The Automation Engineer will identify, develop and industrialize new automation technologies. This will include scouting for opportunities, completing proof of concept projects, developing an industrialization strategy and supporting installation.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Identify and prioritize new opportunities to automate manual assembly operations.
- Investigate new technologies to understand potential applications and cost/benefit.
- Benchmark competitors and other industries for automation concepts.
- Develop specifications, obtain quotes and write capital appropriation requests to justify and obtain funding for proof of concept projects.
- Complete proof of concept projects to confirm the automation concept and validate its cost and benefit.
- Develop an industrialization strategy for automation considering both internal and external resources. Includes working with external equipment integrators to develop strategy for installation across multiple plants with expedited timing.
- Lead implementation of initial production project to validate process, cost and savings.
- Document specifications, lessons learned, implementation plans, etc. for core projects.
- Lead plant workshops to identify automation opportunities.
- Support the operations team to develop roadmaps and financial forecasts related to automation projects.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor's Degree in Robotics, Automation, Electrical/Controls Engineering, or equivalent
- Expertise in identifying automation opportunities and leading projects from idea to implementation
- Experience installing automated equipment such as robot assembly cells and testing equipment.
- Experience implementing cobots in a collaborative application.
- Software or application development desired.
Technical Skills:
- Knowledge of PLC programming and troubleshooting (Allen Bradley preferred)
- Familiarity with controls systems and other programming languages such as C++
- Understanding of typical automation technologies – machine vision, sensors, AGCs, etc.
- Robot cell design and programming including various types of end effectors for manipulating different materials
- System specification, ordering, run-off, installation, and qualification
- Capital equipment budget planning and tracking.
- Strong computer skills with ability to quickly learn new software/applications.
- Ability to draw two dimensional layouts in CAD software.
- Analytical problem solving
- Project management - plan development and execution
- Ability to interact with the equipment controls team and IT groups to understand network topology.
PRIMARY LOCATION
Central Tech Unit Plymouth MI
