Manufacturing Engineer - Automation

Senior Automation Manufacturing Equipment Engineering – Rubber Products Production (Hydraulic Hoses, Conveyor Belt, Air Spring, Drapper Belt, V Belts, Etc) – Automation and general equipment and process technical definition. Critical member of the Manufacturing Engineering BA Team, responsible for elevating excellence for Production Equipment and Standardization, Machinery and Production Design, Investments definition, Cost Saving Projects, Automation, and more, across the IAM organization. This role ensures that we define the best process and support or manufacturing operations to produce high advanced spiraled and flexible steel cord high pressure industrial hoses and other related rubber products in a robust, and cost‑effective manner across multiple manufacturing sites.
Serving as both a regional technical authority and a strategic partner to manufacturing plants, this position leads complex process revamp design and automation concepts, equipment selection and industrialization initiatives and ensures consistent launch readiness and stable production performance. Leveraging deep expertise in overall manufacturing equipment and product–process interactions, capacity and layout planning are part of the scope.

The position is responsible for the technical support and definition of equipment and related manufacturing concepts across multiple Hoses, Conveyor Belt, PTS, Air Spring, PTS plants within IAM, directly influencing the successful project technical alignment, technical specification creation, investment financial analysis support, being under capacity increase or cost reduction support projects and continuous improvement of products representing approximately €300 M in annual revenue.

Location:  ContiTech Fairlawn OH. Relocation within US possible.  No international relocation

Tasks

Automation for Manufacturing Equipment Definition and Selection and Improvement:

• Serve as Business Area technical authority for new technologies investment, since rubber hot preparation, confection, curing, cutting, assembly, finishing equipment, etc, ensuring consistent standards and capability across all sites.
• Serve as core expert during end‑to‑end industrialization of new products from design definition through launch and stable serial production.
• Provide expert guidance on manufacturing equipment technologies, materials, and assembly processes, including escalation and problem‑solving support.
• Define and optimize equipment concepts, Automation, tooling, and layouts to meet safety, quality, cost, scalability, and capability targets.
• Support investment initiatives for capital asset selection to manufacture rubber products. Support plants with the cost saving calculation and investment pay back justification.

• Lead improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Support structured problem‑solving using Lean and Six Sigma tools (A3, 8D, DMAIC, SPC, MSA).
• Deploy and govern manufacturing best practices and technical standards to ensure consistency and long‑term equipment robustness, with global teams and under global hose manufacturing standards.
• Seek for newer technologies for hose manufacturing with a market perspective and global new trends. Check also existing CT group technologies as bench marking.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Support ME Leadership with reviewing post‑launch manufacturing performance to ensure stable serial production and compliance with industrialization standards.
• Support ME Leadership with monitoring of KPIs for equipment performance and efficiency and profitability gains.
• Identify and assess industrialization equipment risks and coordinate mitigation actions with plant teams.
• Analyze trends and deviations to prevent recurrence and drive proactive improvement.

Standardization & Trainings

• Drive implementation and adherence to global equipment standards across locations.
• Define, maintain, and deploy technical guidelines and best practices in alignment with sector and plant teams.
• Serve as subject matter expert for CS, PTS, DSS equipment industrialization, providing training, coaching, and technical support to engineers and plant teams.
• Support introduction of new technologies, materials, and processes through proper validation, documentation, and standardization.

Technical Expertise:

• Rubber and General Hose manufacturing, Belts technology, including mining belts, industry V belts, rubber air Spring manufacturability
• Production processes & equipment
• Core manufacturing processes (rubber preparation, extrusion, calendaring, curing, cutting, griding, winding up, confection of conveyor belts and similars, testing, inspection, packing, etc.)
• Product and process industrialization technologies, systems, standards, and infrastructure
• Industrial engineering fundamentals and methods
• Design and product manufacturing test processes
• Technical requirements definition to support purchasing process

Advanced Level:

• Problem‑solving and decision‑making tools (A3, 8D, DMAIC, SPC, MSA, etc.)
• Project management tools, methods, and execution
• Product lifecycle processes
• Quality Core Tools (PFMEA, APQP, MSA, R&R, flowcharting, process control plans)
• Lean production / CBS principles, methods, and tools
• Communication and stakeholder engagement

Intermediate Level:

• Financial product and process cost understanding

Education: Bachelor's degree: in Mechanical, Mechatronics, Manufacturing, or a related engineering or science fields

Professional Experience: 

• More than 7 years of extensive experience in Manufacturing Engineering, with deep expertise in equipment Automation, robotics, vision systems, autonomous material handling equipment, remote control and supervisory system.
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience in rubber and plastic production processes and ramp-up projects.
• Deep expertise in specifying and executing projects in automation, integration and supplier and automation vendors administration.

Leadership & Intercultural Experience:

• Leading Projects and specific team interaction (multiple plants)
• Good Communication skills
• Experienced working with international teams on production topics and understanding foreign cultures

Additional:

• 20 – 40 % travel availability  
• Proficient in English is mandatory

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.