Associate Program Manager – Custom Automation

What You’ll Be Responsible For

• Serve as a primary point of contact for customers throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead project kickoff activities following the handoff from sales.
• Review project scope, timing, specifications, deliverables, and commercial requirements.
• Develop, maintain, and actively drive project schedules.
• Cookordination activities across mechanical design, controls, purchasing, machining, fabrication, assembly, electrical, quality, and installation.
• Provide customers with clear, professional, and proactive project updates.
• Identify schedule risks, missing information, and potential roadblocks before they affect delivery.
• Lead regular internal project meetings and document responsibilities, due dates, and follow-up items.
• Track engineering changes, customer requests, and scope adjustments.
• Identify changes that may affect project cost or timing and communicate them to sales and leadership.
• Cookordinate customer-supplied samples, materials, drawings, approvals, and other project inputs.
• Participate in internal equipment runoffs and coordinate readiness for customer acceptance testing.
• Verify that samples, documentation, and equipment performance align with agreed-upon requirements.
• Support installation, launch, and project closeout activities.
• Maintain accurate project documentation in accordance with company processes and ISO 9001 requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve project execution, communication, and efficiency.

What Success Looks Like

• Project schedules are current, realistic, and actively managed.
• Customers receive updates before they need to ask for them.
• Action items have clear owners and due dates.
• Missing information and schedule risks are identified early.
• Engineering and production teams understand project priorities.
• Scope changes are documented and communicated promptly.
• Problems are followed through until they are resolved.
• Projects progress through design, build, runoff, installation, and closeout with minimal surprises.

Required Qualifications

• Two or more years of experience in project coordination, program management, engineering, manufacturing, operations, or another related environment.
• Strong organizational, planning, and follow-through skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Confidence communicating with customers and internal department leaders.
• Ability to work independently while knowing when to escalate a concern.
• Comfortable working in both an office and active manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Outlook, Word, and Teams.
• Ability to understand technical information and ask effective questions.
• High school diploma or equivalent.

Preferred Qualifications

• Three or more years of experience in custom automation, machinery, automotive manufacturing, capital equipment, engineering, or project-based manufacturing.
• Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, business, project management, or a related field.
• Experience using Microsoft Project or similar project-scheduling software.
• Familiarity with project budgets, change orders, ERP systems, or ISO 9001.
• Experience participating in equipment runoffs, customer acceptance testing, or manufacturing launches.

Physical And Work Requirements

• This is an onsite position in an office and manufacturing environment.
• Frequent standing and walking throughout the facility.
• Regular use of hands and arms.
• Ability to occasionally lift, push, or pull up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to safely work around industrial machinery and manufacturing activities.
• Occasional travel to customer or supplier locations may be required.
• Additional hours may occasionally be necessary during critical project milestones, equipment runoffs, installations, or launches.

Why Join Us?

• Meaningful ownership of real-world custom automation projects.
• Direct exposure to engineering, manufacturing, controls, operations, and customer management.
• Structured opportunity to grow into a full Program Manager position.
• Competitive salary, based on experience.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Paid time off and paid holidays.
• Supportive, team-oriented manufacturing environment.
• Opportunity to see projects move from an initial concept to completed operating equipment.