Automation Specialist

Automation / Robot Specialist - Position Summary

The Automation / Robot Specialist serves as the technical owner of automation performance within manufacturing operations. This role is responsible for developing, integrating, optimizing, and troubleshooting PLCs, robotics, vision systems, motion controls, safety systems, and industrial communication networks to achieve production targets related to cycle time, throughput, quality, and uptime. The specialist will provide hands-on support during equipment installation, commissioning, production launches, and stabilization efforts while driving continuous improvement and eliminating recurring equipment failures through structured root-cause analysis.

This position is ideal for an engineer with a strong controls and automation background who enjoys troubleshooting complex manufacturing systems, improving automation performance, and supporting production in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Own automation system performance and drive continuous improvements in cycle time, throughput, quality, and equipment uptime.
• Develop, modify, test, and troubleshoot PLC, HMI, robot, vision, motion-control, safety, and supporting automation programs.
• Optimize robot paths, motion profiles, process sequencing, alarms, interlocks, and recovery routines.
• Perform root-cause analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions for chronic equipment and process issues.
• Configure, validate, calibrate, and maintain vision systems, sensors, servo systems, and error-proofing devices.
• Support equipment installation, commissioning, launch activities, and post-launch stabilization.
• Conduct offline programming, reach studies, cycle-time simulations, risk assessments, and system validation.
• Maintain technical documentation, network diagrams, backups, and version-control practices.
• Train maintenance and production personnel and provide a smooth transition to sustainment teams.
• Track performance metrics including cycle-time achievement, uptime, labor reduction, and repeat-failure elimination.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, Controls Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 2-3+ years of experience as a Controls Engineer, Automation Engineer, Automation Specialist, or similar role.
• Hands-on experience in industrial automation and manufacturing environments.
• Experience with machine vision systems and FANUC robots.
• Strong troubleshooting and programming experience with FANUC Robotics and Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation PLCs. This is a must-have requirement.
• Experience developing and troubleshooting PLC, HMI, motion control, safety, and automation systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to diagnose complex automation issues.

Preferred Qualifications

• Automotive manufacturing experience is preferred but not required.
• Experience supporting production launches, commissioning activities, and equipment stabilization.
• Experience working with industrial networking protocols and system integration.
• Familiarity with version control systems such as Git or SVN.
• Experience with Factory I/O, FlexSim, or similar simulation tools.

Technical Requirements

PLC, HMI, Motion & Safety Controls

• Rockwell Automation ControlLogix
• Studio 5000
• Ladder Logic, Structured Text, and Function Block Diagrams
• FactoryTalk View HMI
• RSLinx Communications
• Add-On Instructions
• Produced/Consumed Tags
• Kinetix Motion Control
• GuardLogix Safety Programming

Industrial Robotics

• Expert-level FANUC Robot Programming
• TP Programming
• KAREL Programming
• Robot Calibration and Mastering
• Motion Optimization
• FANUC Roboguide
• WinOLPC
• Collaborative Robots (CR Series)
• Force Sensing and Synchronized Motion

Vision Systems

• FANUC iRVision (2D/3D)
• Keyence CV-X
• Cognex In-Sight / VisionPro
• OCR, Pattern Matching, Edge Detection, Blob Analysis
• Multi-Camera Inspection Systems
• Error-Proofing and Validation Systems

Industrial Networking

• EtherNet/IP
• Profinet
• Profibus
• Modbus RTU
• RS-232
• OPC UA