Director of Automation

Title: Director of Automation Location: San Antonio, TX (On-site) Employment Type: Full-time Department: Operations Reports To: Vice President of Operations  

Position Summary: The Director of Automation will provide strategic and operational leadership to the Operations team, collaborating closely with Maintenance, Quality, and IT to enhance manufacturing processes, implement automation strategies, and drive continuous improvements across the organization. This role combines hands-on technical expertise with leadership, mentoring, and project oversight responsibilities.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, Controls, Computer, or related field).

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in instrumentation and controls, PLC programming, motor control centers, and automation systems.

• Proven expertise in the design, installation, and troubleshooting of electrical and control systems.

• Strong knowledge of ladder logic, electrical schematics, NEC codes, operator interfaces, and AutoCAD.

• Experience with controls programming software such as RSLogix, Siemens, and Schneider.

• Proficiency in industrial data communications including ModBus, Remote I/O, Ethernet, and Devicenet.

• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.

• Ability to perform under tight deadlines while maintaining professionalism and accuracy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement automation and control strategies in alignment with business objectives.

• Assess current manufacturing, maintenance, and quality operations to identify and execute automation projects that enhance safety, quality, and productivity.

• Provide technical guidance on emerging technologies and trends in automation and manufacturing systems.

• Oversee preventive and predictive maintenance for electrical and control systems.

• Deliver hands-on troubleshooting and corrective maintenance support while collaborating with cross-functional teams and external vendors.

• Coordinate with internal teams and external equipment vendors to ensure successful machine delivery, integration, and validation.

• Recruit, train, mentor, and develop a high-performing engineering and technical team.

• Communicate performance expectations and conduct regular evaluations to maintain team excellence.

Skills & Competencies:

• Leadership and team development

• Automation system design and implementation

• PLC programming and industrial controls

• Project management and cross-functional collaboration

• Problem-solving and analytical thinking

• Hands-on technical troubleshooting