Automation Lead (FoF Focus Plant)

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What we offer:
At Magna, you can expect an engaging and dynamic environment where you can help to develop industry-leading automotive technologies. We invest in our employees, providing them with the support and resources they need to succeed. As a member of our global team, you can expect exciting, varied responsibilities as well as a wide range of development prospects. Because we believe that your career path should be as unique as you are.
Group Summary:
The Magna Exteriors portfolio of products includes access systems such as liftgates, exterior trim, modular systems, front-end modules including fascia, active aerodynamic systems and other lightweight structural components for automotive, commercial truck and other industrial markets.
Recognized globally as an innovator in all aspects of vehicle exteriors, Magna provides everything needed, from materials development and design through manufacturing and assembly, to help automakers create sleek, state-of-the-art vehicles across the world.
Job Responsibilities:
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Automation Lead will support the execution of a large-scale Factory of the Future transformation within a key manufacturing division in Toronto. This role will focus on leading automation deployment activities, coordinating execution across internal and external teams, and ensuring solutions are delivered to Factory of the Future standards.
This individual will work closely with operations, engineering, automation vendors, system integrators, and plant leadership to drive alignment, remove execution barriers, and accelerate deployment of automation technologies within the facility.
In addition to leadership and coordination, this role is expected to provide hands-on technical support during commissioning, integration, troubleshooting, and startup activities where needed.
Compensation: 120,000-150,000 CAD.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• Automation initiatives delivered on time and to standard
• Strong coordination and alignment across vendors, integrators, and plant teams
• Reduced execution delays, rework, and deployment friction
• Standardized, scalable automation solutions successfully implemented within the division
• Improved operational performance, system stability, and deployment efficiency

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead execution and coordination of automation initiatives within the division
• Act as the primary point of contact between automation vendors, system integrators, plant teams, and Factory of the Future leadership
• Drive alignment to Factory of the Future standards, priorities, and deployment timelines
• Support installation, commissioning, troubleshooting, and integration of automation systems within production environments
• Provide leadership and direction to ensure execution risks, delays, and technical issues are resolved quickly
• Drive standardization, consistency, and sharing of automation best practices across implementations
• Support scalability and repeatability of deployed automation solutions
• Collaborate with plant operations and engineering teams to ensure operational readiness and successful deployment outcomes
• Contribute to improving manufacturing performance, uptime, and operational efficiency through automation initiatives

The above is intended to describe the general content of and the requirements for the performance of this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, ability and/or physical demands required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Strong experience with PLC programming and industrial control systems (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or equivalent)
• Proven experience leading or coordinating automation deployments within manufacturing environments
• Hands-on experience supporting commissioning, troubleshooting, and startup activities
• Experience working with automation vendors, integrators, and cross-functional plant teams
• Experience with robotics, cobots, Autonomous Mobile Robots, and vision systems preferred
• Strong troubleshooting, coordination, and execution skills in fast-paced manufacturing environments
• Ability to provide leadership, clarity, and direction while remaining hands-on when required

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, or related field preferred, or equivalent hands-on industry experience
• 8+ years of experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, or manufacturing systems
• Experience supporting large-scale automation or manufacturing transformation initiatives preferred
• Experience within automotive or high-volume manufacturing environments preferred
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols, manufacturing systems, and automation integration practices preferred

Physical Demands/Work Environment - Normal amount of sitting or standing, average mobility to move around an office environment, able to conduct normal amount of work at a computer, may require local, domestic and international travel. This position will be located out of Troy MI, or remote with a travel requirement.
Awareness, Unity, Empowerment:
At Magna, we believe that a diverse workforce is critical to our success. That's why we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We hire on the basis of experience and qualifications, and in consideration of job requirements, regardless of, in particular, color, ancestry, religion, gender, origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or gender identity. Magna takes the privacy of your personal information seriously. We discourage you from sending applications via email or traditional mail to comply with GDPR requirements and your local Data Privacy Law.
AI-Assisted Screening Disclosure
As part of our commitment to a fair, consistent, and efficient recruitment process, we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the initial screening of applications submitted through our Workday system. These tools help identify qualifications and experience that align with the role requirements. Please note that AI is used solely to support our recruiters. Final decisions are always made by the hiring manager and the hiring team. Importantly, no applicant data is shared externally through these AI tools. All information remains securely within our systems and is handled in accordance with our privacy and data protection policies.
Under conditions defined by applicable law, you may have the right to request an explanation of how AI is used to support decision-making.
If you have any questions or concerns about this process, feel free to contact our Talent Attraction team.
Worker Type:
Regular / Permanent
Group:
Magna Exteriors