Automation Equipment Design & Fabrication Manager

Employment Type: Full-Time
Department: Engineering / Automation

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced and visionary Automation Equipment Design & Fabrication Manager to lead our engineering and manufacturing teams in Malaysia/Thailand. With a minimum of 10–15 years of experience and at least 3–5 years in a managerial role, the ideal candidate will oversee the entire lifecycle of custom automation equipment—from conceptual design and simulation to precision fabrication, assembly, and site commissioning of equipment designed and built by us for customer factories across the Southeast Asia region.

You will bridge the gap between cutting-edge automation engineering and hands-on manufacturing, ensuring that all equipment meets stringent quality, cost, and delivery benchmarks to support our regional customer production facilities.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team comprising Mechanical Design Engineers, Electrical & Controls Engineers, Automation Engineers, and Fabrication Technicians.

• Build a collaborative, high-performance engineering culture focused on innovation, quality, and continuous improvement.

• Plan departmental resources, budgets, and manpower to support multiple concurrent automation projects.

• Establish engineering best practices, design standards, and technical documentation procedures.

• Monitor engineering performance through KPIs and continuous improvement initiatives.

Automation Equipment Design

• Lead the conceptualization, design, and development of customized automation equipment, robotic work cells, assembly systems, and production machinery.

• Ensure all designs incorporate Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), reliability, maintainability, and cost optimization principles.

• Review and approve mechanical designs, electrical schematics, BOMs, and engineering documentation.

• Drive the selection and integration of automation components including:

  • Servo motion systems

  • Pneumatic and hydraulic systems

  • PLCs and HMIs

  • Machine vision systems

  • Robotics

  • Industrial sensors and safety devices

Fabrication & Manufacturing Management

• Oversee fabrication activities including CNC machining, precision machining, sheet metal fabrication, welding, assembly, and machine build.

• Coordinate in-house manufacturing and external machining vendors to ensure quality and delivery requirements are achieved.

• Develop fabrication standards, inspection criteria, and manufacturing work instructions.

• Implement Quality Assurance (QA) procedures covering mechanical accuracy, dimensional inspection, wiring quality, and machine performance.

• Promote workplace safety by enforcing OSHA requirements, machine safety standards, and 5S practices.

Project Management & Equipment Delivery

• Lead automation projects from design approval through machine build, testing, shipment, installation, and customer acceptance.

• Manage project schedules, engineering milestones, risks, budgets, and resource planning.

• Oversee Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT).

• Resolve complex mechanical, electrical, controls, and software integration challenges during equipment commissioning.

• Work closely with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to ensure successful project execution.

Continuous Improvement & Technical Excellence

• Drive automation innovation and support Industry 4.0 initiatives through new technologies and smart manufacturing solutions.

• Identify opportunities to improve equipment performance, reliability, maintainability, and manufacturing efficiency.

• Evaluate new automation technologies and recommend engineering improvements.

• Establish engineering standards aligned with international quality and safety requirements.

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's Degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related discipline.

Experience

• Minimum 10–15 years of experience in automation equipment design, machine building, or industrial automation.

• Minimum 3–5 years in an Engineering Manager, Design Manager, or similar leadership role.

• Experience within one or more of the following industries is highly preferred:

  • Semiconductor

  • Electronics Manufacturing (EMS)

  • Precision Manufacturing

  • Automotive

  • Consumer Electronics

  • Medical Devices

Technical Skills

• Strong proficiency in 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks or equivalent.

• Extensive knowledge of:

  • Precision machine design

  • CNC machining processes

  • Sheet metal fabrication

  • Welding and fabrication techniques

  • Mechanical assembly practices

• Strong understanding of industrial automation systems including:

  • PLC programming standards

  • HMI systems

  • Servo motion control

  • Robotics (FANUC, ABB, KUKA or equivalent)

  • Vision inspection systems

  • Industrial networking

• Familiarity with ISO, CE, SEMI, and machine safety standards.

• Strong understanding of manufacturing cost control and engineering change management.

Leadership Competencies

• Excellent leadership and people development skills.

• Strong project management and organizational capabilities.

• Proven ability to manage multiple engineering projects simultaneously.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

• Excellent communication and

Kindly contact Ms Rachel at  +6019-772 2619 for further details or send your resume to [rachel.gan@cityrecruit.com.my]

or

Kindly contact Mr Edwin +6012 692 5453 for further details or send your resume to [crcs-my-recruitment@cityrecruit.com.my]