Automation Project Manager

Location: Fully Remote (U.S.) with up to 25% domestic and international travel (occasional travel to North Chicago, IL for internal meetings). Duration: 12-month contract with potential for extension. Pay: $63 - $67/hour. Schedule: Monday - Friday, standard business hours.

About the role

Our client is seeking an Automation Project Manager to lead and coordinate a high-profile digital manufacturing initiative focused on implementing a Shop Floor Integration Layer (SIL) across multiple manufacturing sites. This role will drive project execution, planning, change management, and cross-functional collaboration to support the successful deployment of manufacturing automation technologies. Working closely with global digital transformation teams, site leadership, engineering, manufacturing, and system integration partners, the Automation Project Manager will ensure projects remain on schedule, risks are proactively managed, and implementation standards are consistently applied across multiple locations.

Responsibilities

• Lead project planning and execution for the global Shop Floor Integration Layer (SIL) program across multiple manufacturing sites.
• Develop detailed project plans, schedules, milestones, resource plans, and implementation timelines.
• Collaborate with site project managers to tailor deployment plans based on site-specific operational requirements.
• Coordinate daily and weekly project activities to ensure deliverables remain on track.
• Facilitate communication between manufacturing sites, global digital teams, engineering, and business stakeholders.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks, remove roadblocks, and escalate issues as needed.
• Manage project scope, schedule changes, and change control while evaluating impacts to timelines and manufacturing operations.
• Coordinate support from global teams, including technical resources, funding, and implementation expertise.
• Gather business and technical requirements through stakeholder meetings, workshops, and site consultations.
• Develop and maintain implementation standards and documentation to ensure consistency across manufacturing sites.
• Prepare regular project status updates highlighting milestones, risks, action items, and overall program health.
• Support implementation activities at manufacturing sites, including occasional travel as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Information Systems, Project Management, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience managing automation, engineering, manufacturing, or digital transformation projects.
• Experience leading cross-functional technical projects within manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of manufacturing automation technologies, including one or more of the following: SCADA, MES, Shop Floor Integration, Industrial Automation, Manufacturing Systems.
• Experience developing project plans, managing timelines, and coordinating multiple stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience with risk management, issue resolution, change management, and project execution.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while working independently in a fully remote environment.
• Willingness to travel up to 25%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, food & beverage, or other regulated manufacturing industries.
• Experience with Inductive Automation Ignition or other SCADA/MES platforms.
• Familiarity with PLCs, manufacturing connectivity, industrial control systems, or automation engineering.
• Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing deployments.
• Knowledge of commissioning, validation, or manufacturing system implementations.
• Experience working with system integrators and third-party automation vendors.
• PMP certification or equivalent project management credentials.

Skills

• Automation Project Management
• Digital Transformation
• Manufacturing Automation
• Shop Floor Integration
• SCADA
• MES
• Ignition Platform
• Industrial Automation
• Project Planning
• Risk Management
• Change Management
• Stakeholder Management
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Manufacturing Operations
• Process Improvement

Work Environment

Fully remote position based in the United States. Collaborative, cross-functional environment supporting both global and site-level teams. Combination of independent project leadership and team collaboration. Up to 25% travel, including occasional visits to North Chicago, IL and other domestic or international manufacturing sites.