Senior Automation & Industrialization Project Lead

About the role

A recruitment agency is hiring, on behalf of Wacker Neuson, a leading manufacturer of construction equipment and compact machines, a Senior Automation & Industrialization Project Lead for its manufacturing site in Kragujevac, Serbia. The role leads major automation and robotics projects, from concept through procurement, installation, commissioning and ramp-up, reporting directly to the Managing Director and leading assigned Project Engineers and Automation Specialists.

Key responsibilities

• Identify automation opportunities in assembly, logistics and parts handling, and develop automation concepts, user requirement specifications and FAT/SAT acceptance protocols.
• Lead procurement, integration and commissioning of industrial robots, cobots, machine vision systems and AGVs/AMRs, in line with CE machinery directives and ISO 13849/IEC 62061.
• Manage CAPEX projects worth €500k to several million euros, including business cases, ROI/payback calculations and oversight of machine builders and integrators.
• Coordinate plant layout changes and line relocations with Manufacturing and Lean Engineering teams.
• Set up milestone tracking, FMEA and contingency plans, supervise run-off trials and transfer operating procedures to shopfloor teams.

Required profile

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Automation, Mechatronics, Electrical or Industrial Engineering.
• At least 5 years of hands-on industrial project management leading automation, robotics and major CAPEX investments in serial manufacturing.
• Native Serbian or full working proficiency, and English at B2 level or higher.
• Nice to have: PMP, IPMA or PRINCE2 certification, German, Industry 4.0 IoT protocols, Siemens TIA Portal or simulation tools, and CE marking certification.

Required skills

• Industrial robotics, automated assembly systems, PLCs, machine vision and automated handling.
• Business case development, CAPEX tracking and supplier contracting.

What we offer

• Permanent employment with a competitive senior expert salary.
• Private medical insurance, professional development and technical certifications.
• Company laptop and mobile phone.