The Principal Engineer, Robotics & Automation, is a vital role within our organization responsible for ensuring efficient and high-quality manufacturing processes. Our team of skilled engineers combines expertise in engineering principles, manufacturing techniques, and process optimization to drive operational excellence. We work closely with cross-functional teams, including design, operations, and quality assurance, to streamline production operations and maximize efficiency. With strong focus, our core responsibilities encompass various aspects of production engineering, including process and optimization, equipment selection and maintenance, capacity planning, troubleshooting & production issues.
Position Summary
The candidate will be responsible for the overall planning and implementation of the company's automation strategy, leading the introduction and integration of new production lines and equipment, and playing a key role in managing and elevating the automation level of our CM/JDM partners. This role requires a candidate with profound technical expertise, exceptional project management skills, and outstanding cross-functional communication abilities to ensure automation projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meet the targeted return on investment(ROI).
Key Responsibilities
1. Automation Strategy & Project Management
* Develop and execute the company's annual and long-term automation technology roadmap.
* Lead feasibility studies, technical reviews, initiation, and implementation of customized automation equipment and production lines.
* Take full ownership of automation project management, ensuring projects meet time, budget, and quality objectives.
* Manage the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) budget for automation equipment.
2. Equipment Lifecycle Management:
* Define and standardize technical requirements, standards, and acceptance procedures for automation equipment (including ES, DFM, FAT, SAT).
* Lead the selection, technical negotiation, procurement, installation, and commissioning of key equipment.
* Establish and improve preventive maintenance systems to enhance Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
* Organize the resolution of complex technical issues with automation equipment during production.
3. CM/JDM Automation Management:
* Act as the technical authority to assess, qualify, and manage the automation capabilities of CM/JDM partners.
* Transfer and promote company-standard automation solutions and manufacturing processes to partner factories.
* Oversee the introduction, acceptance, and production ramp-up of new equipment at CM/JDM sites, ensuring compliance with our technical and quality standards.
* Conduct regular automation audits of partners, providing technical guidance and training to drive continuous improvement.
4. Technical & Financial Analysis:
* Perform detailed financial analysis for automation investment projects, accurately calculating Return on Investment (ROI) and payback period.
* Drive continuous reduction in manufacturing costs and efficiency improvements through automation, lean manufacturing, and process optimization.
5. Team Leadership & Cross-functional Collaboration:
* Lead and manage manufacturing engineering, including workload allocation, skills training, and performance management.
* Work closely with Operations, Procurement, Quality, and Product R&D departments to ensure automation solutions are aligned with business needs.
Qualifications & Experience
Essential Requirements:
* Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Automation, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
* 10+ years of automation engineering experience within the home appliance, consumer electronics, or related manufacturing industry
* Proven experience in managing OEM partners, familiar with the technical collaboration models and challenges.
* In-depth knowledge of the entire lifecycle of automation equipment: standards, design, and acceptance processes. Solid understanding of customized automation design (e.g., robotics, PLC, machine vision, motion control).
* Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of automation design, capable of independently reviewing and optimizing technical solutions.
* Excellent project management and financial analysis skills, with a track record of successfully leading major automation projects and delivering ROI.
* Knowledge of Statistical Process Control (SPC) , GR&R and also Gage 1
* Knowledge on cycle time assessment (MTM), DFA
* Outstanding communication, coordination, and team leadership skills.
* Proficient English communication skills (interaction with international partners or headquarters is required).
Preferred Qualifications:
* Experience successfully establishing new automated production lines or smart factories from the ground up (from 0 to 1).
* Proficiency in continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma.
Dyson is an equal opportunity employer. We know that great minds don’t think alike, and it takes all kinds of minds to make our technology so unique. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and employment decisions are made without regard to race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other any other dimension of diversity.
Top Skills
What We Do
At Dyson we are focused on solving the problems that others have ignored; solving them first using our technology and ingenuity. In order to achieve this we need to pioneer technologies that are different and authentic. This is the core of what we do and who we are. We must strive to create the future, every single day by developing new things, different things, things that go against the grain with a diverse and global team of ingenious minds.
Dyson employs over 14,000 people and is present in more than 80 countries. And while we are growing fast we want Dyson to remain a start-up in spirit with the freedom of experimentation and learning, constantly reinventing our products as well as reinventing how we work, how we sell and how we support our owners. At the same time we are working through the James Dyson Foundation, James Dyson Award and Dyson Institute to inspire future engineers and pioneering a new approach to engineering education.
Underlining everything we do in this diverse environment is the need to always show respect, supporting each other as one team to overcome whatever challenges we encounter. We drive empowerment, development and equality in an inclusive environment for our people around the world.
The future doesn’t just happen, we look to make it happen, to achieve leaps through pioneering new ideas
