Robotics & Automation, Tech Lead/surgical Robotics - Ottava

Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson · Pharma · Santa Clara, CA +1

Technical Lead for Robotics & Automation at Johnson & Johnson, focusing on architecting, developing, and scaling automation solutions for manufacturing and warehouse operations. This role involves leading a team to design and deploy end-to-end solutions including robotic cells, AMRs, smart workstations, and IoT-enabled workflows, with a strong emphasis on system design, compliance, and integration from shop floor to digital platforms. The goal is to deliver scalable, modular, and cost-effective automation solutions that enhance cycle time, quality, efficiency, and agility in production.

What you'd actually do

  1. Lead the robotics/automation technology strategy and standards aligned to smart factory outcomes (safety, quality, OEE, cost, agility).
  2. Own scalable architectures and roadmaps for robot cells, AMRs, smart workstations, and IoT/controls/software/data models.
  3. Lead and mentor a small engineering team; drive end-to-end delivery from requirements and design through simulation/digital twin, safety, vendors, FAT/SAT, validation, and deployment.
  4. Architect secure OT/IT integrations from robots/PLCs/sensors/vision/edge to MES/WMS and cloud analytics, ensuring cybersecurity and data governance.
  5. Deploy smart workstations, HRC, and Track & Trace using IoT devices/smart tools and advanced UIs; pilot and scale emerging automation technologies (e.g., vision/3D perception, force/torque control).

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in an engineering field (Robotics, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer/Software, Industrial/Manufacturing, or related)
  • 8+ years delivering industrial automation in production
  • 3+ years leading small teams and owning end-to-end delivery (concept/design through FAT/SAT, deployment, and handover)
  • Hands-on robotics and machine design: robot cells (assembly/material handling/dispensing/testing, incl. HRC), offline programming/simulation, controls (PLC/industrial PC, motion, networks/edge), and vision/sensing & EOAT/fixture interfaces.
  • Strong safety, quality, and validation mindset: functional safety/risk assessments (incl. PL calculations/safety PLCs) and practical validation strategies in manufacturing/warehouse environments.
  • OT/IT integration and smart factory: connect shop-floor systems to MES/WMS and cloud (data models + telemetry/event pipelines) with strong cybersecurity and data governance; familiarity with digital twins/APC and data-driven manufacturing.
  • Lead cross-functional programs and partners: evaluate/select vendors/SIs, influence stakeholders

Nice to have

  • vision/3D perception
  • force/torque control
  • ISO 10218/TS 15066
  • ISO 13849/IEC 62061
  • ISO 12100

What the JD emphasized

  • end-to-end delivery
  • robot cells
  • AMRs
  • smart workstations
  • IoT enabled workflows
  • system design
  • compliance
  • integration
  • shop floor
  • digital platforms
  • scalable
  • modular
  • cost-effective
  • cycle time
  • quality
  • efficiency
  • agility
  • robotics
  • automation
  • technology strategy
  • standards
  • smart factory
  • safety
  • OEE
  • cost
  • architectures
  • roadmaps
  • controls
  • software
  • data models
  • mentor
  • engineering team
  • requirements
  • design
  • simulation
  • digital twin
  • vendors
  • FAT/SAT
  • validation
  • deployment
  • OT/IT integrations
  • PLCs
  • sensors
  • vision
  • edge
  • MES/WMS
  • cloud analytics
  • cybersecurity
  • data governance
  • HRC
  • Track & Trace
  • IoT devices
  • smart tools
  • advanced UIs
  • emerging automation technologies
  • vision/3D perception
  • force/torque control
  • functional safety
  • standards compliance
  • robot cells
  • AMR operations
  • ISO 10218/TS 15066
  • ISO 13849/IEC 62061
  • ISO 12100
  • manufacturing
  • operations
  • quality
  • IT
  • cybersecurity
  • partners
  • system integrators
  • solution selection
  • deliver
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • engineering field
  • Robotics
  • Mechanical
  • Electrical
  • Computer/Software
  • Industrial/Manufacturing
  • related
  • 8+ years
  • delivering industrial automation
  • production
  • 3+ years
  • leading small teams
  • owning end-to-end delivery
  • concept/design
  • FAT/SAT
  • deployment
  • handover
  • Hands-on robotics
  • machine design
  • robot cells
  • assembly/material handling/dispensing/testing
  • HRC
  • offline programming/simulation
  • controls
  • PLC/industrial PC
  • motion
  • networks/edge
  • vision/sensing
  • EOAT/fixture interfaces
  • Strong safety
  • quality
  • validation mindset
  • functional safety/risk assessments
  • PL calculations
  • safety PLCs
  • practical validation strategies
  • manufacturing/warehouse environments
  • OT/IT integration
  • smart factory
  • shop-floor systems
  • MES/WMS
  • cloud
  • data models
  • telemetry/event pipelines
  • digital twins
  • APC
  • data-driven manufacturing
  • Lead cross-functional programs
  • partners
  • evaluate/select vendors/SIs
  • influence stakeholders