Robotics/Logistics Technical Lead

Validation & Engineering Group, Inc. (V&EG) a Pinnaql company is a leading services supplier who provides solutions for the Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Chemical, Food, and Medical Devices industries in the following areas: Laboratory, Compliance, Computer, Engineering, Project Management, Validation, and other services.

We are seeking a talented, dedicated individual committed to work under the highest ethics standards for the following position:

• Robotics/Logistics Technical Lead

Responsibilities:

• Enterprise Technical Strategy & Architecture: Own the end-to-end technical strategy for robotics and ASRS capabilities across the program; define reference architectures, subsystem boundaries, and interface patterns; set performance/reliability targets and design principles; and ensure solutions scale across sites, vendors, and operational profiles.
• System Integration Leadership (OT/IT/Software): Lead the integrated technical solution across PLC/HMI, safety PLC, robot/ASRS controllers, and WMS/WES/WCS/EMS; establish robust interface control (message contracts, state models, exception handling, recovery); and drive architectural decisions across OT networks, industrial protocols, and middleware to meet availability and cybersecurity expectations.
• Technical Governance & Design Assurance: Establish and run technical governance (design reviews, architecture boards, readiness gates) for layouts, electrical/controls, safety, and software; ensure traceability from business requirements to test evidence; set engineering quality standards (naming, alarms, diagnostics, documentation); and approve deviations with clear risk acceptance and mitigation plans.
• Commissioning, Readiness & KPIs Oversight: Define commissioning and qualification strategy across multiple workstreams (FAT/SAT, integrated testing, cutover, hypercare); lead complex issue triage and root cause efforts; and ensure throughput, accuracy, availability, and recovery KPIs are achieved with a sustainable operating model before acceptance.
• OEM/Integrator Technical Oversight & Commercial Influence: Act as the senior technical authority for robotics/ASRS OEMs and integrators; shape scope and technical assumptions that drive cost and schedule; review submittals and change requests; negotiate technical trade-offs; and hold partners accountable for documentation, training, spares, and supportability aligned to SLAs.
• Functional Safety, Compliance & Risk Leadership: Own the safety-by-design approach for automated systems (risk assessments, safeguarding strategy, LOTO, E-stops, safety validation) and align with site EHS; lead hazard closure and safety acceptance; and ensure operational readiness includes maintainability, training, escalation paths, and a reliability plan that sustains performance post go-live.
• Program-Level Planning, Resourcing & Technical Risk Management: Provide technical leadership for integrated schedules and dependency management across vendors and internal teams; forecast resourcing for controls/software/commissioning; identify and retire technical risks early (capacity, resilience, network, software, safety); and communicate trade-offs, contingencies, and decision points to senior stakeholders.
• Standards, Knowledge Management & Operating Model Handover: Establish reusable standards and templates (ICDs, control narratives, alarm/diagnostic philosophy, test protocols, as-built requirements) and ensure disciplined change control; drive a clean transition to Operations/Maintenance with training, troubleshooting playbooks, spares strategy, and clear ownership for sustaining engineering across the asset lifecycle.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Controls Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 10+ years of experience delivering industrial automation systems, including robotics and/or ASRS solutions, with significant responsibility for architecture, integration, and commissioning in warehouse, distribution, or manufacturing environments.
• Recognized technical authority with a track record of driving architecture decisions, resolving high-severity cross-domain issues, and influencing outcomes with senior stakeholders (Operations, IT/OT, Engineering, vendors) through go-live and stabilization.
• Deep experience authoring and governing controls/software deliverables at scale (reference architectures, control narratives, alarm/diagnostic standards, test strategies, network/security architecture) and implementing disciplined readiness gates (design, FAT, SAT, ORR).
• Expert-level troubleshooting and structured problem solving across electrical, controls, software, and mechanical interfaces; able to lead war-room triage, drive root cause to closure, and implement preventive countermeasures.
• Proven experience leading multi-vendor technical delivery (OEMs, integrators, software providers), including design assurance, FAT/SAT leadership, punch-list governance, acceptance criteria, and driving complete turnover documentation and training.
• Strong command of industrial networking and OT/IT integration concepts (e.g., Ethernet/IP, Profinet, OPC UA, VLANs, time sync) with the ability to shape network segmentation, availability, and cybersecurity requirements for automation systems.
• Demonstrated success delivering measurable performance outcomes (throughput, accuracy, uptime, recovery) and building sustainment mechanisms (monitoring, alarm strategy, PM/CM plans, spares, training) that persist beyond hypercare.
• Exceptional communication, documentation, and stakeholder management skills; able to influence executive decisions, align cross-functional teams, and mentor engineers/commissioning leads through complex technical delivery.

Additional Preferences:

• Advanced certifications/training in functional safety (e.g., TÜV), automation/controls, robotics, cybersecurity for OT, or systems engineering (nice-to-have).
• Experience defining scalable architectures and standard interfaces for ASRS/robotics ecosystems (conveyance/sortation, lifts, shuttles, pallet handling, AMRs/AGVs, vision, scanners/print-and-apply) and integrating them reliably with WMS/WES/WCS.
• Strong background in safety engineering and compliance for industrial automation, including leading risk assessments, safeguarding strategies, and safety validation/acceptance at program scale.
• Experience establishing reliability, observability, and performance management practices for automation (monitoring, logging, alarm rationalization, RCA governance) to reduce repeat failures and improve availability post go-live.
• Proven ability to drive multi-site standardization and continuous improvement—translating performance gaps into technical countermeasures (controls changes, tuning, maintenance strategy, operator standard work) and scaling the learnings across deployments.

At Validation & Engineering Group, people always come first. We believe that when you're empowered to do your best work, bold ideas thrive and real progress happens. This isn't just a job - it's an opportunity to make a meaningful difference by shaping the future of healthcare and technology alongside a purpose-driven, supportive team.

Excited to build something meaningful together? We look forward to hearing from you.

Validation & Engineering Group is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability status.