Full-Time
Automation Lead
Manufacturing Assembly Process
Jabil
10,001+ employees
Global contract manufacturer of electronics components
No salary listed
Company Historically Provides H1B Sponsorship
Salisbury, NC, USA
Hybrid
Based in Salisbury, North Carolina, with domestic travel of up to 50% across the United States.
Bachelor's, Master's
 Manufacturing & Process Engineering (1) |
|---|
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- A bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, or a related technical discipline is required.
- At least 8 years of progressive experience in manufacturing automation, with significant focus on assembly and test processes, is required.
- At least 5 years of experience in a technical leadership or regional role supporting multi-site manufacturing operations is required.
- Proven experience implementing automated assembly lines, robotic systems for handling, screw driving, loading and unloading, vision systems for assembly guidance and inspection, and automated test systems with data capture is required.
- Strong experience in ROI justification, project execution, and vendor management for automation equipment and system integrators is required.
- Strong understanding of automation line design, line balancing, and changeover-friendly concepts is required.
- Expertise in controls systems, including programmable logic controllers, human-machine interfaces, industrial networks, and software integration, is required.
- Experience working with robotic platforms, motion systems, torque tools, and vision systems is required.
- Solid knowledge of manufacturing data integration, test data, and traceability systems is required.
- Project management, analytical, and problem-solving skills are required.
- Ability to travel up to 50% within the United States is required; when not traveling, the role is based on-site at the home location.
- Define and drive the automation roadmap for manufacturing assembly and test processes, aligned with business objectives and regional manufacturing strategies.
- Develop and deploy manual, semi-automatic, and fully automatic assembly and test strategies focused on scalability, flexibility, and cost effectiveness.
- Lead ROI-driven automation projects, including feasibility studies, business cases, and risk assessments.
- Design and implement automated assembly lines incorporating screw driving and torque-controlled automation, robotic part handling, tray and pallet-based material flow systems, and vision-guided assembly and inspection.
- Drive line balancing through automation to optimize cycle time, throughput, and labor efficiency across assembly operations.
- Develop changeover-friendly tooling and automation concepts for high-mix, low- to mid-volume manufacturing environments.
- Lead the deployment of automated test stations to improve First Pass Yield, data capture, and process control.
- Collaborate with Controls and Information Technology teams on controls architecture, software solutions, and manufacturing data integration, including programmable logic controllers, human-machine interfaces, manufacturing execution systems, and traceability.
- Manage cross-functional manufacturing, quality, controls, Information Technology, and supplier teams to deliver automation projects on time and within budget.
- Establish standardized automation best practices, documentation, and training across regional sites.
- Provide technical leadership and mentoring to automation engineers and site teams.
- Stay current on emerging assembly automation, robotics, vision, and digital manufacturing technologies and evaluate their applicability across the company.
- A master's degree is preferred.
- Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification is preferred.
Jabil is a global manufacturing solutions partner that designs, manufactures, and assembles components for major technology brands. It offers end-to-end services from product design and engineering through to production, supply chain management, and after-market support. Its products are produced through large-scale, high-volume automated assembly in a global network of factories, enabling efficient production for global customers. The company differentiates itself through its integrated, turnkey approach, extensive global footprint, and history of scaling with major brands by handling the full lifecycle of manufacturing projects. Jabil’s goal is to help technology companies bring products to market efficiently by providing comprehensive manufacturing solutions, from design to production, across worldwide facilities.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Founded
1966
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Jabil raised fiscal 2026 revenue guidance to $35 billion on June 17, 2026.
- Q3 fiscal 2026 revenue hit $8.8 billion, with core EPS of $3.16.
- Jabil announced nearly 2,200 Mississippi jobs and a $119 million facility in July 2026.
What critics are saying
- Jabil is closing Clinton, Massachusetts by December 1, 2026, cutting 103 jobs.
- Jabil closed Florence, Kentucky after a customer moved operations elsewhere, exposing concentration risk.
- AI data-center demand now drives growth; a hyperscaler pause would hit 2027 orders fast.
What makes Jabil unique
- Jabil’s June 2026 AI-related revenue target reached $13.6 billion, up 50%.
- Its June 2026 Adani alliance targets multi-gigawatt AI rack manufacturing in India.
