Senior Manager, Automation

Overview

About the Role

Ichor Systems is seeking a Senior Manager, Automation to lead the development and execution of automation strategies across our manufacturing operations. This role will identify and prioritize automation opportunities, lead engineering resources and projects, and partner across Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Quality, and other functions to improve safety, quality, cost, capacity, and throughput.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise in manufacturing automation with proven leadership and project execution experience. This leader will help translate operational needs into scalable automation solutions while establishing standards and capabilities that support continued manufacturing growth.

What You’ll Do

• Lead, develop, and mentor a team of automation and controls engineers, including hiring, performance management, and day-to-day people leadership.
• Develop and execute the automation strategy and roadmap aligned with manufacturing and business priorities, juggling multiple concurrent projects and schedules across the team.
• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize automation opportunities based on safety, quality, cost, capacity, labor efficiency, and return on investment.
• Lead automation projects from concept and business case development through design, implementation, validation, and production release.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Quality, Facilities, IT, and other teams to define automation requirements and implement solutions.
• Provide technical leadership for industrial automation, controls, robotics, machine vision, motion control, and equipment integration.
• Stay personally hands-on across both hardware and software - writing and reviewing controls code, working through panel-level and mechanical integration issues - rather than solely directing integrators or vendors; this role sets the technical bar, not just the schedule.
• Establish automation standards, specifications, documentation, and best practices, and drive alignment across engineering groups toward a common technology stack, to enable scalable solutions across manufacturing operations.
• Drive improvements in equipment reliability, utilization, cycle time, process capability, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Oversee troubleshooting and resolution of complex automation, controls, and equipment issues.
• Evaluate emerging automation technologies and determine their applicability to manufacturing operations.
• Develop business cases, project plans, budgets, timelines, and performance metrics for automation initiatives.
• Manage relationships with automation integrators, equipment manufacturers, technology providers, and other external partners.
• Support capital planning and equipment selection for new and existing manufacturing processes.
• Ensure automation solutions meet applicable safety, quality, regulatory, cybersecurity, and engineering requirements.
• Establish metrics to measure automation performance, project effectiveness, and realized business impact.
• Champion continuous improvement and increased adoption of automation across the organization.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, Controls Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in automation, controls, equipment engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a related technical field.
• 3+ years of direct people management experience (hiring, performance management, and career development of direct reports) leading automation or controls engineers.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing automation solutions in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong working knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, industrial controls, robotics, sensors, motion control, machine vision, and automated manufacturing equipment.
• Direct experience with EtherCAT (Ethernet for Control Automation Technology)-based automation architectures, with CODESYS and/or TwinCAT as primary Integrated Development Environments (IDEs); candidates with strong IEC 61131-3 Structured Text experience on other platforms (e.g., B&R) are also encouraged to apply.
• Experience leading automation or capital equipment projects from concept through production implementation.
• Demonstrated ability to develop project scope, requirements, budgets, schedules, and business cases.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and root-cause problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated hands-on breadth across both hardware (electrical/mechanical integration, panel-level troubleshooting) and modern software practices (structured, object-oriented programming; version control) - this role requires a builder who has done the work personally, not solely a legacy ladder-logic background or a vendor/integrator-management-only track record.
• Experience working with automation integrators, equipment manufacturers, and external technical partners.
• Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence stakeholders across multiple levels of an organization.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• Experience in semiconductor, high-purity gas delivery, precision manufacturing, cleanroom, or other highly technical manufacturing environments.
• Experience implementing industrial robotics, machine vision, advanced motion control, or autonomous material handling solutions.
• Familiarity with OPC UA (Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture) and other modern industrial communication protocols, along with manufacturing systems, equipment connectivity, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), data acquisition, and Industry 4.0 technologies.
• Experience with Python, SQL, C/C++, or other programming and scripting languages.
• Experience developing automation standards or deploying common automation solutions across multiple manufacturing areas or sites.
• Experience with Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience developing capital investment strategies and evaluating automation ROI.

Leadership Attributes

• Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on technical leadership.
• Strong people leadership, coaching, and team development skills.
• Ability to translate business and manufacturing challenges into clear automation priorities.
• Strong judgment and ability to prioritize investments based on operational and financial impact.
• Collaborative approach with the ability to build alignment across technical and operational teams.
• Comfortable leading change and introducing new technologies into established manufacturing environments.

Work Environment

This position operates across engineering, office, and manufacturing environments and may require time on the production floor or in cleanroom areas. The role may require occasional travel to other manufacturing locations, equipment suppliers, or automation partners. Required PPE and applicable safety procedures must be followed while working in manufacturing areas.