SR Automation Engineer - MFG

Job Summary We are seeking a high-caliber Senior Automation Engineer to lead our Innovation Team and spearhead the modernization of our buttweld fitting manufacturing facility. This role goes beyond standard engineering; you will be responsible for identifying high-impact production areas, owning the end-to-end design of automated systems, and hitting clear, timeline-based modernization milestones with defined ROI. This position will report to the engineering department and engineering manager while working heavily with the operations team on execution of plans. Key Responsibilities • Team Leadership: Direct, mentor, and task a team of direct reports on the innovation team to execute automation upgrades safely and on schedule. • Multi-Platform Integration: Program, troubleshoot, and bridge communication between mixed PLC environments containing Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Omron, and Delta platforms. • System Design & Modernization: Retrofit heavy legacy machinery (hydraulic presses, forging cells, machining/beveling centers) with modern HMIs, advanced motion control, and SCADA systems. • Smart Maintenance Integration: Implement IoT tracking sensors to pipe real-time cycle data and machine health straight into our CMMS to prevent unplanned downtime. • Project Management & Lifecycle: Own the entire lifecycle of automation projects, from initial CAD schematics and part procurement to physical line commissioning and safety verification. First-Year Performance Goals (Timeline & ROI Driven) • Months 1–3 (Assess & Plan): Complete a comprehensive audit of the current legacy lines. Identify a specific, bottlenecked production area (e.g., fitting beveling or material handling) and present a detailed automation proposal complete with a budgeted bill of materials (BOM) and projected ROI calculation (e.g., labor reduction, throughput increase, or scrap reduction). • Months 4–9 (Execute): Lead the innovation team through the physical layout, multi-PLC programming phase, and hardware deployment of the approved project area. • Months 10–12 (Commission & Prove): Successfully bring the automated system online. Train the maintenance and operations crews, eliminate system bugs, and deliver a formal report proving the system achieved its defined operational and financial ROI targets. Qualifications & Skills • Experience: 5 to 10 years of industrial automation engineering experience, with strong preference given to heavy manufacturing, metal forming, or machining backgrounds. • Management: Minimum 2 years of experience leading engineering teams, managing direct reports, or directing major capital expense (CapEx) projects. • Technical Mastery: Advanced programming capabilities in Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Omron, and Delta PLC/HMI environments. • Engineering Tools: Proficiency with electrical design and schematic software (e.g., AutoCAD Electrical). • Process Knowledge: Strong understanding of hydraulics, heavy industrial machinery, safety gating circuits, and industrial networks (EtherNet/IP, Modbus