- The Penang logistics hub uses 160 robots and 52,300 pallet positions.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Remote Work Options
401(k) Retirement Plan
Paid Vacation
Company News
Jabil (JBL) edges out AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) as the smarter connectivity buy right now. Jabil Inc. (JBL) and AST SpaceMobile Inc. (ASTS) are both significant players in the communications-technology ecosystem, each with exposure to next-generation infrastructure. AST SpaceMobile is building what it calls the world's first and only global cellular broadband network in space, accessible directly by standard 4G-LTE and 5G smartphones. The SpaceMobile service operates through a constellation of high-powered, large phased-array satellites in low Earth orbit, using spectrum controlled by Mobile Network Operators in areas lacking terrestrial coverage. Jabil, one of the largest global suppliers of electronics manufacturing services, offers advanced manufacturing capabilities for networking, communications, and space systems across 100 locations in 30 countries. AST SpaceMobile is reportedly on track to deploy approximately 45 BlueBird satellites in orbit by early 2027, with 13 commercial satellites already deployed in low Earth orbit. The company's technology relies on large phased array antennas measuring approximately 2,400 square feet and is backed by more than 3,800 patents and patent-pending claims. ASTS has secured partnerships with major carriers including AT&T Inc. (T) and Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), helping to fund its worldwide satellite network and expand cellular coverage across the United States. Despite these milestones, elevated spending, rising inflation, higher interest rates, and stiff competition from SpaceX's Starlink and Globalstar continue to weigh heavily on AST SpaceMobile's financial performance. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AST SpaceMobile's 2026 sales implies year-over-year growth of 129.2%, while EPS estimates suggest a decline of 69.4%, with estimates lowered 53.4% over the past 60 days. On the other side of the ledger, Jabil's management is focused on improving working capital management and integrating sophisticated AI and ML capabilities to enhance the efficiency of its internal processes. Jabil's top line is expected to benefit from strength in AI data center infrastructure, capital equipment, and warehouse automation markets, with 5G wireless and cloud computing adoption providing long-term tailwinds. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for JBL's 2026 sales indicates year-over-year growth of 17.3%, while EPS is expected to improve 30.7%, with estimates holding steady at $12.74 over the past 60 days. Jabil does face competitive pressure from domestic and international rivals including Sanmina Corporation (SANM), alongside headwinds from geopolitical tensions and weak demand in some consumer-centric markets. Over the past year, ASTS has gained 54.7% compared with the industry's growth of 21.8%, while JBL has surged 41.4% over the same period, reflecting strong momentum for both names. From a valuation standpoint, JBL trades at just 0.75 forward price-to-sales, a fraction of ASTS's lofty 44.49 forward multiple, making Jabil significantly more attractive on that basis. Both ASTS and JBL currently carry a Zacks Rank of 3, or Hold, but JBL's stable estimate revisions and improving bottom line give it a clear edge over AST SpaceMobile as an investment option right now.
Built for AI scale: Jabil's 1.6T DR8 LRO optical transceiver. Stand 1334 12th August 2026 Jabil's 1.6T DR8 LRO optical transceiver redefines power efficiency for AI and cloud data centre networks. Introduced at OFC 2026, it combines a linear receive optics architecture with Thin-Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) modulator from HyperLight and a Credo half-retimed DSP, delivering exceptional performance at under 13W. Supporting 200G per lane today and architected for 400G per lane migration, it enables scalable, sustainable network growth without compromising reach or reliability. With ultra-low power operation and seamless integration into next-generation AI fabrics, Jabil's 1.6T DR8 LRO sets a new benchmark for energy-efficient optical connectivity.
Data center buildout in Mississippi means a new tech workforce is needed. by kobee vance - Published on July 24, 2026 Thirty data centers are being built across Mississippi, creating jobs that need highly skilled workers. While construction has sparked concerns about water and electricity usage among local governments, the state is trying to find ways to meet the manufacturing and staffing needs for these multibillion-dollar investments. Kobee Vance 00:00 01:50 Several universities throughout Mississippi have existing programs dealing with massive data systems. But graduates don't always move to where data centers need them. That creates a geographic problem for attracting these businesses, said Accelerate Mississippi Executive Director Courtney Taylor. One solution, Taylor said, is working with communities, businesses and schools to create new talent pipelines in the communities that will need them. "Because all of this has to be led ultimately at the local level. Economic developers, education leaders, community leaders. And so we've worked really big picture to get our resources all pushing in the same direction as a small, rural state," said Taylor. Trey Smith, Director of Talent Solutions at Accelerate, added: "Each region has its own unique opportunities and its own unique challenges, and so that's where the talent solutions team works to coordinate all of these efforts to ensure there is a streamlined, efficient approach to tackling the workforce issue for those areas." Another major need for data centers is reliable sources of electronic manufacturing. Earlier this month, the company Jabil announced a new plant in north Mississippi hiring more than two thousand long-term employees. Bill Cork, Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority, says this positions the state as a major supplier in the age of AI. "That's not only data centers, but electric vehicles, advanced manufacturing, robotics, and all of the things that are running the digital economy and the electrified economy. When you've got a competitive advantage, it's great to see us winning the expansions that come along with this new transformational growth." Representatives from Amazon and Compass data centers told the legislative AI task force this month they plan to have at least 60 percent of staff positions filled by Mississippians and grow that percentage over time. Many of the planned data centers throughout the state will take years to become fully operational. And this month, Jackson became the first city in the state to temporarily ban data centers.
