We are seeking a Lead Automation Engineer to drive the front-end development of Air MI’s automation strategy for our innovation and product development hub. This Hub operates in a low-volume, high-SKU environment where flexibility, rapid experimentation, and speed to learning are critical.
This role is responsible for identifying automation opportunities, evaluating emerging technologies, developing technology roadmaps, leading proof-of-concept activities, and creating scalable solutions that enable product innovation while improving safety, quality, productivity, and manufacturing agility.
This is a highly strategic technical leadership role. The ideal candidate combines strong automation expertise with creativity, business acumen, and systems thinking. They are comfortable operating in ambiguity, rapidly testing and iterating new concepts, influencing across functions, and translating future manufacturing visions into executable technology roadmaps.
The successful candidate will play a key role in advancing Nike’s innovation capabilities by developing automation solutions that support new products, new methods of make, and emerging manufacturing technologies before they are scaled across the broader Air MI network.
Key attributes for this role include:
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Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience, and training.
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Minimum 6 years of experience in automation, robotics, controls, manufacturing systems, or related engineering disciplines.
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Proven experience leading automation initiatives from concept through pilot validation.
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Experience working within innovation, R&D, prototyping, pilot manufacturing, or highly flexible production environments.
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Experience developing business cases, capital justifications, and technology investment strategies.
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Strong technical understanding of robotics, material handling automation, machine vision, industrial controls, digital manufacturing, and connected systems.
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Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and communicate effectively with both technical and business audiences.
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Comfortable operating in ambiguous environments where requirements and processes continue to evolve.