Automation Reliability & Performance Manager
Bright Machines is a San Francisco manufacturer of AI and data-center infrastructure that combines robotics, software, simulation, and production data.
About Bright Machines
Bright Machines operates the Bright Factory intelligent manufacturing platform. Its products connect virtual product development, AI-enabled robotic assembly and inspection, and factory data to build AI and data-center infrastructure with traceability.
Skills
Candidate Availability
Required and preferred rules are kept separate and reflect the wording in the original posting.
About the Role
You will own the performance and technical availability of robotic assembly equipment at the Florence production site. You will lead Automation Engineers, analyze downtime and failure data, prioritize losses, and drive corrective actions through closure. You will build and run maintenance, rapid-build tooling, and spare-parts programs; oversee safety practices; support new-equipment acceptance; and serve as the final escalation point in a 24/7 operation.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Mechatronics Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience
- 7+ years in reliability, maintenance, or automation engineering
- 3+ years leading a technical team in a high-mix robotic or automated environment
- Experience improving equipment availability through structured loss analysis
- Experience with downtime and failure data capture, reason codes, stop definitions, and data quality
- Root cause analysis skills, including 5-Why, fishbone, or PFMEA
- Knowledge of OEE loss structures, TPM, and criticality-based maintenance planning
- Knowledge of servo systems, pneumatics, vision systems, conveyors, and end-of-arm tooling
- Ability to read and troubleshoot PLC logic and familiarity with industrial robot controllers
- Knowledge of LOTO, NFPA 70E, and robot-cell safety systems
- Experience with technical machine acceptance documentation
- Familiarity with data-driven or AI-assisted predictive maintenance
- Experience building AM, PM, CM, and preferably PdM maintenance programs
- CMMS experience and comfort with SQL, Power BI, or similar data tools
- Experience managing a spare-parts storeroom
- Ability to develop and deliver training
- Clear written and verbal communication
- Availability outside standard hours as the final escalation point
Responsibilities
- Ensure equipment stops, downtime reason codes, and engineering context are accurately captured
- Establish feedback, shift-handover, and weekly review processes for Automation Engineers
- Analyze losses by frequency, duration, and impact and maintain a prioritized top-loss list
- Drive cross-functional corrective actions and verify results with before-and-after data
- Report technical availability, MTBF, MTTR, maintenance, parts, and data-capture metrics
- Manage Automation Engineers, scheduling, on-call rotations, coaching, hiring, and performance management
- Own maintenance safety practices, including LOTO, NFPA 70E, and robot-cell safety
- Build and manage autonomous, preventive, corrective, and predictive maintenance programs
- Own CMMS data, work orders, asset histories, failure codes, and PM scheduling
- Lead technical acceptance of new equipment and ensure documentation, spares, backups, safety validation, and licenses are complete
- Operate the rapid-build workspace for fixtures, jigs, end-of-arm tooling, and maintenance aids
- Manage spare-parts inventory, replenishment, traceability, vendor relationships, and budget