Automation Manager

LITEON Careers - U.S.; Plano (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Job summary

Lite-On in Plano, TX is seeking a seasoned Senior Manufacturing Automation leader to define and execute the site and program-level automation roadmap in alignment with global strategy.

You will identify high-impact opportunities across assembly, test, material handling, packaging, and inspection, and lead technology selection, standardization, and end-to-end projects from concept to handover.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Automation or related field; Master’s preferred.
• 10–12+ years in manufacturing automation or industrial engineering.
• 7+ years leading automation teams and projects.
• Hands-on experience in factory automation, robotics, and process optimization.
• Experience with PLC programming, SCADA, and industrial controls.
• Experience supporting NPI and scaling automation in production.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement knowledge.
• Ability to lead capacity planning, line design, and automation strategy.
• Experience collaborating with global teams, suppliers, and vendors.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• Familiarity with Industry 4.0 technologies is a strong plus.
• Experience in cost justification, ROI analysis, and CAPEX planning.
• 401(k), Health, dental, and vision insurance, Paid time off, Vision insurance

Responsibilities

• Define and execute site- and program-level automation roadmap aligned with Lite-On strategy.
• Identify high-impact automation opportunities across assembly, test, material handling, packaging, and inspection.
• Lead automation technology selection, standardization, and best-practice deployment.
• Lead end-to-end automation projects from concept to handover to production.
• Manage multiple concurrent automation programs with timelines, budgets, and risk mitigation.
• Ensure projects meet safety, quality, performance, and cost objectives.
• Oversee automation system architecture including robotics, PLCs, vision systems, conveyors, testers, and MES/ERP integration.
• Provide technical guidance to automation, controls, and software teams.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Quality, and Maintenance to support throughput, yield, and uptime.
• Drive reduction in labor dependency, cycle time, defects, and variation.
• Deliver measurable improvements in productivity and cost per unit.
• Track KPIs including ROI, OEE, cycle time, and system uptime.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of automation professionals.

Skills

Automation leadership

Factory automation

Robotics integration

PLC programming

SCADA systems

Industrial controls

Vision systems

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Data-driven decision making

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Automation

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

MES/ERP integration

PLC programming tools

SCADA software

Job description

• Define and execute the site and program‑level automation roadmap aligned with Lite‑On global manufacturing strategy.
• Identify high‑impact automation opportunities across assembly, test, material handling, packaging, and inspection processes.
• Lead automation technology selection, standardization, and best‑practice deployment.

Project & Program Management:

• Lead end‑to‑end automation projects from concept, feasibility, and ROI analysis through design, build, validation, and handover to production.
• Manage multiple concurrent automation programs with clear timelines, budgets, and risk mitigation plans.
• Ensure projects meet safety, quality, performance, and cost objectives.

Technical Oversight:

• Oversee automation system architecture including robotics, PLCs, vision systems, conveyors, testers, and MES/ERP integration.
• Provide technical guidance to automation, controls, and software engineering teams.
• Ensure automation solutions are robust, scalable, and maintainable.

Manufacturing & Operations Support:

• Partner with Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Quality, and Maintenance to ensure automation supports throughput, yield, and uptime goals.
• Drive reduction in labor dependency, cycle time, defects, and operational variation.
• Support new product introductions (NPI) and production ramp‑ups with automated solutions.

Cost & Performance Improvement:

• Deliver measurable improvements in productivity, labor efficiency, yield, and cost per unit through automation investment.
• Track automation KPIs including ROI, OEE improvement, cycle time reduction, and system uptime.
• Control capital expenditures and justify investments through data‑driven business cases.

People Leadership & Capability Building:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of automation, controls, and engineering professionals.
• Build internal automation capabilities and knowledge sharing across sites.
• Support talent development, succession planning, and workforce upskilling.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 10–12+ years of experience in manufacturing automation or industrial engineering, preferably in electronics or high-volume manufacturing environments.
• 7+ years of leadership experience managing automation teams, projects, and cross‑functional initiatives.
• Strong hands‑on experience in:
• Factory automation, robotics, and process optimization.
• PLC programming, SCADA systems, and industrial controls.
• Vision systems, robotics integration, and smart manufacturing technologies.
• Proven track record of successfully delivering end‑to‑end automation projects with measurable improvements in efficiency, cost reduction, and quality.
• Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI) and scaling automation solutions in production environments.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ability to lead capacity planning, line design, and automation strategy for manufacturing operations.
• Experience collaborating with global teams, suppliers, and equipment vendors for automation deployment.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and data‑driven decision‑making skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with experience presenting to senior leadership.
• Familiarity with Industry 4.0 technologies (IoT, data analytics, digital manufacturing) is a strong plus.
• Experience in cost justification, ROI analysis, and capital equipment planning (CAPEX) preferred.
• 401(k)
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Travel Requirement:

• 10-15% travel, subject to change based on business needs.