Advanced Automation Engineer

Magna International•Northwood, OH

16h

About The Position

At Magna, you can expect an engaging and dynamic environment where you can help to develop industry-leading automotive technologies. We invest in our employees, providing them with the support and resources they need to succeed. As a member of our global team, you can expect exciting, varied responsibilities as well as a wide range of development prospects. Because we believe that your career path should be as unique as you are. Group Summary: The Magna Exteriors portfolio of products includes access systems such as liftgates, exterior trim, modular systems, front-end modules including fascia, active aerodynamic systems and other lightweight structural components for automotive, commercial truck and other industrial markets. Recognized globally as an innovator in all aspects of vehicle exteriors, Magna provides everything needed, from materials development and design through manufacturing and assembly, to help automakers create sleek, state-of-the-art vehicles across the world.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, or related field.
3+ years of experience in industrial automation, controls, robotics, or advanced manufacturing systems.
Proficiency with PLC platforms (Allen-Bradley, Siemens), HMI development, robotic programming (Fanuc/ABB/etc.), and vision systems (traditional and AI-based).
Knowledge of OT networking, MES/SCADA integration, secure connectivity standards, and industrial communication protocols.
Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, and leadership skills in fast-paced manufacturing environments.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate across engineering, production, maintenance, and IT/OT teams.

Responsibilities

Partner with the MEHP/MEBT Automation Lead to ensure consistent automation standards and best practices across all three facilities.
Serve as the primary automation technical lead for the Norplas facility, supporting molding, paint, and assembly operations.
Coordinate automation strategies, upgrades, and issue resolution with production automation teams and cross-shift technical staff.
Partner with Equipment Project Engineers during concept development, vendor RFQs, design reviews, commissioning, and launch of new automated machinery.
Support Industrial Engineers by evaluating automation needs based on part and process characteristics, cycle time targets, and capacity requirements.
Review automation packages from integrators for logic quality, safety compliance, HMI usability, robotic programming, and data connectivity.
Participate in Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) to validate automation functionality, cycle times, safety systems, and data exchanges.
Ensure all new equipment meets manufacturing and automation performance criteria prior to handoff to production.
Implement and maintain OT and automation standards related to PLC programming, HMI development, robotic systems, safety controls, and industrial networking.
Work with the OT Architect to ensure Norplas equipment meets corporate connectivity, cybersecurity, and MES/SCADA integration requirements.
Standardize data structures, tag naming conventions, and communication protocols to support performance monitoring and real-time analytics.
Develop, test, troubleshoot, and optimize PLC logic, HMI interfaces, robotic programs, and process control systems as required.
Lead AI-based vision deployments for paint inspection, molding quality verification, assembly validation, traceability, and predictive quality solutions.
Support maintenance and production by resolving complex electromechanical, controls, and software issues impacting uptime.
Lead FoF automation projects at Norplas, introducing advanced robotics, AI-based vision solutions, connected machinery, automated quality systems, and digital manufacturing tools.
Identify opportunities to improve safety, quality, throughput, and manufacturing reliability through strategic automation enhancements.
Work closely with production automation teams to align improvements, provide technical training, and ensure adherence to best practices.
Collaborate with the MEHP/MEBT Automation Lead, OT/FoF teams, Industrial Engineering, and Project Engineering to drive cross-site standardization.