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Automation Manager

Research Triangle Park, NC

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence and Transparency.

As an Automation Manager, you will support the build-out of automation systems for a new manufacturing facility, from pilot through commercial scale. This role will ensure that complex process equipment—ranging from powder handling to sintering systems—integrates into a cohesive, reliable, and scalable plant environment. Many core design decisions and platforms may already be underway. This role will work closely with engineering firms, OEM vendors, and internal teams to refine designs, ensure alignment to standards, and drive systems through integration, testing, and commissioning.

You will operate as both a technical leader and hands-on contributor—comfortable reviewing architecture, working through integration details, supporting factory and site acceptance testing, and troubleshooting systems as they come online.

Responsibilities

  • Process Equipment Integration
    • Work directly with OEM automation teams to review, align, and commission equipment controls.
    • Align with vendor systems to meet internal automation standards (tagging, interfaces, communication protocols).
    • Support integration of complex equipment into plant-wide SCADA and MES systems.
  • FAT / SAT & Commissioning Support
    • Define and review automation-related FAT and SAT criteria for process and manufacturing equipment.
    • Participate in and support Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) with vendors to validate controls, interfaces, and data readiness.
    • Lead or support Site Acceptance Testing (SATs), ensuring systems perform correctly in the plant environment.
    • Track and resolve automation and integration issues identified during testing and commissioning.
  • Automation Systems and Facility System Integration
    • Support implementation and integrate with the facility’s control system architecture.
    • Standardize approaches and integration details across PLCs, SCADA, life safety systems, and networks where needed.
    • Support development, testing, and validation of data flows, interfaces, and system connections.
    • Collaborate on control room design, layout, and operator workflows.
  • Standards, Compliance & Reliability
    • Ensure systems meet safety, quality, and industry standards.
    • Reinforce cybersecurity and network best practices.
    • Support commissioning, validation, and long-term system reliability.

Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Electrical, Chemical, Automation, or related).
  • 10+ years of experience in industrial automation in process or chemical manufacturing.
  • Experience working with engineering firms and OEM vendors on system delivery.
  • Experience supporting FATs, SATs, and commissioning of automated systems.
  • Hands-on experience with PLCs, DCS/SCADA, and industrial protocols (OPC UA, Modbus, Ethernet/IP, etc.).
  • Experience supporting MES implementation and integration.

Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with complex equipment (powder handling, thermal/sintering, batch systems).
  • Experience Leading and Managing Teams
  • Knowledge of ISA-95 / ISA-88 frameworks.
  • Experience supporting projects from pilot through commercial scale.
  • Exposure to control room design and operator interface strategies.
  • Working knowledge of Python or similar scripting.
  • Experience with APIs, system interfaces, and databases (SQL or similar).
  • Experience working with engineering firms, vendors, and IT infrastructure.

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