Job Description Summary
Location: Tuas South Avenue, Singapore #LI-Hybrid
Internal job title: ITOT Engineer
The Robotics Expert will lead the robotics transformation of the Drug Substance manufacturing site in Tuas South Avenue, Singapore, 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. As the site's robotics expert, the individual will collaborate with local and global stakeholders, engineering, operations, quality, IT/OT teams, and technology partners to build a sustainable robotics ecosystem.
Job Description
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 degree in Robotics, Automation Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical discipline.
- Minimum 5+ years of demonstrated experience in robotics, with hands-on implementation and deployment of industrial robotics solutions.
- Experience leading robotics or automation programs/projects from concept through implementation and operational support.
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with experience engaging both global and local business partners.
- Fluent English language skills (spoken and written).
- Strong understanding of industrial operations, safety, maintenance, and continuous improvement practices;
Desirable Requirements:
- Exposure to GMP/pharmaceutical environments and AI-enabled robotics is preferred.
- Expertise in robotics technologies such as AMRs, AGVs, automated material handling systems, robotics automation, and vision-guided systems
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
We are committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.
Why Novartis?
Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives and our vision is to become the most valued and trusted medicines company in the world. How can we achieve this? With our people. It is our associates that drive us each day to reach our ambitions. Be a part of this mission and join us! Learn more here: https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture
Join our Novartis Network: If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected to learn more about Novartis and our career opportunities, join the Novartis Network here: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network
Accessibility and accommodation:
Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to receive more detailed information about the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.
Skills Desired
Business Continuity, Cost Management, Decision Making, Operational Excellence, Problem Solving, Project Management, Quality Compliance, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Vendor Management