Jabil opens intelligent logistics hub in Malaysia. July 20, 2026 - St. Petersburg-based manufacturing solutions company Jabil has opened an intelligent logistics hub in Penang (in Malaysia). According to a prepared statement, the facility is "set to boost the company's back-end operations and support customers' rapidly growing product complexity and capacity demands using artificial intelligence-enabled capabilities."
Charlotte region lands 200 jobs, $41 million investment for American Eagle site. Updated July 17, 2026 11:59 AM Gift Article American Eagle Outfitters Inc. plans to invest $41 million and create more than 200 full-time jobs in the Charlotte region with a new distribution hub for the Southeast, Gov. Josh Stein's office said Friday. American Eagle will open a 472,890-square-foot facility at Innovation Logistics Center at 1415 Peeler Road in Salisbury, Rowan County Economic Development Corp. said Friday. The facility is expected to begin operations in early 2027. The move represents long-term growth for the company's supply chain and distribution network, the company's CEO Jay Schottenstein said. "North Carolina offers the workforce, infrastructure and strategic location needed to continue powering our brands and connecting us to customers," Schottenstein said in the statement from Stein's office. The average annual salary for positions such as management, maintenance and operations will be $57,351. Rowan County's average of $57,155. These new jobs could potentially create a payroll impact of more than $4 million for the region annually, Stein's office said. For its investment, American Eagle will receive $150,000 in state tax incentives based on hiring 70 employees. More companies expanding in Rowan County. This is the latest company expansion in Rowan County creating hundreds of manufacturing jobs, including the state's second-largest hiring announcement of the year. Last month, Fortune 500 company Jabil Inc. said it plans to invest $264 million in a Rowan County manufacturing facility that will create nearly 1,200 jobs. The factory in the former Gildan building in Granite Industrial Park will make data center hardware such as liquid cooling enclosures and server racks. The average wage is expected to be at least $62,000. Operations are expected to begin this year. Founded in 1966 and based in Florida, Jabil employs nearly 1,000 people North Carolina in Asheville, Hendersonville and Mebane. Also last month, Piedmont Cheerwine Bottling Co. announced expansion plans to add 100 workers, doubling its workforce. Piedmont is a sister company of Cheerwine, the popular soda brand. The company plans to combine its Salisbury and Greensboro distribution operations into the new facility. In December, a Vietnamese manufacturer also chose Salisbury as its first expansion site in the U.S. Ever Home Plastics LLC, a subsidiary of Vacane Home Concepts Inc., plans to invest $3.65 million in the city and create 46 jobs over four years. It's located at 7401 Statesville Blvd. Last fall, the iconic New York City-based retailer Macy's celebrated the grand opening of its Rowan County fulfillment center. In 2022, Macy's said it would invest $584 million in the facility, creating 2,800 workers in China Grove. But in 2024, the company said it would invest $640 million into the project and create over 1,300 jobs. In April, The N.C. Economic Investment Committee on Tuesday approved extending Macy's state tax incentives goals, after missing the promised 116 job target. What to know about American Eagle. Founded in 1977, the Pennsylvania-based apparel retailer operates 1,170 stores including American Eagle, Aerie, OFFL/NE by Aerie, Todd Snyder, and Unsubscribed. The company has distribution centers in Hazleton, Phoenix, and Mississauga, Ontario. American Eagle Outfitters reported record revenue growth of $1.2 billion, up 10%, in its first quarter. This story was originally published July 17, 2026 at 11:07 AM. April 14, 2026 3:04 PM June 30, 2026 12:51 PM The Charlotte Observer Catherine Muccigrosso covers retail, banking and other business news for The Charlotte Observer. An award-winning journalist, she has worked for multiple newspapers in the Carolinas, Missouri and New York.