Head of Automated Manufacturing

Dandy • Indianapolis, IN

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Dandy is transforming the massive and antiquated dental industry—an industry worth over $200B. Backed by some of the world’s leading venture capital firms, we’re on an ambitious mission to simplify and modernize every function of the dental practice through technology. As we expand our reach globally, Dandy is building the operating system for dental offices around the world—empowering clinicians and their teams with technology, innovation, and world-class support to achieve more for their practices, their people, and their patients. Dandy is transforming the dental industry through cutting-edge technology and digital manufacturing solutions. With ambitious plans to reach $2B in revenue and service multiple international markets by 2027, we're rapidly scaling our manufacturing capabilities—and automation is central to this growth strategy. We are looking for a Director of Manufacturing Automation to lead Dandy's manufacturing automation implementation strategy and execution across our expanding manufacturing network. This role will own the deployment and optimization of cutting-edge automation technologies and will lead a high-performing Automation Engineering team. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and hands-on leader who thrives at the intersection of engineering, operations, and R&D, with the ability to deliver scalable automation solutions that drive efficiency and quality as we grow manufacturing volume and expand internationally.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in automation engineering, controls, or industrial systems, including at least 5 years of management experience.
• Experience working with homegrown MES systems
• Familiarity with IQ/PQ processes
• Strong background in the validation and commissioning of automation equipment in regulated environments.
• Experience leading teams and managing cross-functional automation initiatives at scale.
• Proven success in driving system reliability, efficiency, and integration in a high-growth manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with SCADA, PLC programming, and industrial control systems.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in dental, medical devices, or high-precision manufacturing is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Automation Strategy & Deployment Drive Dandy's automation implementation roadmap in alignment with our business goals and global expansion plans.
• Partner with AME on the design, validation, and commissioning of new automation equipment and systems across multiple sites.
• Oversee factory and site acceptance testing (FAT/SAT), validation protocols, and risk assessments.
• Accelerate the integration of new technologies into production with minimal disruption to operations.
• Leadership Manage and grow a cross-functional team of engineers, technical staff and machine operators
• Serve as the technical authority for automation systems, controls, and integration architecture.
• Establish best practices for system reliability, lifecycle management, and safety compliance that can scale across international facilities.
• Continuous Improvement & Maintenance Partner with operations and maintenance teams to ensure optimal performance of automation systems.
• Implement predictive and preventive maintenance strategies to improve system uptime and production yield.
• Use data analytics and root cause analysis to drive continuous improvement of equipment performance.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration Collaborate closely with Manufacturing, R&D, and Product Development to align on design-for-automation principles.
• Support the development of scalable processes that enable product and production innovation.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship across cross-functional teams.
• Monitor and manage automated and semi-automated production activities

Benefits

• For full-time positions, Dandy offers a wide range of best-in-class, comprehensive, and inclusive benefits tailored to each country where we operate.
• Our local benefits packages typically include healthcare, dental, mental health support, parental planning resources, retirement savings options, and generous paid time off—ensuring our team members are supported no matter where they live and work.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director