Robotics Project Engineer

Orion Group Life Sciences are currently recruiting a Robotics Project Engineer, New Builds on behalf of our Multinational Biopharmaceutical client based in Ireland (fully remote based in Ireland) on an initial 12-month contract with huge potential to extend.

Global project support: 25-30% travel required.

Summary:
This role combines project engineering and project management with system-level technical leadership in robotics. The successful candidate will partner with site and global stakeholders to identify and assess robotics opportunities, define requirements and business cases, evaluate solution options and feasibility, and lead projects from concept through successful execution. The role serves as the technical owner for robotics applications - understanding technology capabilities, limitations, risks, and tradeoffs; challenging vendor recommendations; and guiding solution direction - while external system integrators perform the detailed design, programming, and system build.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Co-lead the execution of robotics projects across global sites and new-build programs, including locations where facilities, operating models, and site teams are still being established; coordinate scope, schedule, budget, risks, stakeholders, and external system integrators from concept through implementation.
• Collaborate with global, site, and cross-functional new-build teams to define operational needs, project scope, user requirements, success criteria, and deliverables, often while facility designs, processes, and ownership models are still evolving.
• Build alignment across global functions, new-build teams, future site stakeholders, and vendors; navigate complex governance and decision processes, resolve ownership gaps and roadblocks, and maintain robotics project momentum while balancing competing priorities and accelerated site-delivery timelines.
• Drive timely input and alignment from global and cross-functional stakeholders to define, quantify, and articulate the business value of robotics opportunities, including productivity, capacity, efficiency, safety, and, where relevant, compliance benefits, despite evolving assumptions and competing priorities.
• Lead the selection and management of system integrators, equipment suppliers, and technology partners; review proposals, concepts, schedules, risk assessments, and implementation plans; and hold vendors accountable for meeting project requirements.
• Provide system-level technical leadership by assessing robotics applications, evaluating technology capabilities and limitations, comparing solution alternatives, and determining feasibility, risks, and scalability. Review and challenge integrator recommendations while relying on external partners for detailed design, programming, and system build.
• Support the global robotics team in building the long-term project pipeline by working with site stakeholders to identify and assess future robotics opportunities.
• Regularly gather input and feedback from each site to guide the organization’s robotics and automation strategy, addressing both operational value and compliance readiness where necessary.
• Lead and oversee small-scale proof-of-concept projects by defining objectives and evaluation criteria, coordinating external partners, assessing results, and recommending whether solutions should be advanced, modified, or discontinued.
• Travel internationally as needed and adapt to diverse regulatory requirements, operating cultures, project stages, and new-build environments.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Background in project engineering, project management, applications engineering, product management, manufacturing engineering, or technical sales, gained as an end user, system integrator, or robotics technology provider. Demonstrated working knowledge of industrial robotics, collaborative robots, autonomous mobile robots, machine vision, and related automation technologies, including their capabilities, limitations, integration considerations, and appropriate applications.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience working in regulated industries (such as Pharma, biotechnology, or medical devices) is an advantage, particularly familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), ISO, or FDA requirements, and validation processes (IQ/OQ/PQ).
• Competence in handling project documentation, risk assessments, and compliance documentation when required.
• Proven track record of leading robotics or automation projects in manufacturing, logistics, or laboratory environments, including translating operational needs into requirements, managing external delivery partners, and guiding solutions through implementation and startup.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills, with the ability to create alignment across global technical and non-technical teams, clarify ownership, obtain timely decisions, and progress work without direct authority or a fully established site organization.
• Adaptive and open mindset, comfortable working in multicultural and multidisciplinary teams, and in both regulated and unregulated pharmaceutical environments.

People are our business worldwide

Orion Group was founded in 1987 and is now one of the largest, independent, international recruitment companies. We have a network of 200 employees working from 24 offices, delivering a range of services – Talent Acquisition, Recruitment Outsourcing Services, Retained Search, Global Workforce Solutions, Completions & Commissioning and Materials Management – across 68 countries. As a global leader in workforce solutions, we recruit personnel across the Engineering & Technical, Office & Commercial, Scientific and Skilled Trades disciplines, for sectors including Oil & Gas, Life Science, Power & Utilities, Constructions & Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Renewables.