Automation / Robot Specialist

About the role

The Automation / Robot Specialist is the technical owner of automation performance in manufacturing operations. The role develops, integrates, optimizes and troubleshoots PLCs, robotics, vision systems, motion controls, safety systems and industrial communication networks to improve cycle time, throughput, quality and uptime. It suits an engineer with a strong controls and automation background who enjoys troubleshooting complex manufacturing systems 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 hand over to sustainment teams.
• Track performance metrics such as cycle-time achievement, uptime, labor reduction and repeat-failure elimination.

Required profile

• 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.
• Strong troubleshooting and programming experience with FANUC Robotics and Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation PLCs (must-have).
• Experience developing and troubleshooting PLC, HMI, motion control, safety and automation systems.
• Preferred: automotive manufacturing experience, production launch and commissioning support, industrial networking protocols, Git or SVN, Factory I/O, FlexSim or similar simulation tools.

Required skills

• PLC, HMI, motion and safety controls (ControlLogix Studio 5000, Ladder Logic, Structured Text, Function Block Diagrams, FactoryTalk View, RSLogix, Kinetix, GuardLogix, Roboguide, WinOLP)
• FANUC robot programming (TP, Karel, calibration, motion optimization) and collaborative robots
• Vision systems (iRVision, Keyence CV-X, Cognex In-Sight / VisionPro, OCR, pattern matching, multi-camera inspection)
• Industrial networking (EtherNet/IP, Profinet, Profibus, Modbus RTU, RS-232, OPC UA)