Introduction 

Aperam is a global producer of stainless, electrical and specialty steel. With 9,500 employees of 47 nationalities, 2.5 million tons of flat stainless steel capacity in Brazil and Europe, and an industrial network concentrated in six main production facilities across Brazil, Belgium and France, Aperam is a truly global industry leader. 

As part of our manufacturing strategy, Aperam is embarking on a massive robotics and automation transformation across our global steel manufacturing facilities. To accelerate our deployment and optimize CAPEX, we are adopting a dynamic global sourcing strategy, procuring robotic applications and automation hardware from competitive markets worldwide. 

To ensure this massive influx of globally sourced hardware integrates flawlessly into our European and South American plants, we require a Robotisation Chief Architect. Acting as the “Domain Responsible” for robotics, you will be the ultimate technical authority for this global rollout. You will define the overarching engineering blueprints, ensuring our decentralised sourcing strategy results in a unified, standardized, and highly robust production network. 

Your Role

As the Robotisation Chief Architect, your core mission is Domain Governance and Holistic System Design. You are the technical visionary who defines exactly how globally sourced automation equipment should be designed, built, and deployed. 

You look at the “big picture” of a robotic workcell -- from the mechanical payload capabilities and safety fencing, to the electrical cabinets, PLC logic, and final factory integration. By establishing strict User Requirement Specifications (URS), standardized engineering methodologies, and global component standards, you will prevent technical fragmentation and guarantee that all procured machinery operates safely and reliably within Aperam’s heavy steel environments. 

Your daily responsibilities will include:

Domain Architecture & Master Blueprints

• Author the master technical guidelines for all robotic applications (e.g. standardising End-of-arm Tooling requirements, payload safety margins, and kinematic path planning rules for heavy materials) to define the robotic cell blueprints. 
• Drive a decoupled system design philosophy so that Aperam retains ownership of the core operational logic and avoids vendor lock-in. 
• Define the overarching rules for how mechanical, electrical, safety, and control subsystems must come together to form a cohesive, reliable machine. . 

Global Standardisation & Technical Governance

• Define and enforce a strict, non-negotiable list of approval automation components (robot brands, PLCs, sensors, servo drives) and hardware-based safety devices to be used by all global suppliers. 
• Develop airtight URS and technical annexes that will be legally attached to all global supplier contracts. 
• Set stage gate FAT/SAT criteria including mechanical tests, cycle-time validations, and engineering methodologies that our regional and hub-based quality engineers will use to execute FAT worldwide. 

Business Synergy & Site Integration

• Act as the strategic connective tissue between the overarching automation program and the Regional Managers. Ensure that global technical mandates directly support local business KPIs, operational budgets, and production schedules. 
• Work closely with local site applications engineers and plant operators to ensure the deployed robotics are user friendly, maintainability, and fit-for-purpose in their specific local environments.
• Anticipate and eliminate technical, operational, and cultural roadblocks before they impact the local sites. Create synergy across the global network by sharing best practices, standardising training, and ensuring a frictionless handover of equipment to the local production teams. 

Cross-functional Leadership and Compliance 

• Empower global sourcing hubs, serve as the technical backbone for our Category managers and Sourcing leads globally, providing them with the engineering leverage needed to strip hidden costs out of supplier quotes and enforce our technical standards. 
• Defend global compliance by ensuring that the drive for CAPEX reduction never compromises safety. Act as the ultimate authority on European Machinery Directive (CE), ISO12100 (Risk Assessment), and ISO 13849 (Safety of Machinery) for all imported equipment, by working closely with the Chief Safety and Compliance Officer within the program.
• Continuously audit supplier designs to ensure all mechanical and electrical architecture are robust enough to survive heavy industry, steelmaking, dust, heat, massive payout and application variations.

What We Expect From You

Education & Background

• Master’s degree in Automation, Robotics, Mechatronics,  Mechanical Engineering or a closely related technical discipline. 

Language : 

• Fluent, strong technical English. 
• Any additional language Dutch/German/French is considered a plus.

Technical Skills & Experiences 

• 10+ years of extensive experiences in mechatronics, robotics cell design, and industrial automation deployment. Specific experiences in the steel and heavy industry, particularly related to the automation and robotic applications are considered a very strong plus. 
• Broad, holistic knowledge of industrial machinery building, encompassing mechanical design, electrical schematics (E-plan), PLC control logics, and industrial safety standards. 
• Hands-on background with major robotic platforms (e.g. KUKA, ABB, FANUC) and advanced mobile robotics (AGV/AMR fleets). 
• Proven experience defining Master Bill of Materials (BoM) and writing highly detailed URS for external equipment builders. 
• Familiarity with factory IT/OT integration is required, though pure software/IT development is not the primary focus of this role.

Soft Skills & Work Approach

• Meticulous attention to detail regarding technical documentation, standardisation rules, and global engineering frameworks are considered as the part of your ‘genes’ in your methodology. 
• Adept at managing both the business and the users. Capable of aligning diverse stakeholders, eliminating localising friction, and fostering a collaborative environment where global standards empower rather than hinder local production. 
• Resilient and assertive; capable of holding diverse global suppliers accountable to strict technical standards and rejecting sub-par machine designs. 
• A highly pragmatic, problem-solving mindset that balances the desire for perfect standardisation with the practical, fast-paced realities of the factory floor. 

Why Join Us?

• Drive the future of heavy industry: play a pivotal role in modernizing one of the world’s leading steel manufacturers through cutting-edge automation. 
• Be part of a high-impact team where you see your engineering work directly transform production floors. 

Gain unparalleled cross-boarder project experience, elevating your profile from a local integration engineer to an internationally recognised automation expert.