Program Manager – Robotics and Automation

Program Manager – Robotics & Automation Deployment
Type: Freelance / Contract
Duration: 6–12 Months (Potential Extension)
Start: ASAP
Location: UK / EU – Travel Required

Overview

Linnk is seeking an experienced Program Manager – Robotics & Automation Deployment to lead a portfolio of complex engineering projects focused on the deployment of robotics, mechatronics, Material Handling Equipment (MHE), and automation technologies across a large-scale logistics network.

This is a highly cross-functional role that will sit at the centre of Engineering, Deployment, Operations, Vendors, Supply Chain, and Site teams. You will own programme planning and governance across multiple concurrent projects, ensuring deployments move from planning through installation, commissioning, go-live, and handover successfully.

While a strong understanding of automation and engineering environments is important, this role is particularly suited to someone with exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills. You will need to bring different technical and non-technical teams together, influence decisions without direct authority, manage competing priorities, and communicate complex programme issues clearly to senior stakeholders.

RESPONSIBILITIES
• Lead a portfolio of robotics, mechatronics, MHE, and automation deployment projects across multiple sites
• Own programme delivery from initial planning and mobilisation through installation, commissioning, launch, and close-out
• Coordinate Project Managers, Deployment Engineers, System Engineers, vendors, and site teams across concurrent workstreams
• Establish clear programme plans, milestones, governance mechanisms, and reporting cadences
• Track project scope, schedule, budgets, resources, dependencies, risks, and key deliverables
• Identify critical path issues and drive resolution across technical and operational teams
• Manage escalations and communicate risks, trade-offs, and recommendations clearly to senior stakeholders
• Coordinate external vendors and suppliers, monitoring performance against programme requirements
• Facilitate cross-functional project reviews and ensure teams remain aligned on priorities and delivery dates
• Work closely with Engineering and Product teams to understand technical requirements and translate them into executable deployment plans
• Drive standardisation and continuous improvement across deployment processes, tools, and documentation
• Capture lessons learned and develop scalable processes that can be replicated across future deployments

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
• Proven experience in Program Management, Technical Program Management, Project Management, or Engineering Delivery
• Experience managing multiple complex engineering or deployment projects simultaneously
• Background within robotics, automation, mechatronics, MHE, logistics engineering, manufacturing, or a comparable technical environment
• Strong understanding of project lifecycle management from planning through deployment and handover
• Experience coordinating internal engineering teams, external vendors, contractors, and operational stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical audiences
• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and drive alignment without direct reporting authority
• Strong risk management, problem-solving, and escalation management capability
• Comfortable operating in fast-paced environments with changing priorities and incomplete information
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, STEM, Project Management, or a related discipline

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Experience managing robotics or automation deployments within warehouse, fulfilment, manufacturing, or logistics environments
• Knowledge of conveyance, sortation, robotic systems, automated storage, or other Material Handling Equipment
• Experience managing programmes across multiple sites, countries, or regions
• Experience working with Deployment Engineering, Systems Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or Operations teams
• Strong vendor and supplier management experience
• Experience developing programme governance, operating cadences, reporting mechanisms, and scalable delivery processes
• Project Management certification such as PMP, PRINCE2, Agile, or Scrum
• Experience supporting first-of-kind technology deployments, new product introduction, or large-scale retrofit programmes

KEY ATTRIBUTES
• Exceptional Communicator
• Strong Stakeholder Manager
• Influential Without Authority
• Calm Under Pressure
• Highly Organised
• Strong Ownership & Accountability
• Commercially and Technically Aware
• Decisive Problem Solver
• Collaborative Leader
• Comfortable Managing Ambiguity
• Continuous Improvement Mindset