Director of Automation Engineering

Location: Chicago, IL (Corporate Headquarters)

Reports To: Senior Director, Process Engineering

Travel: Up to 50%

Position Summary

The Director of Automation Engineering is responsible for leading the strategy, design, implementation, and optimization of enterprise-wide automation systems that support manufacturing excellence across multiple facilities. This role drives the adoption of advanced automation technologies, including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, robotics, industrial networking, and Industry 4.0 solutions to improve operational performance, reliability, quality, and sustainability.

The Director partners closely with Engineering, Operations, Information Technology, Quality, and external system integrators to deliver capital automation projects from concept through commissioning while establishing engineering standards and best practices that support long-term manufacturing success.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the specification, design, implementation, and optimization of plant-wide automation and control systems, including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, robotics, motion control, and advanced process controls.
• Develop and execute automation strategies that support operational excellence, manufacturing efficiency, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Integrate packaging, process, and utility systems to improve equipment performance, data visibility, and production reliability.
• Champion Industry 4.0 technologies, smart manufacturing, industrial analytics, and connected factory initiatives.
• Manage automation capital projects, including scope development, budgeting, scheduling, risk management, and execution.
• Lead equipment commissioning, startup activities, factory and site acceptance testing (FAT/SAT), system validation, and operator training.
• Establish automation engineering standards, documentation, programming standards, and preventive maintenance strategies that maximize equipment uptime.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and IT teams to ensure automation solutions align with business objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Manage relationships with automation vendors, OEMs, and system integrators while overseeing contract negotiations and project deliverables.
• Support manufacturing cybersecurity initiatives and ensure compliance with IT/OT security standards and data integrity requirements.
• Identify emerging automation technologies and recommend innovative solutions that improve productivity, quality, sustainability, and operational performance.
• Mentor automation engineers and provide technical leadership across multiple manufacturing facilities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related engineering discipline; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive automation engineering experience within manufacturing environments.
• Proven experience leading automation design, integration, commissioning, and startup for large-scale capital projects.
• Strong technical knowledge of PLC programming, HMI/SCADA platforms, industrial networking, robotics, motion control, and industrial control systems.
• Experience managing cross-functional engineering teams, contractors, system integrators, and equipment suppliers.
• Demonstrated success managing project budgets, schedules, vendor relationships, and contract negotiations.
• Working knowledge of industrial cybersecurity, IT/OT convergence, and manufacturing data systems.
• Experience developing engineering standards, best practices, and documentation for automation systems.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis skills.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and project management abilities.

Preferred Experience

• Manufacturing experience within consumer packaged goods (CPG), food and beverage, or fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG).
• Experience implementing smart manufacturing, digital transformation, and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies.
• Familiarity with MES, historian platforms, advanced analytics, and enterprise manufacturing systems.
• Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing operations.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Leadership
• Automation & Controls Engineering
• Capital Project Management
• Digital Transformation
• Robotics & Motion Control
• Industrial Networking
• Continuous Improvement
• Vendor & Contractor Management
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Manufacturing Operations
• Operational Excellence
• Problem Solving & Decision Making
• Change Management
• Communication & Team Leadership