Junior Project Manager / Project Manager Robotics and AutomationJob DescriptionThis role starts as a Junior Project Manager supporting a Project Manager with a strong focus on advanced Microsoft Excel work, and can grow into a full Project Manager position overseeing large-scale robotics and automation programs. You will help the team close a critical skills gap in Excel by building dashboards, performing advanced lookups and formulas, and supporting data-driven project activities. Over time, you will take on full project management responsibilities for complex, high-value programs in industries such as Food & Beverage, Non-Automotive, and Electronics, ensuring projects meet scope, schedule, and budget targets from purchase order through installation.Responsibilities
- Support a Project Manager with day-to-day project coordination activities, especially in the area of Microsoft Excel reporting and analysis.
- Create, maintain, and enhance Excel dashboards to track project status, financials, schedules, and key performance indicators.
- Use advanced Excel formulas and lookup functions to manage and analyze large volumes of project data, ensuring accuracy and usability for the project team.
- Assist with order booking packages, ensuring all documentation complies with internal requirements and responsiveness targets.
- Help determine the best way to execute orders in alignment with operations strategy and customer requirements.
- Collaborate closely with production, purchasing, planning, and other internal functions to ensure customer requirements for scope and delivery are met.
- Respond to sales and customer inquiries regarding order status and related questions in a timely and professional manner.
- Once in a Project Manager role, lead projects valued up to approximately $50M from purchase order to installation, typically over a 68 month lifecycle.
- Take overall accountability for delivering products or systems solutions that meet defined specifications, schedules, and budgets.
- Lead the project team by defining guidelines, assigning tasks, and motivating and monitoring internal and external resources to achieve all milestones.
- Provide performance feedback on allocated project resources to the appropriate operations leadership.
- Develop comprehensive project plans, including scope, financial plans, schedules, and risk management plans in collaboration with the project team.
- Ensure projects follow execution best practices and internal policies, while effectively monitoring and controlling progress and resource utilization.
- Monitor and manage project financials, including invoicing status, costs, expenses, and cash flow, and lead regular project reviews to meet P&L targets.
- Identify, qualify, quantify, and manage project risks, while proactively identifying and pursuing project opportunities.
- Capture, analyze, and share lessons learned throughout the project lifecycle to drive continuous improvement.
- Ensure formal project closure, including obtaining preliminary and final acceptance certificates, and closing all related purchase orders and contracts.
- Drive the formal acceptance of the project and contract close-out, ensuring acknowledgement by the customer.
- Apply consistent contract and claims management practices in line with internal policies and contractual agreements.
- Coordinate with supply chain functions to procure required services, materials, and equipment from internal and external suppliers.
- Support supplier negotiations, manage claims, and handle project changes in collaboration with Supply Chain Management.
- Ensure all project activities comply with company health, safety, and environmental policies.
- Travel to client sites (such as Ohio, West Michigan, and Texas) to support installation and on-site project execution once fully ramped into the Project Manager role.
Essential Skills
- At least 3+ years of experience working in a project management capacity, such as Project Manager, Junior Project Manager, or Project Coordinator.
- At least 3+ years of hands-on experience with Microsoft Excel in a professional setting.
- Proven experience building dashboards in Excel to visualize and track project or operational data.
- Strong proficiency with advanced Excel formulas and functions, including various lookup functions (e.g., VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, or similar).
- Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and manage tasks with minimal supervision.
- Strong complex problem-solving skills, particularly in data-heavy and project-driven environments.
- Comfort working with high volumes of data and maintaining accuracy and organization under time constraints.
- Foundational project management skills, including planning, coordination, and tracking of tasks and milestones.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams such as production, purchasing, planning, and sales.
- Clear and timely communication skills for responding to internal stakeholders and customers regarding order and project status.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Previous experience in automation or robotics environments.
- Experience working with robotic automation or automation systems.
- Prior exposure to SAP or similar enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
- Experience supporting or managing projects in industries such as Food & Beverage, Non-Automotive, or Electronics.
- Familiarity with AI, data center, or technology-focused projects is a plus.
- Interest in growing from a support-focused role into a full Project Manager role with ownership of large, complex programs.
Work EnvironmentThis role sits within a robotics-focused, non-automotive industries group that manages multiple concurrent projects, typically 36 at a time. You will initially be based on-site in Auburn Hills for approximately the first 48 months, working closely with a team of Project Managers and Junior Project Managers to support project execution and strengthen the teams Excel capabilities. Builds are completed locally, and installations occur at client sites, where you may travel (for example, to Ohio, West Michigan, or Texas) once you transition into a full Project Manager role. The position follows core hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with some flexibility. The environment is fast-paced and project-driven, with a strong emphasis on data accuracy, collaboration across production, purchasing, planning, and supply chain functions, and adherence to health, safety, and environmental policies. This is a temp-to-perm opportunity for candidates who perform well and demonstrate the ability to grow into broader project management responsibilities. Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Auburn Hills, MI. Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $33.00 - $48.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:
Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Auburn Hills, MI. Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Nov 18, 2026. Workplace TypeThis is a fully onsite position in Auburn Hills,MI.About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.