Manager, Engineer - Robotics & Automation

SHOALS TECHNOLOGIES•Portland, TN

8d•Onsite

About The Position

This role blends deep technical expertise with strong people leadership, responsible for building, developing, and inspiring high performing engineering teams. We are seeking a highly skilled and visionary Manager, Engineering Robotics & Automation to lead the design, development, and optimization of advanced manufacturing and automation processes. This person will bring hands on experience with automation architectures, robotic system integration, and advanced controls engineering, including the ability to architect scalable, data driven manufacturing solutions. This leader will also guide the adoption of next generation technologies such as AI enabled automation, machine vision, and intelligent robotics to enhance throughput, quality, and operational reliability. The ideal candidate is not only a technical expert but also a strategic and empathetic leader who excels at coaching talent, fostering collaboration, and cultivating a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. This leader will guide multidisciplinary teams, manage complex projects, and align engineering initiatives with long term business objectives while ensuring safety, compliance, and operational excellence.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Automation, or related field.
Minimum of 8 years of engineering experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership or management role.
Proven expertise in robotics, automation systems, and industrial controls.
Proven experience bringing together teams with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and technical disciplines, creating alignment and driving effective collaboration to achieve shared goals.
Strong knowledge of PLCs, SCADA systems, machine vision, and robotic programming.
Experience with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
Experience leading teams through change, ambiguity, and rapid growth while maintaining clarity, alignment, and engagement.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across teams.
Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire engineering teams in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to work on site in Portland, Tennessee.

Responsibilities

People Leadership & Team Development
Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team of engineers, fostering a culture of trust, empowerment, and high performance.
Champion cross team collaboration, ensuring strong communication and alignment across engineering, operations, production, and leadership groups.
Build team capability through coaching, skills development, and thoughtful performance management.
Lead organizational change efforts by clearly communicating vision, aligning teams around priorities, and helping employees navigate transitions with clarity and confidence.
Promote strong operational discipline by establishing clear processes, reinforcing accountability, and ensuring teams consistently meet performance, safety, and quality expectations.
Build strong partnerships across departments by modeling effective communication, resolving conflicts constructively, and ensuring engineering teams are seen as trusted collaborators and problem solvers.
Technical & Strategic Leadership
Lead and coordinate diverse engineering groups to drive collaboration, align objectives, and deliver integrated solutions across complex projects.
Develop and execute engineering strategies to improve manufacturing efficiency, quality, and scalability with robotics and automation.
Oversee the design, development, and deployment of robotic systems and automated processes.
Collaborate with cross functional teams (operations, production, quality, safety) to identify automation opportunities.
Manage project timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure successful delivery of automation initiatives.
Evaluate and implement emerging technologies in robotics, AI, and industrial automation.
Establish best practices for system integration, safety, and compliance with industry standards.
Partner with senior leadership to align automation projects with long term business goals.
Other duties as assigned.