Automation Engineer II

Milwaukee Tool•Menomonee Falls, WI

About The Position

The Automation Engineer II develops automated test systems that support new product development at Milwaukee Tool. As part of the Test Automation Group, this role works with New Product Development, Reliability, Quality, and laboratory teams in North America and globally to define requirements and take automation projects from concept through deployment. The position is a growing-ownership technical contributor who applies knowledge of team, laboratory, and product-development processes, makes sound design decisions, identifies project risks, communicates obstacles and possible solutions, and contributes to design guidance and continuous improvement. The role may involve mechanical and electrical engineering work, with the ideal candidate bringing skills from both areas. Mechanical work includes CAD design, engineering calculations, materials and component decisions, and integration of mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical subsystems. Electrical work includes schematics, measurement systems, safety circuits, instrumentation, controls, power distribution, and support for PLC, HMI, motion control, data acquisition, and industrial communications. The Automation Engineer II contributes to medium-complexity projects, driving assigned work with limited guidance while maintaining scope, schedule, quality, and safety alignment. The role also supports procurement and vendor collaboration, project documentation, design reviews, validation planning, troubleshooting, and the development of engineering standards and automation practices. International travel of less than 10% is expected.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
At least 2 years of experience developing automated systems, industrial equipment, test systems, or complex engineering solutions.
Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and engineering problem-solving abilities.
Hands-on experience integrating, commissioning, and debugging industrial systems.
Ability to manage multiple projects or technical assignments with limited supervision.
Ability to assess technical options and make data-supported recommendations considering project scope, cost, schedule, safety, and long-term maintainability.
Strong written, verbal, presentation, and technical communication skills.
Ability to collaborate with technical teams, cross-functional stakeholders, vendors, and global laboratory teams.
Willingness to travel internationally less than 10% of the time.
Mechanical: Experience with CAD-based mechanical design, such as SolidWorks or NX.
Mechanical: Experience integrating mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical subsystems.
Mechanical: Understanding of machine design, statics, dynamics, FEA, materials engineering, fluid power systems, thermodynamics, and manufacturing processes.
Mechanical: Ability to evaluate design tradeoffs and apply engineering judgment to mechanical system design.
Mechanical: Experience creating and maintaining engineering drawings, models, assemblies, and system documentation.
Electrical: Experience with electrical design using CAD, such as SolidWorks Electrical.
Electrical: Knowledge of measurement systems, sensor technologies, signal conditioning, data acquisition systems, and uncertainty analysis.
Electrical: Experience with industrial power systems, machine safety systems, panel design, power conversion, instrumentation, grounding, and electrical protection.
Electrical: Experience with PLC programming and troubleshooting, including controls architecture, debugging, and new system development.
Electrical: Ability to evaluate design tradeoffs and apply engineering judgment to controls, measurement, and power system design.

Responsibilities

Develop automated test systems for new product development, taking increasing ownership of project requirements, design, build, integration, and deployment.
Integrate and troubleshoot hardware, sensors, measurement devices, safety systems, and motion devices across domestic and global test laboratories.
Collaborate with New Product Development, Test Lab, Reliability Engineering, and other stakeholders to define project scope and system requirements.
Interpret project charters and use project objectives to inform engineering decisions.
Create and maintain system documentation, including bills of materials, operating instructions, risk assessments, validation documentation, and design review materials.
Work with vendors on system procurement, technical collaboration, cost, and schedule.
Assess and communicate risks involving cost, schedule, procurement, design maturity, quality, and safety; escalate obstacles with potential solutions and mitigations.
Prioritize and manage multiple projects while maintaining quality, clear communication, and disciplined execution.
Use structured problem-solving and root cause analysis to troubleshoot issues and assess alternative solutions.
Communicate project status, technical risks, design tradeoffs, and recommended next steps to stakeholders.
Create and maintain CAD models and drawings for system assemblies, components, fixtures, and products.
Perform mechanical engineering calculations and analyses, including static, force, torque, inertial, energy, and basic FEA evaluations.
Specify materials, finishes, heat treatments, and coatings based on application requirements, stresses, wear, and tolerances.
Integrate mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical subsystems into automated test platforms.
Create and maintain electrical schematics for power, safety circuits, measurement systems, controls, and panel layouts.
Evaluate measurement devices and work with calibration providers to validate system measurement performance.
Perform electrical calculations related to power distribution, filtering, signal conditioning, current capacity, power conversion, grounding, and electrical safety.
Support development, troubleshooting, and validation of PLC, HMI, motion control, data acquisition, and industrial communication systems.
Contribute to electrical design reviews and provide technical feedback on measurement systems, industrial controls, and electrical architecture.
Provide constructive design feedback and relevant technical guidance to peers.
Contribute to engineering best practices, design standards, documentation templates, and automation methodologies.
Pursue opportunities to improve technical skills, efficiency, project execution, and team capability.