Job Description

About Umicore

Powering the cars of today and tomorrow. Reducing harmful emissions. Giving unique properties to high-end applications. Giving new life to used metals. As a global advanced materials and recycling group, we develop, produce, and recycle materials for a better life.

About Enterprise Functions

A global organisation. It’s not just those in our industrial sites and technical centres that are vital to Umicore’s growth. Across our enterprise functions we ensure that we continue to grow and evolve – whether it’s by making sure our decisions are commercially viable, enhancing our reputation, building new customer relationships or finding the right people who can build on what we’ve already achieved. The variety of our work means we cannot stand still. We need to find new ways to do things, discover new solutions and develop new ideas. Which is where you come in.

Your Key Accountabilities

• Requirements & designTranslate Business Unit and plant needs into robotics and automation specifications, layouts, work plans and acceptance criteria. Balance process variation, safety, layout constraints, cycle time, maintainability and scalability within agreed I4.0 principles.
• Hands-on engineeringLead the hands-on engineering and integration of robot cells, controls and peripheral equipment with plants and suppliers. Apply expertise in motion, PLC, sensors, industrial communications, machine vision and OT/IT interfaces where required.
• PoC & improvementPlan and deliver structured feasibility studies and pilots. Analyse results, resolve difficult technical problems and improve cycle time, reliability, quality, maintainability and the need for manual intervention. Assess whether solutions are suitable for replication.
• Safe testing & commissioningWork with EHS, plant engineering and relevant specialists on risk controls. Lead factory and site acceptance testing, troubleshoot faults, close critical issues and document objective evidence before operational release.
• Work-package deliveryOwn project deliverables, technical actions, milestones, risks and dependencies for assigned projects. Align Business Unit teams, plants, integrators and suppliers. Escalate material interface, architecture, cost, schedule or scope changes to the P4 and line manager.
• Handover & knowledgeProvide complete as-built documentation, configurations, maintenance guidance and training. Support initial operation and convert project lessons into reusable CoE standards, templates, playbooks and technical guidance for other Business Units and sites.

Who we are looking for

Education and experience Bachelor’s or master’s degree in robotics, automation, mechatronics, electrical engineering or equivalent. Minimum 10 years of relevant industrial experience; candidates with more than 15 years are welcome. Proven independent delivery of complex robotics or industrial automation projects from concept through commissioning and handover.

Robotics and controls Advanced hands-on expertise in robot programming and integration, PLC controls, sensors, industrial communications, motion and machine-vision systems. Strong understanding of industrial equipment interfaces and scalable solution design.

Testing and problem solving Extensive commissioning, structured troubleshooting and root-cause analysis experience. Strong working knowledge of machine safety, industrial cybersecurity principles, OT/IT interfaces and lifecycle maintainability.

Communication and mobility Able to lead delivery across operators, engineers, Business Unit stakeholders and external suppliers without line authority. Capable of coaching peers, transferring knowledge and building an active technical community across Umicore. Fluent written and spoken English. Willing to travel internationally for project delivery, trials and commissioning.

Additional assets

• Experience in process industries or functional-material production.
• Scripting, tooling, data integration or mobile-robot experience.
• Knowledge of lab automation, smart logistics, AMR/AGV, drones or advanced robotics, with experience standardizing solutions for reuse across multiple sites.

What we offer

We aim to lead the way. Not just for our customers, but for our employees too. That is why we strive to create a collaborative environment in which we can all succeed, and a culture through which we can all share ideas, develop our expertise and advance our careers. We engage in building an inclusive work culture that offers equal opportunities for all employees irrespective of their diverse backgrounds. As you would expect from a world-leading organisation, we will also reward your contribution with a competitive salary and benefits. With all this and more, imagine what you could do?