Operations Manager Automation Jobs in Raleigh, NC

Project Manager (Factory Automation)

Company and BG Description:

Delta, founded in 1971, is a global leader in power electronics, industrial automation, and energy management solutions. Guided by its mission, "To provide innovative, clean, and energy-efficient solutions for a better tomorrow," Delta develops technologies that improve manufacturing productivity, energy efficiency, and sustainability.

Delta's Industrial Automation Business Group delivers integrated automation solutions including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, Robotics, Motion Control, Machine Vision, Industrial Networking, IIoT, Digitalization, and Smart Manufacturing technologies across a broad range of manufacturing industries.

Position Purpose:

The Project Manager – Factory Automation is responsible for leading the successful planning, execution, and delivery of industrial automation projects from project initiation through commissioning and final customer acceptance. This role serves as the primary point of contact for customers and internal stakeholders, ensuring projects are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.

The Project Manager works closely with customers, sales, engineering, operations, and service teams to coordinate resources, manage project risks, oversee technical execution, and drive customer satisfaction while maintaining project profitability.

Job Objectives (How and When)

Major Responsibilities/KPIs

Deliverables

Project Execution & Delivery

• Manage multiple factory automation projects from kickoff through final commissioning.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, budgets, resource plans, and risk registers.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Achieve customer acceptance while meeting financial objectives.

Customer Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary customer contact throughout project execution.
• Lead project kickoff meetings, progress reviews, and executive status meetings.
• Manage customer expectations and resolve project issues proactively.
• Maintain high customer satisfaction and encourage repeat business.

Project Planning & Coordination

• Coordinate engineering, controls, electrical, mechanical, software, operations, procurement, and commissioning resources.
• Develop project execution plans.
• Monitor project milestones and critical path activities.
• Effectively manage project changes and scope modifications.

Financial Management

• Develop and monitor project budgets.
• Manage project forecasting and revenue recognition.
• Track labor utilization, procurement costs, and subcontractor performance.
• Identify and execute change orders while protecting project margins.

Risk & Quality Management

• Identify project risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Ensure compliance with customer specifications and company standards.
• Lead project reviews and quality assurance activities.
• Drive successful FAT, SAT, commissioning, and project closeout.

Continuous Improvement

• Improve project management processes and execution standards.
• Develop standardized project documentation and templates.
• Capture lessons learned and share best practices.
• Improve project delivery metrics and operational efficiency.

Key Competencies:

• Project Management
• Lead projects from initiation through closeout.
• Develop project schedules, budgets, and resource plans.
• Manage project scope, risks, and change control.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary project teams.
• Manage project documentation and reporting.
• Factory Automation Knowledge
• Strong understanding of industrial automation technologies including:
• PLC Systems
• HMI Development
• SCADA Systems
• Robotics
• Motion Control
• Servo Systems
• Machine Vision
• Functional Safety Systems
• Industrial Networking
• Industrial IoT (IIoT)
• MES Integration
• Manufacturing Execution Systems
• Ability to effectively manage technical projects without necessarily performing detailed engineering design.
• Customer Management
• Build trusted customer relationships.
• Lead customer meetings and project reviews.
• Manage customer expectations and communications.
• Resolve project conflicts and escalations.
• Drive customer satisfaction throughout the project lifecycle.
• Financial & Business Management
• Budget development and tracking
• Cost forecasting
• Project profitability analysis
• Resource planning
• Change order management
• Contract awareness
• KPI reporting
• Leadership
• Lead cross-functional project teams.
• Coordinate internal and external stakeholders.
• Facilitate project decision-making.
• Mentor junior project managers and engineers.
• Promote accountability and collaboration.

Key Behaviors:

• Ownership
• Takes full ownership of project success.
• Maintains accountability for schedule, budget, quality, and customer satisfaction.
• Escalates risks proactively and drives timely resolution.
• Customer Focus
• Builds long-term customer relationships.
• Communicates transparently throughout project execution.
• Delivers solutions that meet customer expectations and business objectives.
• Collaboration
• Partners effectively with Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Procurement, and Service.
• Encourages teamwork and knowledge sharing.
• Coordinates internal and external resources effectively.
• Adaptability
• Successfully manages projects across multiple manufacturing industries.
• Responds effectively to changing customer requirements and project priorities.
• Balances competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Continuous Improvement
• Promotes standard project management methodologies.
• Identifies opportunities to improve execution efficiency.
• Drives lessons learned and process standardization.

