Principal Automation Engineer

Cadence Inc; Virginia (MN); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Cadence is seeking a Principal Automation Engineer to lead advanced automation initiatives across manufacturing sites. You will partner with Business Development, Engineering, and Operations to develop concepts, strategies, and equipment recommendations.

The role requires 10+ years of automation experience in manufacturing, strong leadership, and hands-on execution, with up to 50% travel. Hybrid/onsite work near Cadence locations preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related discipline; Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, or Controls preferred.
• 10+ years of experience developing automation solutions within a manufacturing environment.
• Expertise in automation system design, controls engineering, robotics, machine vision, and system integration.
• Experience supporting capital equipment projects from concept through validation and production launch.
• Strong understanding of PLC programming, HMI development, industrial controls, sensors, robotics, and manufacturing automation technologies.
• Experience developing technical solutions and supporting customer quotations, capital planning, and project execution.
• Strong project management, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative automation solutions for new customer opportunities.
• Evaluate customer requirements and develop manufacturing concepts, automation strategies, and equipment recommendations.
• Provide technical input for quotations, including capital equipment requirements, engineering development effort, labor assumptions, validation requirements, and implementation timelines.
• Participate in customer meetings, technical reviews, and capability presentations.
• Identify emerging technologies and automation strategies that strengthen Cadence's competitive position and support growth objectives.
• Lead automation projects to successful completion by managing technical scope, schedules, budgets, resources, risks, and project deliverables while ensuring alignment with customer expectations and business objectives.
• Serve as a key technical leader on automation projects from concept through implementation.
• Develop automation architectures, equipment specifications, control strategies, and system integration plans.
• Support equipment design, procurement, installation, validation, and production readiness activities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, suppliers, and customers to ensure successful project execution.
• Provide technical guidance, troubleshooting, and hands-on support as needed throughout project lifecycles.
• Serve as the corporate automation subject matter expert across Cadence operations.
• Establish and maintain automation standards, best practices, and technology roadmaps.
• Support manufacturing sites with complex automation challenges, process improvements, and equipment optimization initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to improve quality, throughput, reliability, and operational efficiency through automation.
• Mentor engineers and share technical expertise across the organization.
• Evaluate new technologies and manufacturing solutions that support long-term capability development.

Skills

Automation system design

Controls engineering

Robotics

Machine vision

System integration

PLC programming

HMI development

Problem-solving

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, or Controls)

Job description

Job Description

Together, Advancing Patient Outcomes

At Cadence, we are a Medical Device Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) dedicated to advancing patient outcomes through innovation, engineering excellence, and manufacturing expertise. We partner with the world's leading MedTech and Pharma companies to bring life-changing products to market, and we're looking for talented professionals who thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and innovative Principal Automation Engineer to serve as a technical leader within our organization. This role will be responsible for developing advanced automation solutions that support new business opportunities, customer programs, and operational excellence initiatives across our manufacturing sites.

As a recognized subject matter expert, the Principal Automation Engineer will play a critical role in evaluating customer requirements, developing manufacturing concepts, supporting technical quotations, leading complex automation projects, and advancing Cadence's automation capabilities. This position combines strategic thinking with hands-on technical leadership and offers the opportunity to influence the future direction of manufacturing technologies across the organization.

What You'll Do

Drive Growth Through Innovation

• Partner with Business Development, Engineering, and Operations teams to develop innovative automation solutions that support new customer opportunities.
• Evaluate customer requirements and develop manufacturing concepts, automation strategies, and equipment recommendations.
• Provide technical input for quotations, including capital equipment requirements, engineering development effort, labor assumptions, validation requirements, and implementation timelines.
• Participate in customer meetings, technical reviews, and capability presentations.
• Identify emerging technologies and automation strategies that strengthen Cadence's competitive position and support growth objectives.

Lead Complex Automation Projects

• Lead automation projects to successful completion by managing technical scope, schedules, budgets, resources, risks, and project deliverables while ensuring alignment with customer expectations and business objectives.
• Serve as a key technical leader on automation projects from concept through implementation.
• Develop automation architectures, equipment specifications, control strategies, and system integration plans.
• Support equipment design, procurement, installation, validation, and production readiness activities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, suppliers, and customers to ensure successful project execution.
• Provide technical guidance, troubleshooting, and hands-on support as needed throughout project lifecycles.

Advance Manufacturing Excellence

• Serve as the corporate automation subject matter expert across Cadence operations.
• Establish and maintain automation standards, best practices, and technology roadmaps.
• Support manufacturing sites with complex automation challenges, process improvements, and equipment optimization initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to improve quality, throughput, reliability, and operational efficiency through automation.
• Mentor engineers and share technical expertise across the organization.
• Evaluate new technologies and manufacturing solutions that support long-term capability development.

What You'll Bring

• This is a hybrid or onsite position that can be based from any Cadence location (preferred locations: Cranston, RI, Cranberry Township, PA, or Staunton, VA). Travel up to 50% may be required.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical discipline; Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, or Controls Engineering preferred.
• 10+ years of experience developing and implementing automation solutions within a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in automation system design, controls engineering, robotics, machine vision, and system integration.
• Experience supporting capital equipment projects from concept through validation and production launch.
• Strong understanding of PLC programming, HMI development, industrial controls, sensors, robotics, and manufacturing automation technologies.
• Experience developing technical solutions and supporting customer quotations, capital planning, and project execution.
• Strong project management, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to influence cro