Robotics & Automation Project Manager (PM II)

Robotics & Automation Project Manager (PM II)
Manufacturing Automation | Industrial Robotics | Multi-Site Deployment

Contract Duration: 12 Months to start
Location: Multiple U.S. Manufacturing Sites, Including Puerto Rico
Travel: Required as needed for site assessments, implementation, and startup
$70-$78/hr based on location and benefit selections
 
Orion Group is seeking an experienced Robotics & Automation Project Manager (PM II) to support the execution and deployment of industrial automation and robotics initiatives across multiple manufacturing sites throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.
This role will work closely with the Robotics Director, global robotics team, site engineering, manufacturing operations, and external system integrators to identify automation opportunities, evaluate technical feasibility, develop business cases, and lead projects from initial assessment through implementation and startup.

The ideal candidate brings a strong combination of industrial robotics deployment experience, technical project management, manufacturing operations knowledge, and vendor management expertise. This individual must understand the practical challenges of integrating automation into existing brownfield manufacturing environments, including legacy equipment, space limitations, safety requirements, process variability, and operational constraints.

This is not a hands-on robot programming position. Instead, the role requires an experienced automation professional who can provide technical oversight, challenge vendor recommendations, manage implementation risks, and ensure automation solutions are practical, reliable, and sustainable in real-world manufacturing environments.

Key Responsibilities

Robotics & Automation Project Management

• Lead end-to-end execution of assigned industrial robotics and automation projects, from initial assessment and project definition through installation, commissioning, and startup.
• Manage project scope, schedules, budgets, milestones, deliverables, risks, and stakeholder communications.
• Partner with manufacturing, engineering, operations, quality, safety, digital, and other cross-functional teams to identify automation opportunities and operational requirements.
• Translate business and manufacturing needs into clear project requirements, scopes of work, technical specifications, implementation plans, and measurable success criteria.
• Identify potential project roadblocks, coordinate decisions, and maintain alignment across multiple stakeholders and manufacturing sites.
• Prepare project documentation, progress reports, risk assessments, decision logs, and implementation handoffs.

Industrial Robotics & Brownfield Integration

• Evaluate opportunities to integrate robotics and automation into existing manufacturing processes, equipment, and infrastructure.
• Conduct onsite assessments to identify operational constraints, technical risks, and potential integration challenges.
• Assess the feasibility and practicality of automation solutions based on cycle times, process variability, material flow, facility layout, utilities, and existing controls.
• Evaluate industrial robots, collaborative robots (cobots), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), machine vision, material handling systems, and other automation technologies.
• Review equipment interfaces, end-of-arm tooling, sensing technologies, safety systems, and operator interaction requirements.
• Identify potential limitations involving legacy equipment, maintainability, exception handling, reliability, and long-term operational support.
• Ensure proposed solutions can be effectively deployed, operated, maintained, and scaled within existing facilities.

System Integrator & Vendor Management

• Lead or support the evaluation, selection, and management of system integrators, automation suppliers, engineering firms, and technology partners.
• Review vendor proposals, automation concepts, technical recommendations, schedules, risk assessments, and implementation plans.
• Provide technical oversight throughout design, integration, installation, testing, and startup activities.
• Challenge vendor assumptions and recommendations when necessary to ensure proposed solutions align with site requirements and operational realities.
• Monitor vendor performance, resolve technical and project-related issues, and ensure accountability for project deliverables.
• Coordinate with external partners and internal stakeholders to support successful implementation and operational readiness.

Automation Strategy Support & Continuous Improvement

• Support the identification and evaluation of future robotics and automation opportunities across manufacturing sites.
• Develop business cases and assess potential operational benefits, implementation risks, and project feasibility.
• Coordinate proof-of-concept activities, establish evaluation criteria, review results, and recommend next steps.
• Document lessons learned, recurring manufacturing challenges, and opportunities for standardized automation solutions.
• Collaborate with the global robotics team to support scalable automation deployment across multiple facilities.
• Travel to U.S. manufacturing locations, including Puerto Rico, to support project assessments, vendor coordination, implementation, and startup activities.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading, implementing, or supporting industrial robotics and automation deployments in existing brownfield manufacturing or comparable operating environments.
• Strong project management experience overseeing complex technical projects involving multiple stakeholders, vendors, and manufacturing operations.
• Practical understanding of industrial robotics and automation technologies, including industrial robots, collaborative robots, autonomous mobile robots, machine vision, material handling, end-of-arm tooling, safety systems, and industrial controls.
• Experience assessing automation feasibility, identifying integration challenges, and evaluating implementation risks within existing facilities.
• Proven ability to translate operational requirements into technical scopes of work, project deliverables, and implementation plans.
• Experience managing external system integrators, automation suppliers, equipment manufacturers, or engineering partners.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, equipment integration, legacy systems, process variability, and operational constraints.
• Strong understanding of the challenges associated with robotics installation, commissioning, startup, and sustained operation.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, organizational, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and drive projects through implementation.
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout the United States and Puerto Rico as needed.

Important: Candidates must have practical experience with robotics or automation deployment in operating facilities. Experience limited to greenfield design, research, simulation, or proof-of-concept demonstrations will not be sufficient on its own.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, food, chemical, or other regulated manufacturing industries.
• Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), validation requirements, quality systems, and regulated documentation.
• Knowledge of installation qualification (IQ), operational qualification (OQ), and performance qualification (PQ).
• Experience managing automation deployments across multiple manufacturing sites or business units.
• Background working as an automation project manager, robotics deployment manager, automation engineer, systems integrator, applications engineer, technical program manager, or automation consultant.
• Experience developing automation business cases, conducting feasibility assessments, and supporting early-stage project definition.
• Familiarity with robotics technologies and automation solutions designed for standardization or deployment across multiple facilities.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a technically knowledgeable, hands-on robotics deployment and automation project leader who understands the realities of integrating new technologies into existing manufacturing environments.
This individual should be comfortable working directly with manufacturing teams, evaluating automation opportunities, managing external integrators, and leading complex implementation projects without needing to personally program robots or design equipment.
Success in this position requires the ability to distinguish between automation solutions that are technically possible and those that can be successfully integrated, maintained, and operated in a real manufacturing setting.
Candidates who combine industrial robotics experience, brownfield integration knowledge, strong project execution skills, and the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders will be particularly well suited for this opportunity.


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Orion Group was founded in 1987 and is now one of the largest, independent, international recruitment companies. We have a network of 200 employees working from 24 offices, delivering a range of services – Talent Acquisition, Recruitment Outsourcing Services, Retained Search, Global Workforce Solutions, Completions & Commissioning and Materials Management – across 68 countries. As a global leader in workforce solutions, we recruit personnel across the Engineering & Technical, Office & Commercial, Scientific and Skilled Trades disciplines, for sectors including Oil & Gas, Life Science, Power & Utilities, Constructions & Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Renewables.