Core Strengths:

• Project Leadership
• Successfully manages complex industrial automation projects.
• Coordinates multidisciplinary engineering and operations teams.
• Maintains project alignment with business objectives.
• Factory Automation Knowledge
• Experience supporting projects involving: PLC/HMI/SCADA Systems, Robotics, Motion Control, Machine Vision, Safety Systems, Material Handling, Manufacturing Execution Systems, Industrial Networking, IIoT Platforms
• Manufacturing Experience
• Experience managing automation projects within industries such as:
• Automotive
• Semiconductor
• Electronics
• Food & Beverage
• Pharmaceutical
• Consumer Products
• Packaging
• Material Handling
• Battery Manufacturing
• Data Centers
• Business Management
• Budget Management
• Customer Relationship Management
• Risk Management
• Contract Administration
• Resource Planning
• Executive Reporting

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Project Management
• Lead automation projects from kickoff through final acceptance.
• Develop project schedules and execution plans.
• Monitor project scope, schedule, budget, and quality.
• Coordinate internal engineering and operations resources.
• Manage subcontractors and vendors.
• Conduct regular project review meetings.
• Report project status to executive leadership.
• Customer Management
• Serve as the primary customer contact.
• Lead project kickoff meetings.
• Conduct regular project status meetings.
• Manage customer communications.
• Resolve project issues and escalations.
• Ensure customer satisfaction throughout execution.
• Financial Management
• Develop project budgets.
• Forecast project costs and revenue.
• Monitor labor utilization.
• Track procurement activities.
• Manage project billing milestones.
• Execute change orders.
• Protect project profitability.
• Engineering Coordination
• Coordinate controls, electrical, mechanical, software, and commissioning teams.
• Support engineering design reviews.
• Ensure engineering deliverables meet project schedules.
• Coordinate design approvals and customer reviews.
• Project Execution
• Lead and coordinate:
• Design Reviews
• Procurement Activities
• Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT)
• Site Acceptance Testing (SAT)
• Startup & Commissioning
• Customer Training
• Final Acceptance
• Project Closeout
• Risk & Quality Management
• Identify project risks and mitigation strategies.
• Maintain project documentation.
• Ensure compliance with quality standards.
• Monitor safety throughout project execution.
• Drive corrective actions when necessary.
• Continuous Improvement
• Develop project management best practices.
• Improve project documentation standards.
• Standardize project execution processes.
• Capture and communicate lessons learned.
• Support organizational process improvements.

Qualifications:

• Education
• Bachelor's Degree in:
• Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Automation Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Construction Management
• Engineering Technology
• Equivalent project management and industrial automation experience will also be considered.
• Experience
• 7+ years managing industrial automation or systems integration projects.
• Experience managing projects involving:
• Factory Automation
• Controls Engineering
• Systems Integration
• Machine Building
• Manufacturing Systems
• Robotics
• Motion Control
• SCADA Systems
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple concurrent projects.
• Experience with customer-facing project management and executive communication.
• Technical Skills
• Working knowledge of:
• PLC Platforms
• HMI/SCADA Systems
• Robotics
• Motion Control
• Industrial Networks
• Manufacturing Systems
• Safety Systems
• Vision Systems
• Strong understanding of project scheduling tools, project financial management, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Soft Skills
• Leadership
• Communication
• Customer Relationship Management
• Negotiation
• Conflict Resolution
• Time Management
• Financial Acumen
• Organizational Skills
• Strategic Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Preferred Certifications
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
• Certified Automation Professional (CAP)
• ISA Certifications
• Agile or Scrum Certification (Preferred)
• Travel Requirements
• Travel up to 40–60% to customer sites throughout North America.
• Ability to support customer meetings, project reviews, startup, commissioning, and final acceptance activities as required.