Factory Automation Manager

🏭 We're Hiring: Factory Automation ManagerLocation: United Arab Emirates (Remote)Employment Type: Full-TimeExperience Level: Mid-Level to SeniorWork Arrangement: Fully RemoteAbout UsWe are a globally focused organization committed to advancing manufacturing performance through industrial automation, robotics, intelligent control systems, digital manufacturing, process optimization, and operational excellence.Our teams collaborate across Manufacturing, Engineering, Production, Maintenance, Quality, IT, Supply Chain, Procurement, Safety, Finance, Product Development, and technology partners to design and deploy reliable, scalable, safe, and cost-effective automation solutions.The RoleWe are seeking an experienced Factory Automation Manager to lead the strategy, development, implementation, integration, optimization, and lifecycle management of factory automation systems.The successful candidate will oversee automation programs across production lines, equipment, robotics, controls, material handling, inspection, data collection, and smart-factory initiatives. This role will translate manufacturing requirements into practical automation solutions that improve productivity, quality, safety, flexibility, reliability, and cost performance.Key ResponsibilitiesAutomation StrategyDevelop and implement a factory-automation strategy aligned with business and manufacturing objectives.Establish automation roadmaps for production facilities and manufacturing processes.Identify opportunities for automation based on productivity, quality, safety, capacity, labor, cost, and scalability.Establish automation standards, governance, architecture, and technical guidelines.Prioritize automation investments based on measurable business value.Factory Automation ProgramLead automation programs from concept and feasibility through design, procurement, implementation, commissioning, stabilization, and handover.Coordinate multiple automation projects across production lines and facilities.Establish project priorities, milestones, budgets, resources, risks, and performance targets.Ensure automation projects deliver expected operational and financial outcomes.Automation Opportunity AssessmentAssess manufacturing processes for automation potential.Identify repetitive, hazardous, high-volume, high-precision, labor-intensive, or quality-sensitive activities suitable for automation.Evaluate process maturity before automation investment.Ensure automation addresses genuine operational constraints rather than automating inefficient processes.Automation Business CasesDevelop business cases covering:Capital InvestmentLabor RequirementsProductivity GainsQuality ImprovementsSafety BenefitsCapacity IncreasesMaintenance CostsOperating CostsPayback PeriodReturn on InvestmentTrack actual benefits after implementation.Industrial RoboticsLead evaluation and deployment of industrial robots.Identify applications for:AssemblyWeldingPaintingPalletizingPackagingMaterial HandlingMachine TendingInspectionPick-and-PlaceEnsure robotic solutions meet safety, quality, cycle-time, and reliability requirements.Collaborative RobotsEvaluate appropriate applications for collaborative robots.Assess human-robot interaction, safety requirements, ergonomics, flexibility, and productivity.Establish appropriate operating standards.Automated Material HandlingDevelop automation solutions for material movement.Evaluate:Automated Guided VehiclesAutonomous Mobile RobotsConveyorsAutomated Storage and Retrieval SystemsRobotic Material HandlingImprove material flow and reduce unnecessary manual handling.Automated StorageSupport automation of raw-material, WIP, component, and finished-goods storage.Integrate automated storage systems with warehouse and production systems.Production-Line AutomationDesign and implement automated production lines.Optimize machine sequence, cycle time, process flow, quality controls, and operator interaction.Ensure line automation is scalable and maintainable.Machine AutomationImprove automation of individual machines and manufacturing equipment.Evaluate controls, sensors, actuators, drives, safety systems, and interfaces.Improve machine performance and reliability.PLC SystemsOversee PLC-based automation architectures.Establish standards for PLC programming, documentation, version control, backups, and change management.Coordinate PLC integration with machines, production systems, and plant networks.Key Performance IndicatorsPerformance may be measured through:Automation availabilityAutomation uptimeOverall Equipment EffectivenessProduction throughputCycle timeMachine utilizationRobot utilizationProduction-line utilizationUnplanned downtimeMean time between failuresMean time to repairAutomated-process first-pass yieldScrap reductionRework reductionQuality-defect reductionProduction schedule adherenceLabor productivityLabor-hour reductionCapacity increaseChangeover timeAutomation project on-time deliveryAutomation project budget performanceCapital expenditure varianceAutomation ROIPayback periodEnergy consumption per unitAutomation safety incidentsSystem availabilityCritical automation incident frequencyPreventive-maintenance compliancePredictive-maintenance effectivenessSpare-parts availabilityAutomation obsolescence riskCybersecurity complianceSystem backup complianceTraining completionOperator competencyMaintenance competencyVendor SLA performanceFactory acceptance test performanceSite acceptance test performanceCommissioning performanceRamp-up performanceDigitalization adoptionMachine connectivityAutomated data-capture rateContinuous-improvement benefitsIdeal CandidateThe successful candidate should have experience in Factory Automation, Industrial Automation, Controls Engineering, Robotics, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Digitalization, or related fields.The candidate should demonstrate:Proven experience leading factory-automation programs within manufacturing or industrial environments.Strong understanding of industrial automation, production equipment, controls, robotics, machine integration, and manufacturing processes.Extensive knowledge of PLC, HMI, SCADA, industrial controls, sensors, drives, motion control, and industrial networks.Experience with industrial robotics, collaborative robots, automated material handling, machine vision, automated inspection, or automated testing.Experience managing automation projects from concept and business case through design, procurement, commissioning, stabilization, and production handover.Strong understanding of machine safety, functional safety, risk assessment, guarding, interlocks, emergency systems, and human-machine interaction.Experience integrating automation with MES, ERP, QMS, CMMS, WMS, SCADA, and other manufacturing systems.Strong understanding of IT/OT integration and industrial cybersecurity.Experience with Industry 4.0, Smart Manufacturing, Industrial IoT, digital twins, advanced analytics, or connected-factory initiatives.Experience with automation lifecycle management, obsolescence management, system upgrades, maintenance, and reliability improvement.Strong understanding of OEE, downtime analysis, cycle-time optimization, line balancing, throughput improvement, and Lean Manufacturing.Experience developing automation standards, technical specifications, engineering guidelines, and system architectures.Experience managing automation integrators, OEMs, vendors, consultants, and technology partners.Strong financial and commercial awareness, including CAPEX, OPEX, ROI, payback, business cases, and benefit realization.Experience managing multi-project portfolios, budgets, schedules, technical risks, and cross-functional resources.Strong troubleshooting and root-cause-analysis capabilities.Experience developing and implementing operator and maintenance training programs.Experience supporting new-product introduction, production ramp-up, factory expansion, or manufacturing transformation is advantageous.Knowledge of UAE and GCC industrial, manufacturing, safety, and regulatory environments is advantageous.Relevant degree in Automation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Robotics, Control Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline.Professional certifications in automation, robotics, functional safety, Lean Six Sigma, project management, cybersecurity, or related disciplines are advantageous.Strong written and verbal English communication skills; additional languages are advantageous.Excellent technical leadership, project-management, analytical, commercial, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.Ability to translate manufacturing challenges into practical and scalable automation solutions.Ability to balance automation ambition with safety, reliability, maintainability, flexibility, cost, and operational practicality.Ability to work independently in a fully remote and internationally distributed environment.Strong automation-focused, engineering-driven, safety-conscious, commercially aware, digitally enabled, analytical, innovative, pragmatic, systems-oriented, collaborative, and results-driven mindset.