Automation Program Lead - Factory Transformation & Efficiency

HBD Industries; Charlotte (NC); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

HBD Industries is pursuing an Automation Project Manager to define, develop, and execute the automation roadmap across multiple sites in the United States. You will collaborate with business leaders to select first projects and drive them to completion, delivering measurable gains in safety, quality, delivery, and productivity.

The role partners with an Automation Project Engineer to execute projects, requires leadership across operations, maintenance, quality, safety, IT and finance, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical discipline.
• Three (3) years of manufacturing experience in automation, robotics, manufacturing engineering, operations engineering, or advanced manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience leading automation projects from concept through implementation.
• Experience developing capital project justifications, ROI analyses, and business cases.
• Proven success managing external suppliers, system integrators, and technical contractors.
• Experience commissioning, troubleshooting, and stabilizing manufacturing equipment.
• Strong project management and cross-functional leadership experience.
• Experience leading organizational change and technology adoption initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead shop-floor assessments to identify, validate, and prioritize automation opportunities.
• Facilitate feasibility studies including technical, operational, safety, quality, and financial evaluations.
• Quantify expected improvements in safety, quality, productivity, throughput, or operating costs.
• Evaluate alternative technologies, concepts, and implementation approaches.
• Present recommendations and investment proposals to plant and senior leadership teams for approval.
• Lead automation projects from initial concept through production stabilization.
• Develop project charters, schedules, budgets, risk assessments, and implementation plans.
• Coordinate cross-functional implementation teams including operations, maintenance, quality, safety, supply chain, IT, finance, and external integration partners.
• Manage equipment suppliers, system integrators, contractors, and technical consultants.
• Track project performance against scope, schedule, budget, and expected benefits.
• Identify and mitigate technical and operational risks throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure successful startup, commissioning, validation, and throughput achievement.

Skills

Automation project management

Project leadership

Cross-functional leadership

ROI analyses

Supplier management

Troubleshooting

Robot integration

Safety risk assessment

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

HBD Industries is pursuing an Automation Project Manager to define, develop, and execute the automation roadmap across multiple sites in the United States. You will collaborate with business leaders to select first projects and drive them to completion, delivering measurable gains in safety, quality, delivery, and productivity.

The role partners with an Automation Project Engineer to execute projects, requires leadership across operations, maintenance, quality, safety, IT and finance, and