Automation and Robotics deployment Leader # 26-26597

USTech Solutions•Chicago, IL

About The Position

This one-year contract role supports manufacturing automation and robotics initiatives across multiple US sites, including Puerto Rico. Working within priorities set by the Robotics Director and global robotics team, the contractor partners with site stakeholders to identify and assess opportunities, translate operational needs into requirements and business cases, and lead selected projects from definition through implementation and startup. The role requires an experienced deployment leader who can work independently, build trust with manufacturing teams, and manage external delivery partners. Practical experience evaluating or deploying robotics in operating brownfield environments is essential. The role provides informed technical and project leadership, assessing integration constraints and challenging vendor recommendations when appropriate. System integrators perform detailed design, programming, and equipment build; hands-on robot programming is not required. The contractor will assess whether proposed solutions can be reliably operated, maintained, supported, and scaled, considering factors such as process variability, space and material flow, safety, controls, maintainability, exception handling, operator interaction, and implementation risk. Travel within the US and Puerto Rico may be required for site engagement, project definition, vendor activities, implementation, and startup.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience evaluating, implementing, or supporting industrial robotics and automation deployments in operating brownfield manufacturing, logistics, laboratory, or similar environments; greenfield design, demonstrations, research, or simulation experience alone is insufficient.
Ability to independently structure and drive work across multiple stakeholders, manage ambiguity, surface decisions, and move projects toward measurable outcomes.
Experience translating workflows and operational needs into requirements, scopes of work, vendor deliverables, and implementation plans.
Experience managing system integrators, equipment suppliers, engineering firms, or other external technical delivery partners.
Strong working knowledge of industrial robotics and automation technologies, including capabilities, limitations, and common failure modes in existing facilities.
Ability to assess application fit and deployment risk across industrial and collaborative robots, autonomous mobile robots, machine vision, material handling, end-of-arm tooling, safety systems, controls, and interfaces with legacy equipment.
Strong communication and stakeholder leadership skills, including the ability to work credibly across technical and non-technical functions and with site and global teams.
Comfort working in a contract role requiring ownership of defined deliverables, rapid integration into an existing team, and independent execution within established strategic direction.

Nice To Haves

Experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, food, chemical, or another regulated manufacturing environment.
Familiarity with GMP, validation, quality systems, or regulated project documentation, including IQ/OQ/PQ where applicable.
Prior experience as an end user, system integrator, automation supplier, applications engineer, technical program manager, or automation consultant.
Experience supporting opportunity assessments or early project definition in addition to project execution.
Exposure to deployments across multiple sites or business units and to solutions intended for reuse or scale.

Responsibilities

Lead day-to-day execution of assigned automation and robotics projects, coordinating scope, schedule, budget, risks, decisions, stakeholders, and system integrators from definition through implementation.
Engage manufacturing, engineering, operations, digital, quality, safety, and other site functions to understand workflows, pain points, constraints, and desired outcomes.
Conduct on-site assessments of processes and infrastructure to identify brownfield constraints and reduce integration, startup, and sustained-operation risks.
Translate operational needs into project scope, user requirements, success criteria, business value, and deliverables aligned with technical, safety, compliance, and site expectations.
Assess automation and robotics opportunities in brownfield environments, distinguishing technical feasibility from reliable operation, maintenance, support, and scalability.
Evaluate application fit, process variability, cycle time, space, material flow, utilities, legacy equipment and controls, safety, end-of-arm tooling, sensing and vision, exception handling, human interaction, and implementation risk.
Build alignment and ownership among site stakeholders, clarify roles and decisions, resolve roadblocks, and maintain project momentum.
Lead or support selection and management of system integrators, equipment suppliers, and technology partners; review proposals, concepts, schedules, risk assessments, and implementation plans; and hold partners accountable for delivery.
Provide practical technical oversight based on prior robotics deployment experience, compare alternatives, identify brownfield constraints, test vendor assumptions, and challenge recommendations without acting as the detailed designer or programmer.
Support development of the future automation pipeline by documenting repeatable needs, assessing opportunities, and sharing site insights with the global robotics team.
Plan and oversee focused proof-of-concept activities, defining objectives and evaluation criteria, coordinating partners, assessing results, and recommending whether to advance, modify, or stop the work.
Produce project documentation, decision records, status updates, risk tracking, and handoffs appropriate to the project and operating environment.
Travel within the US and Puerto Rico as needed for site engagement, project definition, vendor activities, implementation, and startup.