Your responsibilities and tasks
We are seeking a Senior Manager Automation to lead automation project execution, manage engineering teams, and support business growth through customer-focused solutions. This role combines project management, people leadership, and technical automation expertise, ensuring successful delivery of automation, regular, and service projects in accordance with customer requirements, company standards, quality expectations, and budget targets.
The successful candidate will act as a key interface between customers, project teams, engineering resources, and sales functions while driving continuous improvement in engineering and project execution processes.
Project & Automation Management
- Manage automation, regular, and service projects from initiation through completion.
- Ensure automation project compliance with customer specifications, functional analysis, company norms, and automation standards.
- Organize and initiate automation project execution within approved budget frameworks.
- Drive project performance while balancing quality, cost, and delivery commitments.
- Continuously evaluate and mitigate risks across projects and quotations.
- Make product customization decisions during project execution when required.
- Support project teams throughout execution, including on-site support when necessary.
Team Leadership
- Lead, supervise, evaluate, and mentor Automation Engineers and Lead Automation Engineers.
- Support the professional growth and development of team members.
- Promote the consistent application of project methodologies and internal procedures.
- Ensure adherence to engineering standards, processes, and best practices.
Customer & Business Support
- Act as a primary point of contact for customers regarding project scope, planning, and delivery.
- Negotiate project scope and execution timelines with customers.
- Identify customer needs and translate them into business opportunities.
- Collaborate closely with Sales and After Sales teams.
- Perform project estimations and provide technical support during quotation and proposal phases.
- Ensure automation quotation processes meet established procedures and quality standards.
Continuous Improvement
- Drive continuous optimization of engineering tools, methods, and project execution processes.
- Participate in internal improvement initiatives and contribute to organizational excellence.
- Support the implementation of best practices across projects and engineering activities.
Your profile and qualifications
Education
- Master's Degree in Automation Engineering or a related field.
- Professional Project Management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent).
Experience
- Minimum 5 years of proven experience in Automation and/or Electrical Engineering.
- Broad experience in project execution and project management.
- Demonstrated experience leading teams and mentoring engineering professionals.
- Experience managing customer-facing projects and stakeholder relationships.
Languages
- English: B2/C1 level required.
- French, Portuguese, and/or German considered a strong advantage.
Key Competencies
- Planning and organizational skills
- Effective communication skills
- Results orientation
- Quality focus
- Customer orientation (internal and external)
- Decision-making capability
- Leadership and people development
- Risk management mindset
- Stress tolerance
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Technical Skills
- Office software proficiency
- Automation and electrical engineering expertise
- Project management methodologies and tools
Travel Requirements
- Willingness to travel up to 20% of the time, depending on project and customer requirements.
We offer:
Attractive compensation package aligned with experience, responsibilities, and international exposure.
- Flexible working hours and a hybrid working model (up to two days per week remote).
- 23 days of vacation per year.
- An excellent work environment within an international, collaborative, and technically strong engineering team.
- Continuous internal training and career development opportunities, both nationally and internationally.
- The opportunity to join a company recognized as a Top Employer 2026.
About GEA
GEA is one of the largest suppliers for the food and beverage processing industry and a wide range of other process industries. Approximately 18,000 employees in more than 60 countries contribute significantly to GEA’s success – come and join them! We offer interesting and challenging tasks, a positive working environment in international teams and opportunities for personal development and growth in a global company.
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Join a top employer
GEA is certified as a Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute for Europe. We have high scores for Leadership, Ethics & Integrity and Sustainability.
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A world of opportunities
We’re a global industrial engineering company and one of the world’s largest systems suppliers for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical sectors, and many others. GEA offers exciting and diverse training and career opportunities around the world.
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About GEA
GEA’s heritage stretches back more than 140 years. Today, we operate in resilient customer industries with a dedicated workforce of more than 18,000 employees and conduct business with more than 150 countries.
