Automation Engineer

AprilAire•Village of Morrisville, NY

7d•Onsite

About The Position

We are currently recruiting for an Automation Engineer – New Equipment Integration. This candidate will be responsible for the successful landing, commissioning, and stabilization of custom and off-the-shelf automated manufacturing equipment. This role owns projects from vendor design review and factory acceptance through on-site installation, first article validation, production ramp, and the first 90 days of operation. This position serves as the technical authority during equipment start-up, providing hands-on troubleshooting, engineering solutions, and optimization to ensure safety, quality, delivery, and long-term reliability. The Automation Engineer works cross-functionally with vendors, controls engineers, maintenance, operations, and product engineering to deliver fully validated, production-ready automation. This is an onsite position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing, mechanical, electrical, or controls engineering, or other closely related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
5+ years of general manufacturing machine or process design experience required to assure full project accountability from concept through project completion.
Valid driver’s license.
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in the development of automated control systems.
Knowledge of drafting standards.
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Knowledge of selection, programming, implementing, and troubleshooting PLCs and user interface touch screens.
Ability to identify measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Ability to determine how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Ability to manage one's own time and the time of others.
Ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Strong mathematical skills, including: Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry.
Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, radios, and proportions to practical situations.
Ability to choose the right mathematical methods for formulas to solve problems.
Very strong problem-solving skills, including: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Responsibilities

Equipment Integration & Launch
Own the technical execution of new automated equipment from design review through stable production.
Travel to vendor facilities for: Design reviews Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) Runoffs and sign-offs
Lead Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), commissioning, and startup at AprilAire facilities.
Drive first-article testing, process validation, and production qualification.
Own the first 90 days of production, including: Throughput stabilization Scrap and defect reduction Reliability improvements Root cause and corrective action for launch issues
Serve as the primary engineering point of contact during ramp-up prior to handoff to Operations and Maintenance.
Automation & Controls Leadership
Lead or support the design, development, and implementation of PLC- and touchscreen-based automation systems: Development and documentation of process requirements Selection of PLCs, HMIs, sensors, servos, motors, VFDs, safety systems, and enclosures Creation of I/O lists and control architectures Review and approval of vendor electrical and control designs
Perform: First I/O checkout Debugging and commissioning of automated systems Final system validation and documentation
Modify PLC, HMI, and PC-based software to resolve issues discovered during startup and production ramp.
Project Ownership & Capital Equipment Delivery
Lead capital equipment projects involving custom automation, integrated production systems, and controls upgrades.
Ensure: Conformance to AprilAire engineering, controls, and component standards Compliance with OSHA, ANSI, NEC, and internal safety requirements Adherence to approved budget, scope, and timeline Operational suitability for production staff Achievement of quality and performance targets
Coordinate and manage: External integrators and equipment vendors Internal Maintenance, Engineering Technicians, and Operations resources
Prepare and maintain documentation required for equipment turnover to Production and Plant Maintenance.
Troubleshooting, Optimization & Continuous Improvement
Serve as the highest-level automation and controls troubleshooter during equipment launch.
Diagnose and resolve electrical, mechanical, and controls issues, including: 480V/230V/240V/120V power systems 24VDC control systems
Implement permanent engineering solutions to recurring or systemic problems.
Identify replacement components for obsolete or unavailable parts.
Maintain records of design changes, control modifications, and equipment improvements.
Recommend and implement performance enhancements to improve: Throughput Uptime Quality Safety
Cross-Functional & Vendor Collaboration
Work collaboratively with Product Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Maintenance to ensure seamless equipment integration.
Act as technical liaison with vendors to obtain information, services, and materials required for successful implementation.
Provide training materials and technical guidance to Maintenance and Production teams.
Represent Manufacturing Engineering on product and equipment design teams as assigned.