Manufacturing Engineering & Automation Manager

For more than 50 years, Silgan Plastics has defined the plastic bottling industry from technical innovation to creative packaging solutions. No matter what your packaging needs, Silgan can and will handle them. From creation to commercialization, our customized approach to each customer's requirements is what sets us apart from the rest.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:

The Manufacturing Engineering & Automation Manager is responsible for leading manufacturing engineering, automation, and technical improvement efforts to support safe, efficient, and cost-effective production at Silgan Plastics. This role provides leadership over manufacturing engineering, automation systems, capital project execution, maintenance strategy, and continuous improvement initiatives.

This position serves as a technical leader and change agent, driving equipment reliability, automation capability, process standardization, and scalability across operations. The role is critical in supporting capital deployment, new product introductions, and long-term automation strategy,

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Engineering & Automation-

• Lead manufacturing engineering and automation strategy to improve safety, quality, throughput, and cost.
• Support and enhance automation systems, including PLCs, HMIs, robotics, vision systems, and auxiliary equipment.
• Partner with operations, maintenance, and corporate resources to standardize automation platforms, controls architecture, and best practices.
• Provide technical leadership for troubleshooting complex equipment and controls issues.

Capital Projects & ROI-

• Own capital project scope, justification, budgeting, execution, and post-installation ROI validation.
• Lead equipment specifications, vendor selection, FAT/SAT, installation, and startup activities.
• Ensure capital investments align with operational needs, automation roadmaps, and long-term site strategy.

Maintenance & Reliability Leadership-

• Provide support to the maintenance organization (supervisors and skilled trades).
• Drive preventive and predictive maintenance strategies to improve uptime and asset reliability.

Continuous Improvement & Cost Reduction-

• Identify and execute cost reduction and productivity improvement initiatives, including:
• Labor optimization
• Secondary packaging improvements
• Scrap reduction
• Freight and material flow optimization
• Apply Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma tools (5S, SMED, VSM, Root Cause Analysis, Constraint Management).

New Product Introduction (NPI)-

• Lead engineering and automation support for new product introductions, ensuring:
• Equipment capability
• Process robustness
• Documentation and training readiness
• Partner with R&D, Quality, and Operations to ensure successful commercialization.

Utilities & Infrastructure-

• Develop and execute infrastructure standardization plans for:
• Compressed air
• Chilled and tower water
• Electrical distribution
• Ensure systems support current and future automation demands.

Safety, Training & Documentation-

• Provide engineering solutions to reduce risk identified through near misses and incident investigations.
• Develop and maintain equipment documentation, standard work, and training materials.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards and support PPE and guarding improvements.

AUTHORITY LEVEL (if applicable):

Yes. Manages a team of manufacturing engineers and controls engineers.

EDUCATION:

Required

• High School Diploma
• 5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in a high-volume manufacturing environment
• Strong project management and capital execution experience
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and CMMS systems

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or related)
• Plastics or blow molding experience
• Prior responsibility for automation or controls systems

Drawing Skills: 2D CAD drawing skills for plant layouts and equipment requests. 3D

modeling capability is a plus

Technical Skills & Competencies:

Manufacturing & Lean

• Demonstrated application of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies
• Strong working knowledge of Six Sigma tools and data-driven problem solving

Automation & Controls

• Working knowledge of:
• PLC-based control systems
• HMIs and industrial networks
• Pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical systems
• Ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external automation resources
• Experience supporting or leading automation upgrades is strongly preferred

CAD & Technical Documentation

• 2D CAD drawing capability for layouts and equipment requests
• 3D modeling experience is a plus

Leadership & Change Management

• Collaborative, hands-on leadership style
• Strong communication skills across hourly, salaried, and leadership teams
• Proven ability to lead change and influence without authority

LIMITATIONS & DISCLAIMER:

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.

Silgan will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities unless doing so would cause undue hardship.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the associate occupying this position. Associates will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.

Silgan Plastics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, or the presence of a disability, which would not prevent the performance of essential job duties with, or without reasonable accommodation of any other protective status.

Silgan Plastics is a drug-free workplace.