risks, stakeholders, and external partners.
• Evaluate robotics solutions, including industrial robots, cobots, AMRs, machine vision, and automation technologies.
• Assess technical feasibility, limitations, risks, scalability, and integration requirements.
• Review and challenge system integrator proposals and recommendations.
• Manage system integrators, equipment suppliers, and technology partners.
• Develop and quantify business cases based on productivity, capacity, efficiency, safety, and compliance.
• Lead proof-of-concept projects and assess whether solutions should be progressed, modified, or discontinued.
• Build alignment across technical, operational, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Identify future robotics and automation opportunities and contribute to the project pipeline.
• Work effectively in new-build, greenfield, and evolving project environments.
• Travel internationally as required.

Required Experience

• Experience in project engineering, project management, applications engineering, manufacturing engineering, product management, or technical sales.
• Practical knowledge of robotics and automation technologies.
• Experience working with system integrators, suppliers, or technology providers.
• Ability to translate operational needs into technical requirements.
• Experience managing projects through implementation and startup.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, influencing, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively without direct authority in complex, multidisciplinary environments.

Preferred Experience

• Robotics or automation projects in manufacturing, logistics, laboratory, or pharmaceutical environments.
• Experience with GMP, ISO, FDA requirements, and validation processes (IQ/OQ/PQ).
• Experience with project, risk, and compliance documentation.
• Experience with greenfield/new-build projects.
• Global or international project experience.
• Experience leading proof-of-concept projects.

Core Skills

Robotics & Automation | Project Management | Project Engineering | System Integration | Vendor Management | Requirements Engineering | Technical Leadership | Business Cases | Stakeholder Management | Risk Management | New-Build Projects | Proof of Concept