Director of Automation Engineering - Program Execution

J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. (JBPCO) is a privately held, diversified manufacturing company forecasting over $2.5B in annual revenues and employing over 8,000 team members. The six operating subsidiaries, covering 60 locations, produce commercial truck bodies, step-vans, utility trucks, ambulances, electric and alternative fuel vehicles, and expandable foam plastic packaging. Learn more about JBPCO.

About the Role

The Director, Automation Engineering - Program Execution will help create and execute the defined Automation Project portfolio within the JBPCO business units. The successful candidate will be an Advanced Manufacturing Leader with a proven track record of delivering Automation projects across multiple facilities. The Director will help create and lead an internal team of engineers capable of delivering automation projects through production launch, either leveraging internal capabilities or outside automation suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead a team of Automation Program Leads and Engineers capable of delivering the defined automation project portfolio across all JBPCO sites.
• Collaborate with business units (BUs) and Corporate central functions to design, build, install, and launch new equipment at the sites.
• Support the development of the automation roadmap and concept developments with the BUs.
• Develop strategies and initiatives to quickly leverage improvements across the enterprise through strategic design and deployment of equipment and procedures to aid the successful rollout of automation in plants.
• Work cross-functionally at all organizational levels to gain buy-in and ensure successful implementation of the project portfolio at both BU and Corporate levels.
• Evaluate current production processes and identify opportunities to improve safety, quality, productivity, and cost structure.
• Conduct studies to uncover and address production efficiency issues and propose/test solutions while ensuring volume and mix flexibility.
• Identify and qualify external design and build automation vendors.
• Lead and develop a system acquisition process, from vendor evaluation and request for proposal through system build, acceptance testing, and ramp to rate.
• Prepare concept layouts and drawings and document design processes and solutions.
• Lead complex system tests and prepare reports.
• Improve labor and space efficiency and cost effectiveness while continually addressing safety, including ergonomics.
• Identify opportunities to standardize common processes across business units to achieve economies of scale.
• Develop Automation organizational skill requirements and gap analysis with the BUs' manufacturing sites. Support gap closure initiatives through training and critical production support.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering from an accredited college/university is required; Master’s is preferred.
• Excellent mechanical engineering skills with programming and controls capability and knowledge.
• Experience with various types of automation, automation vendors, and automation applications.
• Successful implementation of automation within a traditionally manual manufacturing environment.
• Ability to communicate and build rapport with personnel at all levels in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in a high-volume, complex manufacturing environment.
• Understanding of manufacturing design elements/tools/systems, processes, and regulatory requirements.
• Understanding of design principles such as Data Analysis, DOE, GD&T, FMEA, DFM/DFA.
• Excellent mechanical aptitude.
• Solid understanding of computer programming and software development.

Travel Expectation

75%+ travel required.