Lead Automation Engineer

Power Design; Saint Petersburg (FL); On-site; USD 170,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Power Design Inc. is a national design-build contractor seeking a Senior Director of Robotics & Automation to build the function from the ground up.

As Lead Automation Engineer, you will anchor manufacturing domains including prefab, LFG/switchgear, and wire division, owning vendor evaluations, FAT/SAT, and controls architecture. Expect early hands-on deployments within 90 days and close collaboration with OT data integration.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in industrial automation or robotics engineering.
• Hands-on experience with cobot platforms (Universal Robots, FANUC, KUKA) and machine vision (Cognex, Keyence).
• Strong PLC/SCADA background; read ladder logic and define OT integration requirements.
• Experience running FAT/SAT processes; written acceptance criteria.
• Ability to evaluate vendors critically; distinguish demos from production deployments.
• Electrical, mechanical, or industrial engineering background preferred.
• Experience in prefab, manufacturing, or electrical construction is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead evaluation and selection of automation systems across prefab and LFG/switchgear manufacturing.
• Own FAT (Factory Acceptance Testing) and SAT (Site Acceptance Testing) for all robotics deployments; define criteria and sign off.
• Develop and maintain controls architecture standards across manufacturing domains (PLC/SCADA, safety, OT data layer).
• Serve as the primary technical interface with automation vendors; evaluate claims and negotiate scope.
• Partner with the Integration Engineer to ensure real-time data feeds into Oracle Fusion.
• Support capital investment cases with technical content (scope, specs, risk, timelines).
• Work with the CI team on wire division automation deployments as needed.

Skills

Industrial automation

Robotics engineering

Cobot platforms

Machine vision

PLC/SCADA

Vendor evaluation

OT integration

Education

Electrical/Mechanical/Industrial Engineering degree

Tools

Universal Robots

FANUC

KUKA

Cognex

Keyence

Job description

About The Position

Power Design Inc. is a $1.4B national design-build multi-trade contractor operating across 28 states with 3,000+ employees. We self-perform everything — design, prefabrication, installation, and delivery. Our manufacturing operations produce panels, assemblies, unit kits, switchgear, and processed wire at scale. We are building the automation platform that lets us grow output without growing headcount proportionally.

About The Position

Power Design Inc. is a $1.4B national design-build multi-trade contractor operating across 28 states with 3,000+ employees. We self-perform everything — design, prefabrication, installation, and delivery. Our manufacturing operations produce panels, assemblies, unit kits, switchgear, and processed wire at scale. We are building the automation platform that lets us grow output without growing headcount proportionally.

Our manufacturing division is young, profitable, and growing. For the right operator, that means the ability to build something with real visibility — and real stakes.

About The Opportunity

The Senior Director of Robotics & Automation is building the function from the ground up. As Lead Automation Engineer, you are the technical anchor for the manufacturing domains: prefab, LFG and switchgear manufacturing, and the wire division (supported by CI). You own vendor evaluations, FAT/SAT execution, controls architecture, and deployment credibility across the manufacturing floor. When a cobot vendor says their system can do something, you are the person in the room who knows if that's true. This is not a role for someone who needs time to ramp up — you will be evaluating vendors and leading deployments in the first 90 days.

Position Responsibilities

• Lead technical evaluation and selection of automation systems across prefab and LFG/switchgear manufacturing — cobots, machine vision, bending automation, heavy material handling robotics.
• Own FAT (Factory Acceptance Testing) and SAT (Site Acceptance Testing) for all manufacturing robotics deployments. Define acceptance criteria, run the tests, sign off or escape.
• Develop and maintain controls architecture standards across manufacturing domains — PLC/SCADA, safety systems, and integration points with the Operational Technology (OT) data layer.
• Serve as the primary technical interface with automation vendors. Evaluate claims, negotiate scope, and protect PDI from being oversold on capability or timeline.
• Partner with the Integration Engineer to ensure every deployed system feeds real-time operational data into Oracle Fusion. No shadow systems.
• Support capital investment cases with technical content — scope definition, system specs, risk flags, and realistic implementation timelines.
• Work closely with the CI team on wire division automation deployments as needed.

Here’s What We’re Looking For

• 7+ years in industrial automation or robotics engineering, with direct deployment experience in manufacturing environments.
• Hands‑on experience with two or more: cobot platforms (Universal Robots, FANUC, KUKA), machine vision (Cognex, Keyence), industrial robotics for bending automation or heavy material handling.
• Strong PLC/SCADA background. You can read ladder logic, troubleshoot controls issues on the floor, and define integration requirements for the OT layer.
• Experience running FAT/SAT processes — you have written acceptance criteria, not just participated in testing.
• Ability to evaluate vendors critically. You know the gap between a demo and a production deployment.
• Electrical, mechanical, or industrial engineering background preferred.
• Experience in prefab, manufacturing, or electrical construction is a significant plus.
• Demonstrate and uphold Power Design's core values, which include integrity, accountability, teamwork, innovation, and growth.

At Power Design, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Power Design believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is paramount to our success as a national company, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool nationwide

About Us

Power Design is a National Design Build Contractor, focused on innovative construction across multiple trades: electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and systems technologies. Since 1989, we’ve disrupted the industry by putting next‑generation ideas to powerful, practical use because we care. We design breakthrough solutions that push the limits of what’s possible by harnessing the collaborative power of our teams to elevate experiences and empower the communities where we live and work. In an industry that tends to look back, we’re building better by staying grounded in our values, dedicated to our unique culture, and supportive of work‑life balance – making us built to last. By investing in our people and doing things differently, we’re designing what’s next.
To learn more, visit www.powerdesigninc.us.