Principal Automation Engineer - JDAS

Job Summary

The Principal Automation Engineer (JDAS) is responsible for supporting production/manufacturing automation, with an emphasis on vision and inspection systems. The individual will be responsible for identifying, planning, and overseeing vision system and inspection automation projects within Jabil's manufacturing operations, acting as the liaison between the sites and automation vendors to ensure projects are successfully scoped, deployed, and implemented.

The ideal candidate will come from a contract manufacturing environment (EMS or similar) and have demonstrated success leading automation initiatives supporting high-volume manufacturing operations. This individual should possess a strong blend of technical expertise, project leadership, and cross-functional collaboration, with the ability to partner effectively with manufacturing sites, automation vendors, and internal stakeholders to successfully deploy automation solutions.

Knowledge & Skills

• Expert knowledge of manufacturing automation systems and industrial automation technologies.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and automation project lifecycles.
• Ability to lead cross-functional automation initiatives while coordinating with internal teams and third-party suppliers.
• Excellent project planning, execution, vendor management, and stakeholder communication skills.
• Strong technical aptitude with the ability to evaluate automation opportunities and develop practical, scalable solutions.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing automation, capital equipment deployment, or advanced manufacturing.
• Experience with PCBA and Higher Level assemblies involving PCBAs is highly desired.
• Experience leading large-scale automation projects within a contract manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success developing business cases, defining technical and financial requirements, managing vendors, and overseeing automation project execution.
• Experience supporting maintenance automation or manufacturing process automation is preferred.
• Experience with vision and/or inspection manufacturing or automation involving large products/assemblies is a plus.
• Previous leadership or mentoring experience

, BE AWARE OF FRAUD: When applying for a job at Jabil you will be contacted via correspondence through our official job portal with a jabil.com e-mail address; direct phone call from a member of the Jabil team; or direct e-mail with a jabil.com e-mail address. Jabil does not request payments for interviews or at any other point during the hiring process. Jabil will not ask for your personal identifying information such as a social security number, birth certificate, financial institution, driver’s license number or passport information over the phone or via e-mail. If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, contact the Federal Bureau of Investigations internet crime hotline (www.ic3.gov), the Federal Trade Commission identity theft hotline (www.identitytheft.gov) and/or your local police department. Any scam job listings should be reported to whatever website it was posted in., The pay range for this role is $126,100 - $227,000. Job-related, non-discriminatory factors used to determine the actual offered rate include qualifications and experience, geographic location, education, external market data, and consideration of internal equity. The anticipated close date of this job requisition is: October 18, 2026., As part of the total rewards package, this position is eligible for a short-term incentive based on performance. In addition, Jabil offers benefits to enhance your health, wealth and resilient self. These include medical, dental, and vision insurance plans; 401(k) retirement plan and employee stock purchase plan; and paid time off.