Automation Engineer

Pacific International Executive Search; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Pacific International Executive Search has been exclusively retained by a leading advanced manufacturing organization undergoing a significant automation and operational transformation. We are seeking an Automated Engineer to advance manufacturing capabilities across strategic capital projects.

This role combines hands-on design with program leadership, working with robotics, machine vision, and automated material handling to improve efficiency and scalability; travel up to 50%.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in discrete and web-handling manufacturing focused on automated equipment design/maintenance.
• 10+ years in program management leading multiple capital projects with scope/budget/resource accountability.
• 10+ years with web-handling vision systems (ISRA Vision, Dr. Schenk).
• 10+ years SolidWorks CAD/CAE with PDM.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering with machine vision/inspection concentration.

Responsibilities

• Lead large-scale, multi-site automation initiatives from concept to commissioning.
• Manage multiple concurrent capital projects with scope, schedule, and budget accountability.
• Provide expertise in mechanical layout and equipment design for sites.
• Collaborate with site stakeholders to implement minimally invasive automated solutions.
• Set equipment standards globally and deploy technology organization-wide.
• Support technology roadmap at business level.
• Assist with SOWs, design reviews, construction, acceptance tests, commissioning, and safety reviews.
• Collaborate with external suppliers to design, fabricate, and qualify equipment.
• Provide expertise in electrical design and network architecture.
• Advise on automated process equipment including robotics, barcode, and vision systems.
• Support Management of Change processes as technical reviewer.
• Mentor and develop engineers across the global automation community.

Skills

Automation leadership

Program management

Robotics

Machine vision

SolidWorks

Electrical design

SISTEMA

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Machine vision coursework

Tools

ISRA Vision

Dr. Schenk

SolidWorks CAD/CAE with PDM

Job description

Pacific International Executive Search has been exclusively retained by a leading advanced manufacturing organization undergoing a significant automation and operational transformation.

As part of this evolution, the company is seeking a Automated Engineer to play a critical role in advancing manufacturing capabilities across a portfolio of strategic capital projects. This individual will help drive the development and deployment of next-generation automation solutions, supporting the transition from highly manual operations to more integrated, efficient, and scalable manufacturing environments.

The successful candidate will bring a proven track record of leading complex automation initiatives, developing automated process equipment, and managing capital projects from concept through commissioning. Combining strategic thinking with hands-on technical expertise, this individual will partner with cross-functional stakeholders to implement innovative solutions involving robotics, machine vision, automated material handling, and advanced manufacturing technologies. This is a unique opportunity to play a central role in a high-profile transformation effort, helping shape the future of automation within a growing global organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the program lead for large-scale, multi-site automation initiatives, managing cross-functional teams, budgets, schedules, and risk from concept through commissioning.
• Lead the program management of multiple concurrent capital projects as a senior program leader, with accountability for scope, schedule, budget, and resource allocation across the portfolio.
• Provide expertise in mechanical layout and equipment design to support projects at the sites.
• Ability to collaborate with stakeholders at the site to understand the challenges they face and provide an automated solution. The solution must be engineered in a way that has minimal impact on the area's ability to produce, and is minimally invasive to our external customer change protocol
• Set and own equipment standards from a global engineering perspective and drive deployment of the technology throughout the organization.
• Provide technical expertise to support the business level technology roadmap
• Provide technical expertise to support capital projects including Statements of Work (SOW), Design Reviews, Construction, Acceptance Tests, Commissioning, and Safety Reviews
• Ability to collaborate with external suppliers to design, fabricate, and qualify equipment.
• Strong knowledge of electrical design and network architecture.
• Provide expertise in automated process equipment including robotics, barcoding, and inspection systems (vision and scanning).
• Provide technical expertise for Management of Change, including technical reviewer of site MOC processes.
• Mentor and develop engineers across the global automation community, providing technical guidance, coaching, and career development as a senior technical leader.

Qualifications:

• 15+ years of experience in a discrete and web-handling manufacturing environment focused on the design and maintenance of automated equipment.
• 10+ years of program management experience leading multiple concurrent capital projects, with demonstrated accountability for scope, schedule, budget, and resource management.
• 10+ years of experience with web-handling vision system programming environments including ISRA Vision and Dr. Schenk.
• 10+ years of experience with SolidWorks CAD/CAE including Product Data Management (PDM)
• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering with coursework concentration involving machine vision and automated inspection.
• Able to travel to manufacturing sites (average 50% of time)
• Experience with Machine Risk Assessments and Performance Level (PL) calculations using SISTEMA
• Experience with mechanical and/or electrical fabrication technology
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work in a challenging, diverse team environment in a respectful manner.
• Demonstrated senior-level influential leadership with a proven track record of leading, mentoring, and developing engineering teams

About Pacific:

Pacific International, a globally recognized retained executive search firm, is dedicated to empowering Fortune 500, FTSE 100, and high-growth enterprises in building exceptional C-suite, senior-level, and strategic leadership teams. Our adaptability, agility, and forward-thinking ethos distinguish us as a Trusted Partner in the ever-evolving business landscape.

Diversity Statement:

At Pacific International, diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of who we are and what we do. Our commitment to these values is unwavering and we proudly champion diversity on behalf of our clients in every Executive Search mandate we undertake. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. In pursuit of these objectives, we actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities.

Questions? reach out to [e-mail]