Project Manager, Automation

About the Company

Our client is a global provider of advanced warehouse automation, robotics, and material handling solutions. The company specializes in designing and delivering innovative automated storage and retrieval systems that help businesses optimize warehouse operations, improve efficiency, and streamline supply chain processes. With an international presence and a strong focus on innovation, the organization partners with leading businesses and systems integrators to deliver complex, large-scale automation projects across North America and beyond.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager – Warehouse Automation & Robotics to oversee the successful execution and delivery of complex automated warehouse and material handling projects. In this role, you will take full ownership of projects from initial sales handover through engineering, procurement, installation, commissioning, and final customer acceptance, ensuring delivery within agreed timelines, budgets, and quality standards. You will manage projects ranging from $1M to $40M, involving technologies such as automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), pallet and tote shuttles, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), conveyors, lifts, and integrated warehouse automation solutions. The ideal candidate brings strong experience managing multimillion-dollar, custom warehouse automation projects from end to end, combined with excellent commercial awareness, technical understanding, and stakeholder management skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the transition from Sales and Sales Engineering into project execution, including internal and customer project kick-off meetings.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customers, systems integrators, and internal stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
• Define project responsibilities, communication plans, meeting schedules, escalation procedures, and key deliverables.
• Develop and manage integrated project schedules covering engineering, procurement, manufacturing, delivery, installation, controls, commissioning, and final acceptance.
• Coordinate material procurement, equipment deliveries, installation contractors, and external vendors to ensure safe and timely project execution.
• Take ownership of project budgets, financial performance, purchasing, change orders, and milestone invoicing.
• Monitor project progress, proactively identify risks and delays, and implement corrective actions and recovery plans.
• Ensure customer sites are prepared for installation, including access, utilities, infrastructure interfaces, safety requirements, and operational readiness.
• Collaborate with engineering, site management, and technical specialists to resolve project challenges and ensure successful system integration.
• Coordinate installation activities, commissioning, testing, customer acceptance, and final handover to service and support teams.
• Maintain strong relationships with customers and systems integrators, ensuring alignment on project scope, timelines, responsibilities, and expectations.
• Manage project documentation, progress reporting, commercial closeout, punch lists, and lessons learned.
• Ensure projects meet applicable safety regulations, quality standards, and contractual requirements.
• Provide regular project updates to internal leadership and customers, communicating progress, risks, financial performance, and key milestones.

Required Skills & Experience

• 5+ years of experience in project management within warehouse automation, material handling, intralogistics, or a closely related industry.
• Proven experience managing multimillion-dollar, custom warehouse systems projects from initial handover through final delivery and acceptance.
• Strong understanding of automated warehouse technologies, including ASRS, robotic systems, conveyors, and integrated material handling solutions.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, multidisciplinary projects involving engineering, procurement, installation, controls, and commissioning.
• Strong project planning, scheduling, budgeting, and financial management skills.
• Experience managing contractors, vendors, customer stakeholders, and cross-functional technical teams.
• Proven ability to identify project risks, manage scope changes, resolve challenges, and implement effective recovery plans.
• Strong commercial awareness, including experience with change orders, purchasing, cost control, and milestone-based invoicing.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, make timely decisions, and maintain accountability throughout the project lifecycle.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly to customer sites across North America.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Project Management, Business, or a related field.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Experience working with SAP or similar ERP systems.
• Experience managing large-scale ASRS, warehouse robotics, or automated material handling installations.
• Previous experience working with systems integrators, engineering teams, and international manufacturing operations.

Additional Information

• Travel: Approximately 30-75% travel throughout the United States and Canada, varying depending on project requirements and delivery phases.
• Site Visits: Travel assignments are typically up to one week at a time, although longer stays may occasionally be required during project start-up or critical implementation phases.
• Office Collaboration: Candidates working remotely should be comfortable traveling regularly to a regional office in the Chicago area, approximately 20-30% depending on project travel requirements.
• International Collaboration: Regular interaction with European engineering and project teams, with occasional international travel possible.
• Working Hours: Standard business hours are approximately 8:00 AM-5:00 PM Central Time, with flexibility for earlier start times to accommodate international collaboration.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of complex, high-value warehouse automation projects and play a central role in delivering innovative robotics and material handling solutions. You will work with advanced automation technologies, collaborate with experienced international engineering teams, and manage projects that directly impact how major businesses modernize their warehouse and logistics operations.

Salt is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.