Senior Engineer - Industrial Automation and Robotics

Overview

Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Sr. Engineer, Industrial Automation and Robotic? Then we're looking for you! Check out the job description and apply now! Put your skills to meaningful use, gain unique experience, and work with world-class team members with diverse backgrounds and expertise who share the same vision. Join the PECNA team today!

Responsibilities

Sr. Engineer, Industrial Automation and Robotics

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Meet the Recruiter: Princess Damato

Job Summary:

Panasonic Energy is seeking a Sr. Engineer, Industrial Automation and Robotics reporting to the Sr. Director, Next Gen Initiatives. This role operates within the Next Gen Initiatives (NGI) team, a strategic function responsible for advancing automation, AI enablement, and operational transformation across PECNA. This role focuses on the physical execution layer of manufacturing: deploying automation and robotics systems that transform how work is performed on the factory floor. The engineer will drive deployment of robotics, task-specific equipment automation, process control, automated inspection, and AI-integrated hardware systems. This role converts Next Gen concepts into stable, production-ready assets that improve safety, quality, productivity, throughput, cost performance. The ideal candidate blends future-forward curiosity with a hands-on approach to problem-solving. You will translate complex manufacturing challenges into structured intiatives, driving cross-functional execution from early discovery and ideation through proof-of-concept and full deployment, ensuring measurable performance improvements and sustained adoption across the shop floor.

Essential Duties:

Strategy & Execution

• Partner with site leadership and manufacturing stakeholders to define and prioritize initiatives aligned to NGI pillars and identify opportunities to improve performance, cost, and workforce capability.
• Translate operational challenges into clear initiative charters and drive end-to-end delivery across physical systems (automation/robotics).
• Own use cases from discovery through proof of concept to scaled deployment, ensuring solutions are operationally relevant, explainable, and embedded into frontline workflows. 
• Manage initiative timelines, risks, and dependencies; drive issue resolution with cross functional stakeholders.

Next Gen Technologies

• Evaluate and pilot emerging automation and robotics technologies across production sites, including advanced robotics, AMRs, and polyfunctional platforms. Identify and evaluate high-impact opportunities in areas such as task-specific equipment automation, process control, automated inspection, and AI-integrated hardware systems.
• Identify and prioritize automation opportunities that deliver measurable improvements in productivity, throughput, quality, and safety. 
• Partner with process engineering/mechanical engineering/quality/controls/SCADA to convert manual or semi-automated operations into reliable, closed-loop automated systems using PLCs, HMIs, sensors, and control logic. 
• Develop evaluation frameworks to assess readiness, capability, reliability, safety, and ROI before scaled deployment. 

Stakeholder & Vendor Coordination

• Bridge the gap between Operations, Engineering, Safety, Maintenance, IT/OT, Quality, Finance, HR, Supply Chain to ensure deployments are safe, scalable, and sustainable. 
• Manage relationships with robotics OEMs, automation integrators, and equipment vendors, including RFAs, bids, delivery milestones, FAT/SAT, and performance accountability. 
• Define and track KPIs such as cycle time, resource efficiency, MTBF, uptime, ROI, quality impact, and safety improvement. 
• Document standards and best practices to enable repeatable deployment across NV and KS sites. 
• Support training and change management for sustainable ownership by relevant teams.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements:

• To ensure the health and safety in the workplace and for the protection of our employees, wearing PPE is a possibility and may include equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, bump cap, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator.

The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.

