Manufacturing Automation Manager

KEB America, Inc.; Shakopee (MN); On-site; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Paid Time Off & holidays

401(k) match

Advancement opportunities

Job summary

KEB America, Inc. is seeking a Manufacturing Automation Manager to lead a four-person automation team and drive development, implementation, and continuous improvement of automated manufacturing processes in Shakopee, MN.

The role combines people management with strong automation depth; PLCs, HMIs, motion control, and industrial equipment expertise are essential. On-site work and collaboration across production, engineering, and maintenance are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of professional experience in manufacturing/automation.
• 5+ years in industrial automation, controls, or related field.
• Proven experience managing, coaching, and developing technical employees.
• Strong knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, motion control, and automated manufacturing equipment.
• Lean / continuous improvement methodologies familiarity.
• On-site work in Shakopee, MN preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the manufacturing automation team.
• Provide day-to-day direction, prioritization, accountability, and technical guidance.
• Design, implement, and optimize automated manufacturing systems and processes.
• Develop new automation processes and improve existing systems.
• Drive improvements in throughput, quality, safety, and efficiency.
• Collaborate with production, engineering, maintenance, and other cross-functional teams.
• Manage automation projects from planning through implementation.

Skills

PLCs

HMIs

Motion control

Industrial controls

Automated manufacturing equipment

People management

C# programming

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

PLC programming environments

Industrial automation software

Job description

KEB America, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of industrial automation solutions, including industrial PCs, HMIs, I/O modules, variable frequency drives (VFDs), servo and induction motors, integral gearmotors, and clutches and brakes.

The company operates a 150,000 sq. ft., ISO 9001:2015-certified facility in Shakopee, Minnesota, providing full design, assembly, and manufacturing capabilities. With approximately 125 employees, KEB America combines local expertise with the global strength of KEB Automation KG, headquartered in Germany, with production and sales operations worldwide.

Candidates joining KEB America can expect a technically advanced, quality-focused manufacturing environment with opportunities for collaboration across engineering, production, and global teams.

Role Description

KEB America is seeking a Manufacturing Automation Manager to lead an established four-person automation team and drive the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of automated manufacturing processes.

This role is ideal for an experienced automation leader who combines proven people-management experience with strong industrial automation and controls expertise. The manager does not need to spend every day programming PLCs, but must have the technical depth to guide the work, troubleshoot issues, and step in when needed.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop manufacturing automation team.
• Provide day-to-day direction, prioritization, accountability, and technical guidance.
• Design, implement, and optimize automated manufacturing systems and processes.
• Develop new automation processes and improve existing systems.
• Drive improvements in manufacturing efficiency, quality, safety, and throughput.
• Collaborate closely with production, engineering, maintenance, and other cross-functional teams.
• Manage automation projects, including planning, budgeting, resource allocation, testing, and implementation.
• Provide technical guidance around PLCs, HMIs, motion control, industrial controls, and automated manufacturing equipment.
• Troubleshoot automation and controls issues and support the team in resolving technical challenges.
• Evaluate new automation technologies and identify opportunities for process improvement.
• Analyze system and production performance, identify root causes, and implement practical solutions.
• Develop automation standards, documentation, and best practices.
• Support Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Balance hands-on technical involvement with team leadership and project oversight.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Approximately 8+ years of professional experience, including 5+ years in industrial manufacturing automation, controls, or a closely related field.
• Proven experience directly managing, coaching, and developing technical employees.
• Strong knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, motion control, industrial controls, and automated manufacturing equipment.
• Experience managing technical automation or manufacturing projects.
• Knowledge of manufacturing process optimization, Lean principles, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of safety standards and best practices related to automated manufacturing equipment and systems.
• Experience working within a manufacturing facility strongly preferred.
• Experience in an ISO-certified or similarly quality-focused manufacturing environment is beneficial.
• Working knowledge of C# or similar programming languages is a plus.
• Ability and desire to work full-time on-site in Shakopee, MN (no relocation assistance is provided at this time.)
• Base salary in the $100K- $160K range
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
• 401(k) match
• Opportunities for advancement

Additional Job Application Terms

This job is part of LinkedIn’s Full-Service Hiring beta program. Eligibility is limited to candidates located in and performing services in the United States, excluding those based in Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, South Carolina, or West Virginia.

We’re committed to making our hiring process as smooth and timely as possible, and we understand that waiting to hear back can add to the anticipation. If you’re a potential fit, our team will reach out within two weeks to progress you to the next stage. If you don’t hear from us in that time, we encourage you to explore other opportunities with our team in the future, and we wish you the very best in your job search.