Manufacturing Automation Senior Director

Thermo Fisher Scientific • Austin, TX

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue exceeding $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies or increasing efficiency in their laboratories, we are here to support them. How will you make impact? Seeking an experienced leader to drive innovation and efficiency in our manufacturing automation program. This position demands extensive technical knowledge, effective operational management, and a demonstrated track record of successfully implementing large-scale projects in intricate manufacturing settings. We are seeking a catalyst for change who can work with various teams, sway senior collaborators, and motivate technical teams to attain groundbreaking results. Thank you for your interest as you consider starting a new career journey with us. As the world leader in serving science, our colleagues develop critical solutions through innovation—and build rewarding careers. Discover their extraordinary stories and connection to our Mission to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Their work is a story of purpose. What story will you tell? Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue of more than $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, increasing productivity in their laboratories, improving patient health through diagnostics or the development and manufacture of life-changing therapies, we are here to support them. Our global team delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, Patheon and PPD. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. Thermo Fisher Scientific is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, veteran status, age or disability status.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or related technical field required; Master’s degree or MBA or equivalent experience preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing, engineering, or industrial operations.
• 5+ years in leadership roles with responsibility for large-scale automation or digital transformation initiatives.
• Consistent track record of implementing advanced automation technologies in regulated or high-complexity environments (e.g., life sciences, electronics, automotive, etc.).
• Deep knowledge of manufacturing systems, automation platforms, robotics, and Industry 4.0 principles.
• Solid critical thinking and program management skills.
• Outstanding communication, leadership, and collaborator influencing abilities.
• Experience working in matrixed, global organizations.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent process improvement credentials.
• Experience in regulated industries (Life Sciences, Pharma, Medical Device, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the enterprise-wide strategy for manufacturing automation, aligning with long-term business goals and operational excellence targets.
• Assess, choose, and deploy automation technologies (robotics, IoT, AI/ML, digital twins, MES, etc.) to enhance efficiency, quality, safety, and agility.
• Partner closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, IT, Digital Operations, Quality, and Site Leaders to ensure automation initiatives are coordinated and scalable across global sites and across divisions.
• Drive adoption of automation throughout all levels of the organization through effective collaboration, training, and communication.
• Build and manage multi-year budgets, project timelines, and a cross-functional team of engineers, program managers, and solution architects.
• Establish benchmarks, dashboards, and governance mechanisms to track progress, return on investment, and program impact. Ensure alignment with overall business performance metrics.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees