Lead Engineer Industrial Automation & Robotics

Job Summary Are you ready to shape the future of smart manufacturing by leading global industrial automation and robotics innovation across a worldwide production network? IFF is a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients and health & biosciences, delivering sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products. Taste Operations: We enable safe, efficient, and high-quality manufacturing by advancing operational excellence, digital transformation, and continuous improvement across our global manufacturing network. The role can be based in Celje, Slovenia; Cairo, Egypt; Gebze, Türkiye; or Johannesburg, South Africa (partially remote). Join an experienced, collaborative, and solution-oriented team where you will lead global industrial automation and robotics initiatives, define technical standards, and deploy scalable solutions that improve safety, quality, productivity, and operational efficiency across multiple regions. WHERE YOU'LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE • Translate Smart Manufacturing and Digital Transformation priorities into scalable automation roadmaps and investment strategies. • Define and maintain global standards, architectures, and best practices for industrial automation and robotics. • Govern automation technology selection and ensure alignment with long-term platform and integration strategies. • Lead the design and deployment of automation and robotics solutions across manufacturing and warehousing operations worldwide. Act as the global technical authority for automation and robotics engineering, guiding system architecture and key design decisions while supporting knowledge sharing across teams. • Drive adoption of global automation standards while balancing regional and site-specific operational needs. • Build and manage strategic partnerships with automation and robotics suppliers while evaluating emerging technologies and fostering collaborative relationships. • Track and deliver measurable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, process stability, and cost efficiency. • Reduce manual activities, process variability, and system complexity through continuous improvement and standardization. WHAT MAKES YOU THE RIGHT FIT • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Automation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Chemical Engineering, or a related field. • 8 to 12 years of experience in industrial automation, robotics, process control, or advanced manufacturing environments, with proven experience delivering automation projects across multiple sites, countries, or regions. • Strong knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems such as SAP, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), and shopfloor data integration. • Experience with Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, robotics technologies, and industrial networks. • Knowledge of automation architecture, cybersecurity principles, and operational technology infrastructure. • Proven project management experience from project initiation through operational handover. • Strong ability to collaborate and influence stakeholders within a global, cross-functional, matrix organization. • Strategic mindset with the ability to translate long-term goals into practical and scalable automation solutions. • Fluent English (C1). HOW WOULD YOU STAND OUT? • Experience within flavors, food, chemical, or other regulated manufacturing industries. • Knowledge of industrial automation and cybersecurity standards such as ISA-95 and IEC 62443. • Experience with artificial intelligence-enabled automation, vision systems, or autonomous operations technologies. WHY CHOOSE US? • Opportunity to shape automation and robotics capabilities across a global manufacturing network and champion innovation at scale. • Work on high-impact Smart Manufacturing and Digital Transformation initiatives with visible business outcomes, in a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages cooperation, continuous learning, and knowledge sharing. • Collaborate with international teams and contribute to strategic operational decisions. • Gain exposure to advanced technologies and complex global engineering programs. • Access professional development, continuous learning, and long-term career growth opportunities. • Join an inclusive workplace that values innovation, collaboration, and diverse perspectives and offers a competitive salary package. We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability. Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more