Automation Engineering Manager
About The Position
This is a corporate-level, high visibility engineering role responsible for identifying, evaluating and executing automation/controls projects. We are looking for someone with a strong automation/controls engineering background who wants to lead others by establishing standards and ensuring they are followed. This role will not have the time to write code. This role may have up to 50% travel required during peak times and should average 35%. The incumbent will perform a combination of Work from Home and travel to Scotts Miracle-Gro manufacturing sites. There are approximately 50 sites across the US and Canada. The Automation Engineering Manager is responsible for building the strategy, identifying opportunities to improve production/quality/safety, communicating the vision and leading the implementation of advanced automation within Scotts. They will be the subject matter expert for automation and work with stakeholders across the organization to understand the needs of initiatives that involve automation and align to an optimal solution based on time to implement, fit, and cost. This role will be an integral, high visibility position within the Global Supply Chain function helping to propel Scotts Miracle-Gro into the future. The role currently has one direct report, the corporate operational technology manager. Being successful in this role requires experience and understanding of operational technology within the disciplines of cybersecurity, integration of IT and OT, and operational technology as it relates to controls systems and advanced automation. The candidate will also need the ability to develop external resources, such as contractors and machine OEMs, to become part of their team. Having established contacts that can be utilized in this area will greatly aid in achieving success in this role.
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree, engineering or related technical field recommended. A high level of experience may be substituted for education if the experience is directly related to the role.
- Understanding of automation concepts in a manufacturing environment.
- Industrial Robotics (Fanuc preferred).
- 7–10 years of experience preferred, with an emphasis on subject matter expertise. A minimum of 4 years of deep experience in the core technical competencies is required.
- Knowledge of and experience with conceptualizing or designing automated solutions in a manufacturing environment.
- Knowledge of and experience with identifying automation opportunities through Gemba walks, team discussions, and data collection to build business cases.
- Thorough understanding of PLC and HMI technologies as well as power distribution (<=480V), VFD and Servo motion, various forms of control I/O and industrial networking protocols (Ethernet/IP, Modbus, OPC, RS-485).
- Familiarity with industrial asset inventory methods, both automated and manual.
- Experience with replacing legacy automation hardware with modern versions.
- Understanding of PLC/HMI/SCADA programming.
- Demonstrated leadership experience managing multiple projects in a collaborative environment.
- Exceptional ability to build and maintain relationships across a network of sites and corporate support functions.
- Excellent analytical, interpersonal, communications, organization, resource management, and technology utilization skills.
- Proven ability to handle changing priorities while maintaining a sense of urgency.
- Strong business acumen, with a solid record of leading change and delivering results.
Nice To Haves
- Having established contacts that can be utilized in this area will greatly aid in achieving success in this role.
Responsibilities
- The most important qualification for this role is the skill to walk the floor at Scotts’ manufacturing sites, observe the work, talk to operators, supervisors and operations leaders and arrive at opportunities for automating processes. Then collect data regarding production, demand, capacity, labor and other costs along with potential cost savings and cost to automate in order to build a business case to proceed.
- Be responsible for building the strategy, identifying opportunity, communicating the vision and leading the implementation of automation within Scotts.
- Lead multiple paths of automation: Planning, setting goals and executing for both individual projects and the wider strategy and roadmap for automation.
- Communicate the vision of automation to internal and external stakeholders across all levels of the organization. Create and maintain an automation roadmap aligned with overall Automation and Supply Chain strategies. Report regularly on current and planned project statuses to key stakeholders and senior leadership.
- Identify, lead, and advocate for automation opportunities. This involves identifying needs, scoping projects, building business cases and leading projects to completion to deliver solutions.
- Manage multiple simultaneous projects from business case development through successful startup by developing contractors, vendors, and internal resources. Partner with stakeholders to define requirements, establish parameters, and ensure high-quality delivery. Collaborate across cross-functional teams to drive project success.
- Develop standards for automation to aid in all aspects of automation.
- Collaborate with other parts of the organization to identify needs around automation to accomplish business goals, creating a plan and executing on those plans.
- Partner with other parts of the organization, especially operations, EHS and leadership to develop solutions for automation that provide return on investment, improve safety and increase quality of Scotts’ products.
- Lead both OT and IT efforts to ensure standards and practices are optimized for maximum production availability.
- Consult with engineering teams at the local/manufacturing site level as they conduct locally-led automation projects.
Benefits
- medical
- dental
- vision
- wellness reimbursement program
- 401K match (up to 7.5%)
- 15% discount on company stock
- Maven Family Planning
- up to $30,000 to accommodate for adoption, fertility and surrogacy
- Employee Resource Groups focusing on diversity and inclusion, family, education and sustainability
- community service and volunteerism opportunities
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
