Automation Systems Manager – Electrical Assembly Lines

Overview of the Role

The Automation Systems Manager for Electrical Assembly Lines is a pivotal leadership position responsible for overseeing the design, implementation, and maintenance of automation systems within electrical manufacturing environments. This role demands a strategic thinker with a deep technical understanding of automation technologies, control systems, and electrical assembly processes. The successful candidate will lead cross-functional teams to optimize production efficiency, ensure system reliability, and drive continuous improvement initiatives. As a key contributor to the company's operational excellence, the Automation Systems Manager will collaborate closely with engineering, production, and quality assurance departments to align automation strategies with organizational goals.

The Automation Systems Manager – Electrical Assembly Lines leads the strategic planning, implementation, and optimization of automation technologies across electrical component assembly lines. This role involves managing PLC/DCS/SCADA systems, robotics, vision inspection, conveyor systems, and digital integration (MES/IIoT) to improve productivity, quality, and traceability in high-throughput production environments.

Key Focus Areas:

1. Automation Architecture & Design

• Design and implement automation strategies for electrical sub-assembly and final assembly lines.

• Define architecture for PLCs, SCADA, HMIs, servo systems, and field I/O devices.

2. System Integration

• Oversee integration of robotics, pick-and-place systems, barcode/RFID scanners, automated testing stations, and vision systems.

• Ensure seamless interaction between hardware, software, and production processes.

3. Controls Programming and Optimization

• Lead or supervise development of PLC logic (Siemens, Allen-Bradley, etc.), HMI interfaces, and motion control systems.

• Drive cycle time reduction, error-proofing (Poka-Yoke), and process standardization.

4. MES and Data Connectivity

• Coordinate MES/SCADA integration for real-time monitoring, work order tracking, and traceability.

• Enable IIoT connectivity and dashboards for OEE, downtime analysis, and predictive maintenance.

5. Quality and Compliance

• Implement inline inspection, test benches, and feedback loops for quality assurance.

• Ensure systems comply with electrical safety (IEC/NFPA), ESD controls, and ISO standards.

6. Project Management

• Lead automation upgrade projects from concept through commissioning.

• Manage timelines, budgets, vendor coordination, FAT/SAT, and validation protocols.

7. Continuous Improvement & Lean Automation

• Identify automation bottlenecks and deploy continuous improvement initiatives.

• Champion lean principles and smart automation for just-in-time (JIT) assembly processes.

8. Team Development & Leadership

• Supervise a team of automation engineers, technicians, and external integrators.

• Develop SOPs, training modules, and skill matrices to enhance automation capability.

Qualifications:

• Education:

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s in Electrical, Electronics, Mechatronics, or Automation Engineering.

• Experience:

  • 10+ years in manufacturing automation with at least 3–5 years in a managerial capacity.

  • Experience in electrical or electronics assembly lines (e.g., switchgear, panels, devices, EV components).

• Skills:

  • Strong in PLC/SCADA/HMI systems (Siemens, Rockwell, Beckhoff, etc.).

  • Hands-on with robot programming (ABB, Fanuc, KUKA), motion control, and safety systems.

  • Understanding of MES, OPC UA, and industrial networking (Ethernet/IP, Profinet, etc.).