Senior Manager, Automation and Smart Manufacturing
Advanced Energy
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Job summary
Advanced Energy is seeking a Senior Manager, Automation to lead the global deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies across multiple sites. The role drives automation, robotics, machine vision, Industry 4.0, and smart factory initiatives to enhance productivity and quality.
You will work with Operations, Engineering, IT and external partners to develop scalable automation solutions, support production ramp-ups, and standardize best practices across global sites, with travel as required.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, manufacturing, mechatronics, electrical, or industrial engineering.
- Certifications in PM, Six Sigma Black Belt, automation, or Industry 4.0 technologies are advantageous.
- 12+ years of manufacturing engineering and automation experience in electronics, industrial, semiconductor, or high‑mix manufacturing environments.
- 5+ years of leadership experience managing automation or manufacturing engineering teams.
- Experience deploying automation solutions across multiple manufacturing sites globally.
- Extensive experience in manufacturing automation across SMT, PCBA, wave soldering, assembly, testing, and material handling.
- Strong expertise in robotics, cobots, motion control, machine vision, AOI/AVI systems, AI‑driven inspection technologies, and defect detection.
- Deep knowledge of MES, eTrace, IIoT, machine connectivity, real‑time monitoring, and smart factory/Industry 4.0 architectures.
- Proven capability in automation solution development, equipment validation and production buyoff, supported by Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and Operational Excellence methodologies.
- Demonstrated success in managing large‑scale automation projects from concept through production implementation.
- Experience supporting NPI, manufacturing ramp‑up, technology transfer, and factory startup activities.
- Willing to be assigned in Laguna or Cavite, with flexibility for frequent business travel.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute the global AME automation roadmap aligned with manufacturing and business objectives.
- Lead automation feasibility studies, ROI analysis, and CAPEX justification to support factory productivity and quality improvements.
- Establish global standards for automation equipment, smart workstations, and manufacturing processes across all sites.
- Coordinate cross‑functional teams to ensure timely execution of projects and factory readiness.
- Lead development and deployment of AOI, AVI, Flexible AI AVI, and vision‑based inspection technologies.
- Drive AI and machine learning applications for defect detection, quality monitoring, and process optimization.
- Drive implementation of machine connectivity, IIoT, Andon systems, and real‑time machine monitoring.
- Lead development of digital manufacturing solutions, dashboards, and analytics for OEE, FPY, uptime, and productivity improvement.
- Collaborate with IT and Operations teams to improve digital traceability and factory automation integration.
- Develop and deploy robotic, collaborative robots (Cobots), and smart assembly workstation solutions.
- Define User Requirement Specifications (URS) and equipment acceptance criteria.
- Evaluate and manage automation suppliers, machine builders, system integrators, and technology partners.
- Ensure equipment reliability, maintainability, safety, and compliance with manufacturing requirements.
- Coach and mentor engineers in automation technologies, project management, and problem‑solving methodologies.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Senior Manager, Automation
Advanced Energy (Nasdaq: AEIS) is a global leader in the design and manufacturing of highly engineered, precision power conversion, measurement and control solutions for mission‑critical applications and processes. AE’s power solutions enable customer innovation in complex applications for a wide range of industries including semiconductor equipment, industrial, manufacturing, telecommunications, data center computing and healthcare. Advanced Energy has devoted four decades to perfecting power for its global customers and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.
Some people say it’s like working in the best of two worlds. We operate like an agile, growing, small company – you can see your work make a difference to the company every day. Things move quickly and you can see and feel it. At the same time, we’re a global company founded in 1981 and have been publicly traded for more than 28 years. We have a strong cash position, deep trust and partnership with leading customers, a global best‑in‑class operations capability, and a proven leadership team. We have a track record and resources to make things happen both organically and inorganically. Being part of a nimble company with a solid foundation attracts team members that are capable, driven and like a challenge. Our employees collaborate and know how to have fun inventing, working, building and winning together. At our core, we are Advanced Energy – powering the future, together.
The Principal Engineer, Automation , leads the global deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies across multiple sites. The role drives automation, robotics, machine vision, Industry 4.0, and smart factory initiatives to enhance productivity, quality, safety, and operational excellence.
Working closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, IT, Supply Chain, and external partners, this position develops scalable automation solutions, supports factory setup and production ramp‑ups, and standardizes best practices across global manufacturing locations. International travel may be required to support technology deployment and site operations, production ramp‑up, technology transfer, and standardization across global sites.
This position will report to Director, Global Advanced Manufacturing Engineering.
- Develop and execute the global AME automation roadmap aligned with manufacturing and business objectives.
- Lead automation feasibility studies, ROI analysis, and CAPEX justification to support factory productivity and quality improvements.
- Establish global standards for automation equipment, smart workstations, and manufacturing processes across all sites.
- Coordinate cross‑functional teams to ensure timely execution of projects and factory readiness.
- Lead development and deployment of AOI, AVI, Flexible AI AVI, and vision‑based inspection technologies.
- Drive AI and machine learning applications for defect detection, quality monitoring, and process optimization.
- Drive implementation of machine connectivity, IIoT, Andon systems, and real‑time machine monitoring.
- Lead development of digital manufacturing solutions, dashboards, and analytics for OEE, FPY, uptime, and productivity improvement.
- Collaborate with IT and Operations teams to improve digital traceability and factory automation integration.
- Develop and deploy robotic, collaborative robots (Cobot), and smart assembly workstation solutions.
- Define User Requirement Specifications (URS) and equipment acceptance criteria.
- Evaluate and manage automation suppliers, machine builders, system integrators, and technology partners.
- Ensure equipment reliability, maintainability, safety, and compliance with manufacturing requirements.
- Coach and mentor engineers in automation technologies, project management, and problem‑solving methodologies.
- Bachelor's Degree or above in: Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Industrial Engineering.
- Professional certifications in Project Management, Six Sigma Black Belt, Automation, Robotics, or Industry 4.0 technologies are advantageous.
- Minimum 12+ years of manufacturing engineering and automation experience within electronics, industrial, semiconductor, or high‑mix manufacturing environments.
- Minimum 5+ years of leadership experience managing automation, manufacturing engineering, or process engineering teams.
- Proven experience in deploying automation solutions across multiple manufacturing sites globally.
- Extensive experience in manufacturing automation across SMT, PCBA, wave soldering, assembly, testing, and material handling processes.
- Strong expertise in robotics, cobots, motion control, machine vision, AOI/AVI systems, AI‑driven inspection technologies, and defect detection solutions.
- Deep knowledge of MES, eTrace, IIoT, machine connectivity, real‑time monitoring, and smart factory/Industry 4.0 architectures.
- Proven capability in automation solution development, equipment validation and production buyoff, supported by Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and Operational Excellence methodologies.
- Demonstrated success in managing large‑scale automation projects from concept through production implementation.
- Experience supporting NPI, manufacturing ramp‑up, technology transfer, and factory startup activities.
- Willing to be assigned in Laguna or Cavite, with flexibility for frequent business travel.
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