Sr.Manager, Logistics and Packaging Process Owner

Thermo Fisher Scientific•Austin, TX

13d•Onsite

About The Position

Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Digital Operations and Manufacturing Automation team is seeking a Sr. Manager, Logistics and Packaging Process Owner to develop and implement automated packaging solutions across a diverse manufacturing network. The role serves as the primary subject matter expert across manufacturing environments that include bottles, vials, cell culture products, consumables, and other manufactured components. The process owner partners with global teams in R&D, Engineering, Operations, and Automation to standardize processes, eliminate waste, improve material flow, optimize packaging operations, and advance automation transformation. The successful candidate brings packaging automation expertise, hands-on engineering and troubleshooting skills, supplier management experience, and strong communication skills. The position supports manufacturing sites in evaluating manual operations, identifying automation opportunities, defining technical requirements, integrating equipment and systems, and qualifying and commissioning solutions. It also promotes compliance, safety, quality, Lean practices, reusable standards, training, and performance measurement across Thermo Fisher locations. The role requires travel to Thermo Fisher manufacturing and engineering sites in the Americas and EMEA, with expected travel of 30%. Travel may increase during site assessments, equipment builds, factory acceptance testing, installation, and qualification.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.
At least 8 years of experience in packaging automation, manufacturing automation, automated equipment development, or a related engineering field.
Demonstrated experience developing or implementing automated packaging equipment and systems.
Experience taking automation projects from initial concept and specification through design, fabrication, FAT, installation, and production qualification.
Hands-on experience troubleshooting automated equipment and resolving technical problems.
Experience with several of the following technologies: automated bagging and pouching; cartoning and case packing; labeling and product identification; robotic pick-and-place; conveying and product handling; or palletizing and end-of-line automation.
Ability to travel to manufacturing and engineering sites in the Americas and EMEA; expected travel is 30%, with periods of increased travel during project phases.

Responsibilities

Evaluate manual packaging operations at manufacturing sites and identify opportunities to reduce labor, improve safety and ergonomics, increase productivity, and improve process consistency.
Develop automation concepts for product handling, bagging, pouching, sealing, cartoning, labeling, shrink wrapping, case packing, conveying, inspection, and palletizing.
Evaluate applications for robotics, cobots, machine vision, flexible feeding, conveyors, automated material handling, and other packaging technologies.
Develop solutions that accommodate multiple products, package formats, production volumes, and changeover requirements.
Support sites with technical requirements, User Requirement Specifications (URS), and equipment design for packaging equipment, robotic palletizing, labeling, vision verification systems, and material movement systems such as AGVs, AMRs, and conveyors.
Collaborate with IT/OT and engineering teams to integrate shop-floor automation with MES, WMS, and ERP systems.
Scope work, evaluate proposals, and manage Tier-1 automation vendors, OEMs, and system integrators from design through FAT, SAT, and commissioning.
Ensure suppliers understand requirements for functionality, product handling, cycle time, process capability, quality, safety, documentation, validation, and schedule.
Participate in supplier selection, design reviews, equipment testing, FAT, IQ, OQ, and PQ, installation, commissioning, and production ramp-up.
Ensure packaging processes and equipment designs comply with relevant regulatory standards and safety requirements, including FDA, GMP, ISO, OSHA/OHSA, and machine guarding.
Facilitate technical discussions between suppliers and global Thermo Fisher teams so engineering intent, technical issues, decisions, and actions are clearly understood.
Establish quality verification checkpoints, such as automated vision inspection, barcode/serialization tracking, and dynamic checkweighers, to prevent packaging errors.
Apply Lean Manufacturing principles to simplify and optimize processes before introducing automation.
Help develop reusable equipment concepts, supplier capabilities, standards, and best practices for deployment across multiple Thermo Fisher locations.
Develop SOPs, line-operation training programs, and operational readiness playbooks for local plant engineering and operations teams.
Manage packaging and logistics operational metrics, including OEE, scrap rates, downtime, and throughput, and report performance metrics to executive leadership.