Physical Automation Leader

Job description

Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions. Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you’ll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®. We are seeking a Physical Automations Leader for our First Quality Products Company located in McElhattan, PA. This position may be based out of our Central PA site (McElhattan, PA & Lewistown, PA) or Macon, GA. The Physical Automation Leader is responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing automation solutions that enhance manufacturing efficiency, safety, and quality across the division. This role will lead the strategic roadmap for physical automation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing technologies, ensuring alignment with business goals and operational excellence standards. A primary focus will be to integrate cutting-edge automation systems — including robotics, autonomous material handling, and machine vision — into production environments, harmonizing best practices across sites. The role requires deep expertise in automation engineering, strong project leadership skills, and the ability to partner with cross-functional teams to deliver measurable improvements in productivity, cost-effectiveness, and reliability. This position will require frequent travel to our Absorbent Hygiene companies. Primary responsibilities include: Establish automation goals, objectives, and overall strategy for the division. Lead the design, selection, and deployment of physical automation systems, including robotics, conveyors, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and machine vision solutions. Conduct comprehensive assessments of manufacturing processes to identify automation opportunities and efficiency gains. Collaborate with engineering, operations, IT, and safety teams to ensure automation solutions meet safety, quality, and regulatory requirements. Work with BU’s to develop and manage automation project roadmaps, budgets, and timelines. Support BU’s through installation, commissioning, and integration of automation equipment into existing manufacturing lines. Apply advanced engineering principles and digital tools to optimize automation performance and reliability. Partner with vendors and technology providers to evaluate emerging automation technologies and ensure best-in-class solutions. Set standards and drive accountability to create and maintain technical documentation, including equipment specifications, operating procedures, and maintenance plans. Train and mentor engineering and operations teams on automation systems and best practices. Establish metrics and KPIs to measure automation effectiveness and ROI. Champion continuous improvement by integrating automation into Lean and Six Sigma initiatives. Responsible for defining the life cycle management method of automation assets, and execution will be the responsibility of the Business as Usual (BAU) Team. Additional duties as required. The ideal candidate should possess the following: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Automation Engineering; advanced degree preferred. Minimum 7 years of experience in automation engineering, robotics integration, or industrial controls within a high-speed manufacturing environment. Proven track record of designing and implementing successful physical automation solutions. Experience with Manufacturing 4.0 concepts, including connected equipment, IoT integration, and smart manufacturing systems. Knowledge of manufacturing regulatory standards (ISO 9001, OSHA, FDA) desirable. Expertise in PLC programming, robotics control systems, and machine vision technologies. Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with proven root cause analysis capabilities. Exceptional project management skills, able to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously. Excellent communication skills, adept at working with both technical teams and business stakeholders. Ability to coach, benchmark, and work closely with different sites and operations. Vendor management and negotiation skills. Data-driven, disciplined, objective, and detail-oriented. Passion for innovation and continuous improvement. Supports and promotes safe practices and environmental commitments in alignment with company policies and compliance requirements Able to travel 40-50% depending on projects taking place across various sites What We Offer You We believe that by continuously improving the quality of our benefits, we can help to raise the quality of life for our team members and their families. At First Quality you will receive: Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities Paid time off (three-week minimum) Medical, dental and vision starting day one 401(k) with employer match Paid parental leave Child and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $2500) Bundle of joy benefit (year's worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby) Tuition assistance Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums ...and more! First Quality is committed to protecting information under the care of First Quality Enterprises commensurate with leading industry standards and applicable regulations. As such, First Quality provides at least annual training regarding data privacy and security to employees who, as a result of their role specifications, may come in to contact with sensitive data. First Quality is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, or protected Veteran status.