VP of Automation Engineering - Janicki Industries

At Janicki Industries, we turn complex ideas into real-world solutions through advanced engineering and manufacturing. Our teams design and build innovative structures, tooling, and systems that support industries including aerospace, space, defense, marine, and architecture. Across every role, from engineers and technicians to operations and support teams, our people help solve challenging problems, push the limits of design and manufacturing, and create solutions that make a lasting impact.

We are looking for a VP of Automation Engineering to join our growing team.

This position is located on-site in Sedro-Woolley, Washington State.

Department Summary:

The VP of Automation Engineering is a senior executive responsible for defining, leading, and executing the organization's automation strategy across all aerospace manufacturing operations. This role has enterprise-wide accountability for the design, deployment, integration, and continuous improvement of automated production systems — including industrial robotics, automated fiber placement (AFP), automated drilling and fastening, CNC machining cells, vision systems, automated inspection, conveyor and material handling systems, and advanced motion control platforms.

In the precision-driven, safety-critical aerospace manufacturing environment, the VP of Automation Engineering ensures that automation investments deliver measurable improvements in production throughput, dimensional quality, repeatability, labor efficiency, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) while maintaining full compliance with aerospace quality standards, safety regulations, and ITAR/EAR requirements. This leader serves as the organization's foremost authority on automation technology and serves as a key bridge between engineering, manufacturing operations, IT/OT, and capital finance.

Roles & Responsibilities:

Automation Strategy & Roadmap

• Develop and own the enterprise automation technology roadmap, identifying opportunities to replace manual operations, reduce cycle time, improve quality, and scale production capacity through targeted automation investments across all facilities and value streams.
• Evaluate emerging automation technologies — collaborative robotics (cobots), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), AI-powered machine vision, digital twin simulation, adaptive control systems, and additive manufacturing integration — and build business cases for adoption aligned with strategic production goals.
• Establish automation investment prioritization frameworks, ROI thresholds, and portfolio governance processes in partnership with the CFO and VP of Capital Finance.
• Present automation strategy, capital investment proposals, and program performance to COO, CEO, and Board of Directors.