Project Manager - General Automation

Kids for the Future; City of Pewaukee (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Kids for the Future is seeking an Automation Project Manager to lead complex robotic and automated equipment projects. You will partner with engineering, sales, and applications teams to plan, schedule, and execute initiatives within budget and deadlines.

The role requires a 4-year engineering degree, extensive PM and automation experience, and hands-on robotics know-how with brands like Fanuc or ABB. Expect travel and cross-functional collaboration across departments to deliver solutions that

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience across project management, automated equipment/robotics, engineering, sales, or related roles.
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience with industrial automation/robotic systems including programming, teach pendant operation and cell troubleshooting.
• Strong background in industrial automation or engineered-to-order manufacturing environments preferred.

Responsibilities

• Meet with the project team to develop the project plan, schedule, and milestones.
• Assist the sales engineer in defining the scope of a project, establishing schedules and resource assignments, and ensuring scope definitions align with baselines for performance measurement and control.
• Coordinate with sales and lead engineers to identify and control changes to project scope, determine whether a change is beneficial, and assess its impact on project schedules.
• Identify and develop strategies for continual process improvement, including analysis of performance statistics against expected project outcomes.
• Monitor and control changes in the project schedule, determining whether changes are beneficial and managing them as they occur.
• Assist the sales and lead engineers in determining required resources (personnel, materials, etc.), cost estimating, lead time data, and overall project cost control; identify training needed to improve project performance.
• Assist the lead engineer in determining and ensuring compliance with applicable project standards.
• Monitor projects to ensure they stay in scope and meet customer requirements.
• Determine what information the customer and project team require and ensure timely delivery.
• Assist and monitor administrative closure of project phases and completion; assist the Assistant Controller with contract completion procedures, contract administration, and job costing, including monitoring job costs and distributing final data.
• Assist in risk identification, control, and response.
• Assist the lead engineer in identifying problems and developing resolution strategies.
• Assist in identifying new project opportunities.
• Depending on project scope, act as Lead Engineer to outline and guide the detailed design and ensure design consistency throughout the project, working with the respective Engineering Manager(s) to review and approve final designs.
• Support Sales/Applications by reviewing new opportunities to help determine solution direction and assisting with estimates and quotes.
• Work with Applications Engineering to standardize cost sheets and industry-specific quote documents.
• Review opportunities to develop new standard products, including the development and design of a lab machine.
• Work with all departments to establish design best practices, standards, and guidelines for equipment consistent with company needs and industry requirements.
• Establish safety standards for industry-specific equipment and review/confirm execution on each project (requirements, devices, design parameters, etc.).
• Support engineering and purchasing in identifying, qualifying, and selecting appropriate vendors.
• Assist in developing an industry-specific template for a Maintenance Manual.
• Travel as required to complete project management tasks.
• Perform other responsibilities and projects as assigned by management.

Skills

Project management

Industrial automation

Robotics

Engineering

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related

Tools

Fanuc

ABB

Job description

• Employee Type FT Exempt
• Required Degree 4 Year Degree
• Travel 10%

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as management deems necessary from time to time.

• Meet with the project team to develop the project plan, schedule, and milestones. Identify open issues, pending decisions, and assign responsibilities.
• Assist the sales engineer in defining the scope of a project, establishing schedules and resource assignments, and ensuring scope definitions align with baselines for performance measurement and control.
• Coordinate with sales and lead engineers to identify and control changes to project scope, determine whether a change is beneficial, and assess its impact on project schedules.
• Identify and develop strategies for continual process improvement, including analysis of performance statistics against expected project outcomes.
• Monitor and control changes in the project schedule, determining whether changes are beneficial and managing them as they occur.
• Assist the sales and lead engineers in determining required resources (personnel, materials, etc.), cost estimating, lead time data, and overall project cost control; identify training needed to improve project performance.
• Assist the lead engineer in determining and ensuring compliance with applicable project standards.
• Monitor projects to ensure they stay in scope and meet customer requirements.
• Determine what information the customer and project team require and ensure timely delivery.
• Assist and monitor administrative closure of project phases and completion; assist the Assistant Controller with contract completion procedures, contract administration, and job costing, including monitoring job costs and distributing final data.
• Assist in risk identification, control, and response.
• Assist the lead engineer in identifying problems and developing resolution strategies.
• Assist in identifying new project opportunities.
• Depending on project scope, act as Lead Engineer to outline and guide the detailed design and ensure design consistency throughout the project, working with the respective Engineering Manager(s) to review and approve final designs.
• Support Sales/Applications by reviewing new opportunities to help determine solution direction and assisting with estimates and quotes.
• Work with Applications Engineering to standardize cost sheets and industry-specific quote documents.
• Review opportunities to develop new standard products, including the development and design of a lab machine.
• Work with all departments to establish design best practices, standards, and guidelines for equipment consistent with company needs and industry requirements.
• Establish safety standards for industry-specific equipment and review/confirm execution on each project (requirements, devices, design parameters, etc.).
• Support engineering and purchasing in identifying, qualifying, and selecting appropriate vendors.
• Assist in developing an industry-specific template for a Maintenance Manual.
• Travel as required to complete project management tasks.
• Perform other responsibilities and projects as assigned by management.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in Project Management, Automated Equipment/Robotics, Engineering, Sales, Applications, or other relevant experience.
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience with industrial automation/robotic systems (e.g. Fanuc, ABB, or similar) including programming, teach pendant operation and cell troubleshooting
• Strong background in industrial automation or engineered-to-order manufacturing environments preferred.

Summary

Under the general supervision of the VP Engineered Solutions, the Automation Project Manager (PM) is responsible for planning, administering, and completing assigned projects within budget and scheduling constraints. This role organizes and defines the total scope of a project, defines project requirements, and coordinates and facilitates project communication. The Automation Project Manager assists the lead engineers in developing and executing project plans, reviews reports of production, malfunction, and maintenance to determine or address problems, and provides technical support throughout the engineering process.