Automation Project Manager — Custom Robotics & Systems

Actalent, Inc.; Brighton (MI); On-site; USD 72,000 - 104,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and R

Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & DD)

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Time Off/Leave

Job summary

Actalent seeks a Project Manager to lead custom automation and robotic system projects from order intake through installation and customer acceptance. You will be the primary contact for customers and internal stakeholders, coordinating engineering, manufacturing, controls, purchasing, and field service teams to deliver on schedule, within budget, and per technical specs.

You will drive risk management, cost tracking, and change control while ensuring successful FATs, installation, and customer

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience working in the automation industry.
• At least 2 years of experience in a project management role, preferably in custom automation or machine building.
• Demonstrated project management and program management skills, including planning, scheduling, budgeting, and risk management.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams including mechanical engineering, controls engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, and field service.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple custom automation and machine build projects simultaneously throughout the entire project lifecycle, from order intake through final customer acceptance.
• Develop, maintain, and update detailed project schedules, milestones, budgets, and deliverables to ensure clear expectations and timely execution.
• Serve as the primary customer contact for project status updates, change requests, and issue resolution.
• Coordinate and align activities between mechanical engineering, controls engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, and field service teams to keep projects on track.
• Facilitate internal and customer-facing project meetings, clearly communicate objectives, and provide regular progress updates to all stakeholders.
• Track project costs, labor utilization, scope changes, and overall project performance to ensure projects remain within budget and meet profitability targets.
• Identify project risks early, develop mitigation strategies, and proactively implement actions to keep projects on schedule and within scope.
• Review project specifications, contracts, and customer requirements to ensure thorough understanding and successful execution of each project.
• Manage project documentation, including schedules, meeting notes, action items, and change orders, maintaining accurate and organized records.
• Support equipment buyoffs and Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs), coordinating activities to ensure systems meet customer expectations and requirements.
• Oversee installation activities and provide support during customer launch to ensure a smooth transition from project execution to production operation.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to project execution, communication, and customer satisfaction, sharing lessons learned across projects.

Job description

Actalent seeks a Project Manager to lead custom automation and robotic system projects from order intake through installation and customer acceptance. You will be the primary contact for customers and internal stakeholders, coordinating engineering, manufacturing, controls, purchasing, and field service teams to deliver on schedule, within budget, and per technical specs.

You will drive risk management, cost tracking, and change control while ensuring successful FATs, installation, and customer