Automation Lead

Federal Reserve Bank of New York; East Rutherford (NJ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Educational assistance

Parental leave

Healthcare plans

401(k) with match

Public transportation program

Onsite Health & Wellness Center

Onsite Fitness Center

Job summary

Federal Reserve Bank of New York is seeking an Automation Lead to manage day-to-day operations of Material Handling Equipment and AGV systems, driving uptime and continuous improvement in a critical cash and custody environment.

You will coach a team of automation technicians, coordinate shift coverage, collaborate with Engineering, Operations, and IT, and develop procedures, while ensuring safety, regulatory compliance, and robust business continuity.

Qualifications

• Experience leading automation maintenance teams and operations.
• Hands-on with automation systems and industrial equipment maintenance.
• Knowledge of AGVs, robotics, PLCs, sensors, and material handling tech.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision; on-call and shift flexibility.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations of MHE and AGV systems to minimize downtime.
• Coach automation technicians; coordinate shift coverage for reliability.
• Serve as technical escalation point and drive timely resolutions.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, and IT on upgrades and patches.
• Develop SOPs, maintenance schedules, incident response plans, and KPIs.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

Coaching

Independent work

On-call availability

Education

Mechanical engineering

Electrical engineering

Automation engineering

Tools

AGVs

PLCs

Robotics

Sensors

Job description

Company Federal Reserve Bank of New York Working at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York positions you at the center of the financial world with a unique perspective on national and international markets and economies. You will work in an environment with a diverse group of experienced professionals to foster and support the safety, soundness, and vitality of our economic and financial systems.

What we do:

The Automation Lead role is critical to maintaining system uptime, supporting continuous improvement, and partnering with cross‑functional teams to enhance automation capabilities, ensure safety compliance, and drive operational excellence. The Cash & Custody Function engages in critical operations on behalf of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Federal Reserve System including the distribution of U.S. Dollar Currency to the Second District, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands & international customers, as well as Gold Safekeeping Operations.

Your Role as Automation Lead:

Lead day‑to‑day operations of Material Handling Equipment (MHE) and Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) systems, proactively troubleshooting issues and guiding the team through fast, effective resolutions to minimize downtime. Serve as the go‑to leader for a team of automation technicians—providing hands‑on coaching, guiding skill development, and coordinating shift coverage to ensure consistent, reliable performance. Act as the technical escalation point for complex automation issues, driving timely resolution. Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, and IT teams to implement system upgrades, software patches, and automation improvements. Develop and maintain documentation for Standard Operating Procedures, maintenance schedules, incident response plans, and system performance reporting. Monitor system KPIs and analyze performance trends to identify opportunities for continuous improvement. Ensure compliance with safety protocols and regulatory requirements for both equipment and personnel. Support business continuity and contingency planning for automated systems.

What we are looking for:

• A natural leader who communicates clearly, exercises sound judgment and is genuinely invested in the team's success and development.
• Proven ability to manage day‑to‑day operations, including scheduling, prioritization, coaching, and process execution.
• Background in mechanical, electrical, automation engineering, or a related technical field.
• Hands‑on experience with automation systems and industrial equipment maintenance.
• Working knowledge of AGVs, robotics, PLCs, sensors, and other material handling technologies.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision to manage projects and processes.
• Availability for on‑call support, shift flexibility, or rotating schedules as needed.
• *This role is based out of East Rutherford, NJ. Potentially moving to Warren, NJ.

Salary Range: $120,000 -150,000 / year

How We’ll Support You:

• Learning & Growing: Educational assistance, career development tools, and stretch opportunities
• Supporting Your Family: Parental leave, adoption assistance, back‑up dependent and elder care, college planning resources, and more
• Managing Your Health: Comprehensive insurance plans, leave policies, onsite Health & Wellness Center, and onsite Fitness Center
• Optimizing Your Finances: Pension plan, 401(k) with generous match, financial planning resources, and subsidized public transportation program

Our Culture is deeply grounded in our Touchstone Behaviors— By working with us, you’ll have the opportunity to develop and demonstrate your ability to Communicate Authentically, Collaborate Inclusively, Drive Progress, Develop Others, and Take Ownership. These competencies shape our culture here at the Bank. They also provide a shared language for how we work together and achieve success and set clear expectations for leading with impact at every stage of your career. Learn more.

We value accessibility for all candidates and are happy to provide an accommodation or assistance.

Please email us at [e-mail] and we’ll be glad to help. Please note, this is a dedicated e‑mail box designed exclusively to assist applications with accommodation requests in relation to our recruiting process. All other inquires including the status of applications will not receive a response from this e‑mail box.

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, performance standards or requirements, efforts, skills or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change. In addition, candidates must undergo an enhanced background check, comply with all applicable information handling rules, and will be tested for all controlled substances prohibited by federal law, to include marijuana, prior to hire and during employment.

Full Time / Part Time Full time Regular / Temporary Regular Job Exempt (Yes / No) Yes Job Category Operations Family Group Work Shift First (United States of America)

The Federal Reserve Banks are committed to equal employment opportunity for employees and job applicants in compliance with applicable law and to an environment where employees are valued for their differences.

Privacy Notice

OUR BANK has one of the most recognizable brands around the world. The Federal Reserve is the central bank of the United States—one of the world's most influential, trusted and prestigious financial organizations. The Federal Reserve is charged with the important mission of promoting a strong economy and a stable financial system and fulfills this responsibility by formulating national monetary policy, supervising and regulating banks and bank holding companies, and providing financial services for banks and the U.S. government.

OUR PEOPLE are diverse in background and ideas, which allows for ongoing creativity and innovation. Ultimately, they are the ones who push our high‑performance, exchange‑driven culture forward.

Why Our People Choose Us:

Our reputation precedes us There will always be room for personal growth Our people are first You’ll find the right balance Your responsibilities will be meaningful We hope that you will be our future colleague.

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