Head of Physical Automation & Smart Manufacturing

First Quality

Williamsport (Lycoming County)

On-site

USD 120,000 - 170,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary and bonus

Paid time off

Medical, dental and vision

401(k) with employer match

Paid parental leave

Dependent care FSA with employer match

Tuition assistance

Wellness program

Job summary

First Quality is seeking a Physical Automations Leader to design, implement and optimize automation solutions across multiple sites, driving manufacturing efficiency, safety, and quality. The role focuses on robotics, autonomous material handling, and machine vision within a dynamic production environment.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s in engineering, 7+ years in automation, and experience with 4.0 concepts, PLCs, and Six Sigma.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Automation Engineering; advanced degree preferred.
Minimum 7 years of experience in automation engineering, robotics integration, or industrial controls within a high-speed manufacturing environment.
Proven track record of designing and implementing successful physical automation solutions.
Experience with Manufacturing 4.0 concepts, including connected equipment, IoT integration, and smart manufacturing systems.
Knowledge of manufacturing regulatory standards (ISO 9001, OSHA, FDA) desirable.
Expertise in PLC programming, robotics control systems, and machine vision technologies.
Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies.
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with proven root cause analysis capabilities.
Exceptional project management skills, able to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
Excellent communication skills, adept at working with both technical teams and business stakeholders.
Ability to coach, benchmark, and work closely with different sites and operations.
Vendor management and negotiation skills.
Data‑driven, disciplined, objective, and detail‑oriented.
Passion for innovation and continuous improvement.
Supports and promotes safe practices and environmental commitments in alignment with company policies and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

Establish automation goals, objectives, and overall strategy for the division.
Lead the design, selection, and deployment of physical automation systems, including robotics, conveyors, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and machine vision solutions.
Conduct comprehensive assessments of manufacturing processes to identify automation opportunities and efficiency gains.
Collaborate with engineering, operations, IT, and safety teams to ensure automation solutions meet safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
Work with BU’s to develop and manage automation project roadmaps, budgets, and timelines.
Support BU’s through installation, commissioning, and integration of automation equipment into existing manufacturing lines.
Apply advanced engineering principles and digital tools to optimize automation performance and reliability.
Partner with vendors and technology providers to evaluate emerging automation technologies and ensure best-in-class solutions.
Set standards and drive accountability to create and maintain technical documentation, including equipment specifications, operating procedures, and maintenance plans.
Train and mentor engineering and operations teams on automation systems and best practices.
Establish metrics and KPIs to measure automation effectiveness and ROI.
Champion continuous improvement by integrating automation into Lean and Six Sigma initiatives.
Responsible for defining the life cycle management method of automation assets, and execution will be the responsibility of the Business as Usual (BAU) Team.
Additional duties as required.