Principal Industrial Automation Engineer

Join a high-impact industrial automation team supporting a large-scale, onsite opportunity in Rochester, Minnesota. This Principal Industrial Automation Engineer role focuses on designing and improving physical automation solutions that increase efficiency, capacity, quality, and reliability in a complex operational environment.
Responsibilities

• Lead the evaluation, design, and implementation of physical automation systems that improve operational performance.
• Develop end-to-end solutions for automated production, material handling, and workflow optimization from concept through handoff.
• Analyze current processes to identify opportunities that increase throughput, capacity, productivity, and material flow.
• Create capacity models, workflow simulations, and performance analyses to guide automation decisions.
• Build business cases and capital investment recommendations using cost, labor, quality, risk, and ROI considerations.
• Partner with vendors and systems integrators to define requirements, review designs, oversee implementation, and validate performance.
• Establish repeatable engineering standards and scalable approaches that can be applied across multiple operations.
• Apply Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and industrial engineering methods to remove inefficiencies and strengthen operations.
• Collaborate with operations, facilities, engineering, quality, supply chain, and leadership teams to align solutions with business goals.
• Help ensure automation solutions meet safety, quality, regulatory, and reliability expectations in a healthcare setting.

Skills

• 10+ years of experience in industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, systems engineering, or physical automation engineering.
• Proven experience designing and scaling automated systems in complex, high-volume environments.
• Strong understanding of industrial automation technologies, equipment integration, and material movement systems.
• Experience with capacity modeling, throughput analysis, workflow design, and simulation.
• Ability to develop capital investment recommendations and automation business cases.
• Experience managing vendors, equipment suppliers, and systems integrators through design and implementation.
• Strong analytical, technical leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work full time on-site in Rochester, MN, with occasional travel to Southaven, MS.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in highly automated environments such as fulfillment, manufacturing, distribution, or logistics operations.
• Background in healthcare, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical devices, or life sciences.
• Experience with conveyors, robotics, AS/RS, AGVs, or AMRs.
• Familiarity with industrial automation controls and system-level performance validation.
• Experience leading large-scale automation efforts across multiple vendors, facilities, or stakeholder groups.
• Exposure to capital equipment planning, automation roadmaps, and operational transformation initiatives.
• Lean Six Sigma certification or other relevant industrial engineering credentials.

Horizontal is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all people feel valued, respected, and supported. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and experiences who bring thoughtful perspectives and a collaborative mindset.
By applying for this position, you acknowledge and agree that Horizontal Talent may contact you regarding your application using automated technology, including phone calls, SMS/text messages, or email, which may be delivered by our virtual AI recruiter, Alex.
Please apply through this online posting or by visiting our Job Board at Applications will be accepted for 4 weeks. For those that join the team, we offer competitive compensation and benefits including medical, dental, vision, and retirement. Check out all we have to offer and how you can become part of the Horizontal Talent Team. The pay range for this role is $59 - $95 per hour based on qualifications and experience.