Automation Program Lead - Manufacturing Innovation

HBD Industries; North Carolina; On-site; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

HBD Industries is seeking an Automation Project Manager to define, develop, and execute a comprehensive automation roadmap across multiple sites. You will collaborate with business leaders to select first projects and drive them to measurable safety, quality, and productivity improvements.

This role partners with the Automation Project Engineer to complete initiatives. Responsibilities include leading shop-floor assessments, feasibility studies, and ROI analyses, and presenting investment

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Engineering or related technical discipline.
• Three (3) years of manufacturing experience with increasing responsibility 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

Robotics

Project Management

Cross-functional Leadership

Vendor Management

Risk Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Job description

HBD Industries is seeking an Automation Project Manager to define, develop, and execute a comprehensive automation roadmap across multiple sites. You will collaborate with business leaders to select first projects and drive them to measurable safety, quality, and productivity improvements.

This role partners with the Automation Project Engineer to complete initiatives. Responsibilities include leading shop-floor assessments, feasibility studies, and ROI analyses, and presenting investment