Director of Automation Engineering - Robotics & Digital Twin

Philips Recruiting Services / Philips Automotive Recruiting; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Philips Recruiting Services / Philips Automotive Recruiting is seeking a Director of Automation Engineering to lead advanced automation across multi-site manufacturing. You will drive robotics, digital simulation, virtual commissioning, and advanced controls to transform labor-intensive processes.

The role requires deep technical leadership, hands-on engineering capability, and a track record of delivering measurable operational savings through automation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics or Automation Engineering.
• 10+ years progressive engineering experience in complex/high-volume manufacturing environments.
• 5+ years leading automation, controls, robotics, or related technical teams.
• Automotive manufacturing experience preferred.
• Experience designing and implementing automation systems that replace/manual processes.
• Strong mechanical design knowledge and ability to evaluate concepts, tooling, fixtures, robotics, and automation equipment.
• Working knowledge of robotics, PLC controls, automation architecture, industrial networking, and manufacturing systems integration.
• Experience managing significant automation-related capital expenditures and budgets.
• Ability to lead projects from concept through installation, commissioning, and sustained production.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an enterprise-wide automation strategy to improve productivity, labor optimization, quality, safety, and efficiency.
• Evaluate manual processes to identify high-value automation opportunities.
• Lead concept development and mechanical design of custom automation equipment and robotic cells.
• Provide technical leadership across automation lifecycle from concept to production validation.
• Introduce and expand industrial robotics, collaborative robots, machine vision, AGVs/AMRs, and advanced PLC controls.
• Build internal engineering capabilities for rapid deployment of ROI-driven automation projects.
• Lead and develop a high-performing automation, controls, mechanical, robotics, and simulation team.
• Create automation standards, methodologies, and best practices for multiple sites.
• Develop detailed capital requests and business cases with ROI analysis.

Skills

Automation leadership

Robotics systems

Digital manufacturing

Simulation & virtual commissioning

Project management

ROI & capital budgeting

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Mechatronics

Automation Engineering

Tools

FANUC

ABB

KUKA

Yaskawa

Rockwell/Allen-Bradley

Siemens

SolidWorks

CATIA

Inventor

Siemens Plant Simulation

DELMIA

Arena

Job description

Philips Recruiting Services / Philips Automotive Recruiting is seeking a Director of Automation Engineering to lead advanced automation across multi-site manufacturing. You will drive robotics, digital simulation, virtual commissioning, and advanced controls to transform labor-intensive processes.

The role requires deep technical leadership, hands-on engineering capability, and a track record of delivering measurable operational savings through automation.