Qualifications

Requirements - Required and/or Preferred

Required Education, Certifications, and Licenses:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Science, Industrial Engineering, or related field

Preferred Education, Certifications, and Licenses:

• Master’s degree in a related field
• PMP, Six Sigma, or equivalent continuous improvement certification

Essential Qualifications:

• 7+ years of experience in industrial automation, robotics, controls, equipment engineering, or systems integration within a high-volume manufacturing environment Proven cross-functional delivery from concept to adoption
• Knowledge of factory systems (MES, SCADA, PLCs, ERP)
• Experience managing vendors or integrators through requirements, RFA/RFQ, FAT, SAT, commissioning, and handoff Strong communication, structured problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills
• Strong project execution skills with ability to manage scope, timeline, risks, dependencies, and cross-functional stakeholders 
• Strong communication skills, comfortable working on the shop floor and presenting progress to leadership 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in battery, semiconductor, automotive, pharmaceutical, or high-speed consumer goods manufacturing 
• Experience with AMRs/AGVs, cobots, articulated robots, inspection automation, or material movement automation 
• Experience with industrial controls, programming, and systems integration, including PLCs, HMIs, sensors, robotics interfaces, equipment communication protocols, or integration of automated systems into manufacturing environments
• Familiarity with ROS, robot simulation tools, AMR fleet management, LIDAR navigation, or AI-driven motion control 
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, or continuous improvement methodologies 
• Experience working with Japanese manufacturing partners or in cross-cultural engineering environments 

Travel Requirement:

• Up to 25% travel required

Physical Demands:

Physical Activities: Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to:

• Sit: 30%
• Walk: 40%
• Stand: 30%

Required Lifting and Carrying: Rare (<1%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%), Continuous (67-100%)

For this position, the required frequency is:

• Up to 10 lbs.: Occasional
• Up to 20 lbs.: Rare
• Up to 35 lbs.: Rare
• Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Rare

Benefits & Perks - What's In It For You:

Panasonic Energy prioritizes total well-being and offers comprehensive benefits options to support physical, emotional, financial, social, and environmental health:

• Health Benefits – Offering medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
• Voluntary Benefits – Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
• Panasonic Retirement Savings & Investment Plan (PRSIP) – 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.
• Paid Time-Off Benefits – Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.
• Educational Assistance – Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.
• Health Management and Wellbeing Programs –Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources. Available to eligible employees starting the first day of the month following your start date. Eligibility for each benefit may vary based on employment status, location, and length of service.
• Employee Recognition Program - High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
• Annual Bonus Program - Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.
• On-site Food Options: Several on-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events
• Free Shuttle: Rides to and from work!

Where You'll Be:

For our onsite roles, Panasonic Energy is committed to fostering an ideal working environment that goes beyond the conventional. We understand the significance of moments that matter in your onsite experience, and we prioritize creating a workspace that not only promotes productivity but also ensures a fulfilling and positive work atmosphere. Join us at Panasonic Energy, where your onsite presence is valued, and we strive to make each moment count in your professional journey.

Who We Are:

Meet Panasonic Energy! At Panasonic Energy, you'll do work that matters as we are dedicated to transforming the world through the acceleration of sustainable energy. By producing safe, high-quality lithium-ion batteries, you become part of a team that plays a crucial role in creating technologies that move us.

Our journey began in 2017, and now, as the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory, we are expanding operations to De Soto, Kansas, providing you with the opportunity to experience career growth in more ways than one.

As an innovative thinker, you'll thrive here, as we continually push the boundaries of lithium-ion battery technology and production capabilities to enhance efficiency and performance in EVs.

Being part of Panasonic Energy means positively contributing to society, aligning with our commitment to building a better world through sustainable energy solutions.

We care about what you care about, fostering an environment where your contributions make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation. Join us and be part of a team that values your work, encourages innovation, and actively contributes to a positive societal impact.

In addition to an environment that is as innovative as our products, we offer competitive salaries and benefits.

We Take Opportunity Seriously:

At Panasonic Energy, we are committed to a workplace that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. Fairness and Honesty have been part of our core values for more than 100 years and we are proud of our diverse culture as an equal opportunity employer.

We understand that your career search may look different than others and embrace the professional, personal, educational, and volunteer opportunities through which people gain experience. If you are actively looking or starting to explore new opportunities, submit your application!

Supplemental Information:

Pre-employment drug testing is required.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Due to the high volume of responses, we will only be able to respond to candidates of interest. All candidates must have valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction.

Thank you for your interest in Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America.

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