Senior Robotics Specialist

This role is responsible for defining and driving the site robotics strategy, portfolio, and roadmap, leading the evaluation, deployment, and scaling of robotics solutions across manufacturing, laboratories, warehouses, and support operations. The position manages multiple initiatives simultaneously, aligns site priorities with enterprise robotics goals and standards, and influences technology, investment, and deployment decisions through cross-functional collaboration. Working without direct reports, the role coordinates internal experts and external partners to deliver standardized, compliant, scalable, and sustainable robotics solutions that generate measurable business value.

Major AccountabilitiesOwn the robotics strategy and roadmap. Maintain a prioritized site roadmap aligned with business needs, enterprise standards, technology maturity, and market developments.Build the use-case pipeline. Identify, assess, and prioritize robotics opportunities across manufacturing, laboratories, warehouses, and support functions.Lead delivery and scaling. Drive robotics initiatives from concept, feasibility study, and pilot through validated deployment, operational handover, lifecycle support, and reuse across sites. Coordinate Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Operational Excellence, Procurement, Digital, vendors, and system integratorsDefine requirements and standards. Own and harmonize User Requirement Specifications, reference architectures, technical standards, deployment frameworks, and the robotics catalog.Evaluate technology and vendors. Assess robotics, AMR/AGV, cobots, machine vision, automated inspection, autonomous systems, and physical AI for technical fit, compliance, scalability, maintainability, cost, and business value.Act as robotics subject matter expert. Advise ITOT and site leadership on solution architecture, integration, technology selection, implementation risks, and investment priorities.Ensure compliance and governance. Align solutions with GxP, validation, data integrity, quality, safety, OT cybersecurity, and applicable regulatory requirements.Build business cases and track value. Quantify benefits, support investment decisions, manage the project portfolio and budget, and report delivery, adoption, risks, and realized value. Promote approved platforms, reusable solutions, lessons learned, and consistent ways of working across locations.Minimum RequirementsBachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Robotics, Automation, Mechatronics, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related technical discipline.At least 7 years of experience in industrial robotics, automation, manufacturing engineering, advanced manufacturing technology, or IT/OT.Proven delivery of robotics or advanced automation solutions from concept through production deployment.Experience defining URSs, technical standards, solution architectures, and vendor evaluation criteria. Strong knowledge of robotics hardware, industrial controls, system integration, machine vision, autonomous systems, and automation architectures.Experience in regulated manufacturing, including GxP, validation, data integrity, quality, safety, and OT cybersecurity requirements. Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional stakeholders, vendors, and system integrators in a global environment.Experience developing business cases and managing project portfolios, budgets, risks, and benefits. Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, cell and gene therapy, or other life sciences manufacturing experience.Hands-on experience with AMRs, AGVs, cobots, robotic material handling, machine vision, automated inspection, laboratory automation, or AI-enabled robotics.Familiarity with Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, digital manufacturing, and autonomous manufacturing concepts.Experience scaling standardized solutions across multiple sites or platforms, Business fluency in English.Benefits and Rewards: Competitive salary, Annual bonus, Flexible working schedule, tailored to your needs, possibility to work from home, Pension scheme, possibility of joining collective health insurance scheme, Employee Recognition Scheme, Expanded program for the promotion of health in the field of physical and mental well-being and managing workload (Well-being), Unlimited learning and development opportunities.Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams' representative of the patients and communities we serve.