Robotics Project Engineer / Program Manager

The Fountain Group is a national staffing firm and we are currently seeking a Robotics Project Engineer / Program Manager for a prominent client of ours. This position is REMOTE with Travel. Details for the position are as follows:
Program Manager III – Robotics & Automation
Location: Remote – United States
Pay Rate: $80-$90/hour
Travel: Approximately 25–40% to U.S. sites, including Puerto Rico
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Robotics & Automation Program Manager to support enterprise-wide robotics initiatives across multiple manufacturing and operational sites.
This position sits at the intersection of robotics technology, business strategy, and project execution. The ideal candidate has significant robotics/automation experience and can take a consultative approach to evaluating manufacturing operations, identifying opportunities for robotics, developing business cases, and leading solutions from initial concept through deployment.
This is not primarily a hands-on robot programming or field service position. Candidates should have the technical depth to understand robotics solutions while also being able to assess site needs, determine whether a robotics investment makes business and operational sense, recommend appropriate technologies and integration partners, and oversee execution.
Key Responsibilities
Partner with manufacturing and operational sites to identify and evaluate potential robotics and automation use cases.
Conduct site assessments, including floor walk-throughs and discussions with operations, engineering, technical teams, and other stakeholders.
Translate operational challenges into potential robotics and automation solutions.
Determine the technical and operational feasibility of proposed robotics investments.
Develop cost-benefit analyses, ROI assessments, business cases, and value propositions for robotics initiatives.
Recommend appropriate robotics technologies, solutions, vendors, and systems integrators based on site requirements.
Lead robotics initiatives from discovery and concept development through implementation and deployment.
Manage multiple robotics and automation projects simultaneously across geographically dispersed sites.
Lead small-scale proof-of-concept (PoC) projects to evaluate new robotics technologies and applications.
Manage vendor and third-party relationships, including solution evaluation, selection, project delivery, timelines, and equipment performance.
Partner with third-party systems integrators responsible for installation and implementation.
Evaluate integration approaches and ensure proposed solutions meet technical and operational quality expectations.
Build relationships with site leadership and cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
Communicate the business and operational value of robotics initiatives to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Identify future automation opportunities and contribute to the organization's long-term robotics strategy and project pipeline.
Support deployments across multiple U.S. locations and travel to sites as required.
Required Qualifications
4+ years of robotics and/or industrial automation experience, with significant exposure to robotics technologies and deployments.
Background in project, sales, applications, or manufacturing engineering either as an end-user, systems integrator, or manufacturer of robotic systems - with experience across leading robotics platforms (e.g., Kuka, FANUC, ABB, UR, MiR, Otto, etc.).
Demonstrated experience evaluating, consulting on, selling, leading, or deploying multiple robotics use cases within manufacturing, logistics, laboratory, or other operational environments.
Ability to assess a manufacturing operation and determine where robotics can provide value and which robotics solutions are appropriate.
Experience supporting robotics projects from initial discovery or requirements gathering through implementation and deployment.
Strong understanding of industrial robotics technologies and automation platforms such as FANUC, KUKA, ABB, Universal Robots (UR), MiR, OTTO, or comparable technologies.
Experience developing or contributing to business cases, ROI/cost-benefit analyses, capital justification, or automation investment decisions.
Strong project/program management skills with the ability to coordinate multiple simultaneous initiatives.
Experience managing or collaborating with robotics vendors, automation suppliers, and/or systems integrators.
Strong communication, consulting, stakeholder management, and influencing skills.
Ability to communicate effectively with site leadership, operations teams, engineers, vendors, and other technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Ability to travel approximately 25–40%, including travel to Puerto Rico.
Preferred Backgrounds
Candidates may come from a variety of robotics and automation backgrounds, including:
Robotics Applications Engineering
Automation Applications Engineering
Robotics/Automation Sales Engineering
Robotics Solutions Engineering
Automation Consulting
Robotics Program or Project Management
Manufacturing Engineering/Operations leadership with extensive multi-site robotics experience
Robotics systems integration
Experience evaluating or deploying a broad range of robotics use cases is strongly preferred. Candidates who have supported approximately 15–20 different applications or deployment scenarios through consulting, applications engineering, sales engineering, integration, or deployment leadership are particularly well aligned.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working with and evaluating third-party robotics integrators.
Experience supporting operations in Puerto Rico is a plus.
Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or other regulated-industry experience is beneficial but not required.
Familiarity with GMP, FDA, ISO, validation, IQ/OQ/PQ, risk assessments, or regulated equipment documentation is a plus.
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Work arrangement
Yes