Director of Automation

About Us |   |   Founded in 1944, HSM is a third generation, privately held company with a rich history of innovation and a commitment to our people. With 25 locations across the U.S. and corporate headquarters in Hickory, NC and Huntersville, NC, we specialize in manufacturing components for furniture, bedding, transportation, packaging, automotive, and healthcare industries. Our expertise also includes designing and building automated production machinery. HSM products from sofa springs to swimming pool noodles and bus seats, touch everyday life in countless ways. At HSM, our success is built on our people. We foster a culture of teamwork, innovation, and shared success. If you’re looking for a meaningful place to grow and make an impact, we want to hear from you What You Will Do Enterprise Automation Strategy Define and own a multi-year automation and digital manufacturing roadmap across all supported manufacturing sites Align robotics, controls, SCADA, MES, and machine vision investments with business growth, customer needs, and operational priorities Establish enterprise automation architecture standards that ensure scalability, cybersecurity, data integrity, and plant-to-plant consistency Translate customer quality, traceability, and throughput requirements into robust automation system designs Leadership & Organizational Oversight Directly lead the Automation Manager and oversee a multi-disciplinary team spanning controls, robotics, vision, and digital manufacturing Build and sustain a high-performing automation organization capable of supporting diverse manufacturing environments Set priorities, sequence projects, and resolve resource constraints across sites Drive technical capability development, mentoring, and succession planning within the automation team SCADA, MES & Digital Factory Enablement Own the architecture, governance, and evolution of SCADA and MES platforms Ensure reliable, standardized data flows for production, quality, maintenance, and material tracking across all plants Enable real-time visibility through OEE, quality tracking, genealogy, and customer-required traceability systems Ensure digital manufacturing systems support audit readiness for IATF 16949, VDA 6.3, and ISO standards Robotics, Controls & Vision Systems Provide technical oversight for PLC controls, robotics, and machine vision platforms across all facilities Ensure automation cells meet safety, ergonomic, throughput, and quality requirements Standardize programming, validation, commissioning, and change-management methodologies Review and approve automation concepts, system architectures, and vendor solutions Customer, Quality & Compliance Alignment Ensure automation systems meet customer-specific requirements for transportation OEMs, specialty vehicle builders, and furniture customers Maintain compliance with IATF 16949, VDA 6.3, ISO 9001, and applicable safety standards Support customer audits, PPAPs, launches, and production approvals through robust automation data, repeatability, and traceability Capital Projects & Technology Investment Lead automation capital planning, technology selection, and ROI justification Evaluate and manage system integrators, vendors, and technology partners Oversee large-scale automation projects from concept through commissioning and production release Ensure automation investments deliver measurable improvements in throughput, quality, labor efficiency, and operational stability What You Bring Education & Experience Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field 10+ years of progressive experience in industrial automation, controls, or digital manufacturing 5+ years leading automation, controls, or engineering teams in multi-plant manufacturing environments Experience in transportation or automotive manufacturing strongly preferred; furniture or consumer manufacturing experience also valued Automation & Digital Manufacturing Expertise Deep expertise in PLC-based control systems, industrial networking, and real-time manufacturing systems Hands-on experience with SCADA and MES platforms (e.g., Ignition, Rockwell, Siemens, AVEVA, or similar) Strong understanding of robotics and machine vision for assembly, inspection, and material handling Familiarity with unified namespace concepts, industrial data models, and manufacturing analytics Quality, Compliance & Customer Systems Proven experience supporting IATF 16949 and VDA 6.3 manufacturing environments Working knowledge of ISO 9001 and quality systems Experience aligning automation systems with PPAP, traceability, audit, and customer-specific quality requirements Leadership & Business Acumen Demonstrated ability to lead large, technically complex teams across multiple sites Strong capital project management, budgeting, and vendor management skills Ability to translate operational challenges into clear automation strategies and technical roadmaps Confident communicator with plant leadership, operations, quality teams, and customers Why Join Us Health & Wellness: Affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance plans, including an innovative global healthcare option for qualified participants. Retire: 401(k) with company match, fully vested from day one. Paid Time Off: Competitive PTO: 3 Weeks of Vacation + 9 company paid holidays. On-Site Medical Clinics: Free for you and covered dependents. Teladoc: 24/7 access with no copay. Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement, professional development assistance and career growth opportunities. Discounts: Enjoy discounts with HSM partners, including Dollywood Parks & Resort, Verizon Wireless, and more. EEOC At HSM, we believe that our diversity creates a productive workplace. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectionate or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. #IND1