Site Robotics Lead

Summary

Location: Kundl, Austria #LI-HYBRID

Internal job title: Assoc. Dir. DDIT OPS ITOT LM Site Robotics

This role is based in Kundl. Novartis is able to provide relocation support only for candidates relocating within Europe. Please apply only if this location and relocation requirement are feasible for you.

The Site Robotics Lead will lead the robotics transformation of the Drug Substance manufacturing site in Schaftenau, Austria, driving the development, implementation, scaling, and lifecycle management of robotics solutions across manufacturing, laboratories, warehousing, and material handling. The role combines robotics expertise, strategic leadership, program management, and stakeholder engagement to enhance productivity, quality, safety, and operational excellence while ensuring GMP, validation, and cybersecurity compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the site robotics strategy and roadmap, identifying high-value automation opportunities and defining long-term robotics initiatives.
• Lead robotics programs end-to-end, from opportunity assessment and business case development through implementation, deployment, and value realization.
• Own the full lifecycle of robotics solutions, ensuring sustainable operations, maintenance, optimization, upgrades, and replacement planning.
• Evaluate, select, and deploy robotics technologies, including AMRs, AGVs, material handling robots, service robots, AI-enabled robotics, and emerging Physical AI solutions.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration, partnering with manufacturing, laboratories, warehousing, engineering, quality, IT/OT, and global robotics experts.
• Establish robotics governance, standards, and performance monitoring, ensuring scalability, reliability, safety, and operational excellence.
• Ensure regulatory and operational compliance, including GMP requirements, validation, qualification activities, cybersecurity standards, and inspection readiness.
• Build site robotics capabilities and external partnerships, acting as the site's robotics subject matter expert and fostering strong vendor and stakeholder relationships.

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Robotics, Automation Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical discipline.
• Total 10-15 years of experience and minimum 5+ years of demonstrated experience in robotics, with hands-on implementation and deployment of industrial robotics solutions.
• Proven expertise in robotics technologies such as AMRs, AGVs, automated material handling systems, robotics automation, and vision-guided systems.
• Experience leading robotics or automation programs/projects from concept through implementation and operational support.
• Strong leadership experience, including leading cross-functional teams, small teams, or matrix organizations.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with experience engaging both global and local business partners.
• Fluent German and English language skills, spoken and written.
• Strong understanding of industrial operations, safety, maintenance, and continuous improvement practices; exposure to GMP/pharmaceutical environments and AI-enabled robotics is preferred.

What You Will Receive

In addition to a market-competitive base salary, Novartis offers an attractive incentive program, a modern company pension scheme, childcare facilities, learning and development opportunities as well as worldwide career possibilities within the Novartis group.

For this position the minimum salary is €78,383.90/year on a full-time basis. The primary location salary range is €81,600.00 - €151,500.00 per year. The actual salary will be significantly higher depending on experience, qualifications and competencies.

Why Novartis

Novartis' purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people's lives. Learn more here: https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture