Manufacturing Automation Engineer – Cobots

The Role The Manufacturing Automation Engineer – Cobots leads the development, deployment, optimization, and sustainment of manufacturing automation solutions across GPS manufacturing sites. This role combines deep manufacturing engineering expertise with end-to-end project leadership. You will identify processes suitable for automation, evaluate the right solution—including collaborative robots (cobots), traditional industrial robots, vision systems, controls, and other automation technologies—and lead turnkey projects from concept through launch and sustainment. You will partner with plant teams, manufacturing engineering, controls and automation teams, suppliers, and business stakeholders to deliver solutions that improve safety, quality, ergonomics, throughput, labor efficiency, equipment utilization, and cost performance. This role supports projects across multiple plant locations. Travel is expected to vary by project phase and may reach 50% or more, including overnight travel and extended time at manufacturing plants during equipment build, installation, commissioning, and launch. Travel may exceed 50% during critical launch periods. What You’ll Do Visit manufacturing plants and assess current processes, production requirements, and operational constraints. Identify and prioritize automation opportunities that improve safety, ergonomics, quality, cycle time, labor efficiency, uptime, and cost. Conduct feasibility studies and determine the appropriate solution, including cobots, traditional industrial robots, vision systems, controls, tooling, sensors, and related technologies. Lead turnkey automation projects from concept and planning through design, equipment build, installation, commissioning, validation, launch, sustainment, and closeout. Develop project scopes, Statements of Requirements (SORs), technical specifications, project plans, timing, deliverables, and risk and issue-management plans. Obtain and evaluate OEM and supplier quotes; lead supplier and integrator selection in partnership with stakeholders. Secure project funding through applicable governance and approval processes. Coordinate design reviews and equipment development with plant manufacturing engineering, CME, controls and automation teams, safety and ergonomics stakeholders, suppliers, and OEMs. Ensure equipment and process designs meet manufacturing, quality, safety, ergonomic, capability, repeatability, and specification requirements. Coordinate equipment delivery, installation, production downtime windows, commissioning, startup, and launch support. Troubleshoot technical and process issues, perform root cause analysis, develop recovery plans, remove obstacles, and drive corrective actions through completion. Track project timing, open issues, risks, dependencies, and deliverables; communicate status and escalate barriers when needed. Validate equipment capability, repeatability, quality, safety, and process performance before transition to plant ownership. Develop standard work, process documentation, technical specifications, troubleshooting guides, training materials, and lessons learned. Train and support plant engineers, maintenance personnel, operators, and other stakeholders on system requirements and standardized methods. Review process data and performance metrics to identify gaps and drive continuous improvement. Complete project deliverables, deauthorization, and closeout activities. Benchmark and evaluate emerging technologies, tools, and methods that can improve manufacturing performance. Your Skills and Abilities Strong manufacturing technical depth and hands-on experience solving production and process problems. Ability to evaluate manufacturing processes and translate production needs into practical automation solutions and executable project plans. Demonstrated ability to lead projects from feasibility and concept through implementation, launch, validation, sustainment, and closeout. Strong project