Careers

AUTOMATION ENGINEER

Manufacturing Controls & Equipment Optimization

Position Overview

An established precision-manufacturing organization is seeking a hands-on Automation Engineer to strengthen equipment performance and expand internal controls capability. Working closely with operations, engineering, and production teams, this person will develop control logic, commission machinery, solve recurring production problems, and deliver improvements that increase reliability, quality, throughput, and yield. The ideal candidate combines strong PLC and HMI programming skills with practical experience stabilizing automated equipment in an active manufacturing environment.

What You’ll Own

Develop PLC programs from the ground up and revise existing machine-control logic to support production needs.

Build, modify, and troubleshoot HMI applications and operator interfaces.

Commission, debug, validate, and stabilize automated manufacturing equipment from initial startup through production release.

Improve a specialized production machine until it operates consistently, repeatably, and at the required performance level.

Optimize a robotic manufacturing process to reduce scrap and improve product consistency.

Diagnose issues involving controls, sensors, motors, drives, actuators, pneumatics, robots, and related machine systems.

Design and implement upgrades that reduce manual handling, improve ergonomics, and strengthen process reliability.

Use testing, process data, and root-cause analysis to resolve equipment failures, quality concerns, and production losses.

Support corrective-action, scrap-reduction, lean-manufacturing, and continuous-improvement initiatives.

Create operating procedures, setup instructions, troubleshooting guides, commissioning records, and equipment documentation.

Train operators, technicians, supervisors, and engineers while communicating project status, recommendations, and technical risk.

Required Qualifications

Five or more years of experience in industrial automation, controls engineering, manufacturing engineering, process engineering, or a closely related field.

Demonstrated ability to develop PLC logic from a blank project and safely modify programs on operating equipment.

Hands-on experience creating, modifying, and troubleshooting HMI applications.

Experience starting up, commissioning, debugging, validating, or stabilizing automated production machinery.

Working knowledge of industrial electrical systems, sensors, motors, drives, actuators, pneumatics, and machine controls.

Strong troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills, with experience improving or designing automated equipment.

Clear communication, documentation, and training skills, along with a collaborative approach to production support.

Ability to work independently and hands-on at an Orange County, California manufacturing facility.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with AutomationDirect HMIs, Productivity2000 PLCs, or comparable industrial control platforms.

Experience programming or integrating Universal Robots UR5/UR5e systems and Cognex cameras or other industrial vision equipment.

Background integrating robots or vision systems with PLC-controlled machinery.

Degree in electrical engineering, controls, automation, mechatronics, manufacturing engineering, or a related discipline; equivalent industrial experience will be considered.

Experience in electronics, sensors, glass, medical devices, packaging, precision manufacturing, capital-equipment installation, or production-line upgrades.

Success in This Role

Bring the initial priority machine into stable, repeatable production operation.

Reduce scrap and variability within the targeted robotic manufacturing process.

Deliver practical automation upgrades that reduce manual work and improve consistency.

Improve equipment reliability, throughput, yield, product quality, safety, and operator usability.

Leave behind accurate documentation, effective training, and sustainable internal support practices.

Working Relationship

This position works directly with operations, production, engineering, technical staff, and leadership to move automation projects from concept through dependable daily use. It is well suited for a practical, self-directed engineer who is equally comfortable writing code, working at the machine, analyzing process data, documenting solutions, and teaching others.