Principal Advanced Manufacturing Engineer - Design for Automation (Onsite)

About the role

Collins Aerospace is seeking an operations automation engineer to join their cutting-edge operations technology team at Collins Aerospace - Power and Controls. This role is hands-on and dynamic, working directly with production teams and modern automation technologies to transform the shop floor into a fully connected, data-driven, manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Support deployment and troubleshooting of robotics systems (e.g., collaborative robots, CNC automation) and integrate them with broader control systems.
• Lead or contribute to machine connectivity initiatives, including network configuration, tag structuring, and data modeling to enable smart factory capabilities.
• Participate in Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Automation (DFA) initiatives, providing manufacturing and automation expertise to ensure next-generation products are designed for efficient automation.
• Create and manage the budget for automation projects, ensuring cost-effectiveness and adherence to financial constraints.
• Develop training programs for staff to effectively use new technologies and provide ongoing support.
• Develop and maintain roadmaps for continuous innovation, maintenance, and enhancement of automation, smart factory initiatives, and software.
• Authoring and/or contributing to statements of work, supplier selection, factory & site acceptance testing, and release to production for medium and large capital projects.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 8 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with a track record of motivating and developing teams.
• Strong expertise in automation technologies, including robotics, Industrial IoT (IIoT) platforms and connectivity, with a solid foundation in traditional manufacturing concepts and processes.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making abilities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to work across functions and engage with stakeholders at all levels.
• Familiarity with industry standards, safety regulations, and best practices in manufacturing and technology.
• Lear Certification (CORE) experience designing and implementing automated process improvements.
• Experience working with NPI.