Automation Engineer - Advanced Manufacturing

Wabtec•Remote, PA

1d•$68,900 - $98,200

About The Position

The Automation Engineer supports the development, justification, design, simulation, implementation, and optimization of manufacturing automation systems across multiple sites and business units. The role focuses on machining, fabrication, assembly, material handling, and related processes, converting manufacturing needs into safe, repeatable, production-ready automation concepts. This position combines hands-on engineering with project execution and serves as a technical resource for robotics, automation, machine integration, simulation, vision, and advanced manufacturing systems. The engineer works with manufacturing sites, technical specialists, automation suppliers, and system integrators to identify, design, deploy, and optimize solutions that improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost performance. Experience in automotive or another high-volume, highly automated manufacturing environment is especially valuable. The role also supports capital project execution, evaluates opportunities, creates layouts and simulations, develops technical concepts and specifications, and helps replicate successful solutions across facilities. Travel may be required to support enterprise manufacturing sites.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Mechatronics, Automation/Controls, Robotics Engineering, or a related discipline.
At least 3 years of industrial automation, manufacturing engineering, robotics, controls, or advanced manufacturing experience.
Hands-on experience applying industrial robots and automation equipment in a production environment.
Ability to design automation concepts, cell layouts, tooling approaches, and equipment interfaces.
Experience with robot or manufacturing simulation, offline programming, or digital manufacturing tools.
Strong understanding of machine safety, controls, integration, manufacturing processes, and production readiness.
Effective project execution, problem-solving, documentation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Ability to travel as required to support enterprise manufacturing sites.

Nice To Haves

Automation or robotics experience in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
Experience with industrial robots, preferably FANUC; ABB, KUKA, or Yaskawa/Motoman experience is also valuable.
Experience with robot simulation and offline programming tools such as FANUC ROBOGUIDE, Process Simulate, Visual Components, or equivalent.
Experience with 3D CAD, equipment layouts, reach studies, cycle-time analysis, and design-for-automation.
Experience with machine vision, inspection, and robotic guidance systems.
Experience with automated material handling, end-of-arm tooling, fixtures, and sensor integration.
Experience with PLCs, HMIs, industrial networking, MES, SCADA, OEE, or manufacturing data systems.
Experience with FAT, SAT, commissioning, production launch, and structured root-cause problem solving.
Lean or Six Sigma certification.

Responsibilities

Support automation projects from concept through production launch.
Evaluate manufacturing processes and identify practical automation opportunities.
Develop automation concepts, layouts, simulations, cycle-time estimates, and technical specifications.
Perform robot reach, payload, interference, and process simulations to reduce project risk.
Support capital estimates, ROI business cases, equipment scopes, and project documentation.
Participate in vendor selection, RFQs, design reviews, FAT, SAT, commissioning, and startup.
Work with controls, manufacturing, quality, maintenance, EHS, suppliers, and integrators to resolve technical issues.
Troubleshoot and optimize existing robotic and automated manufacturing systems.
Document lessons learned and help replicate successful automation solutions across sites.
Support Automation & Advanced Manufacturing standards, roadmap, and preferred technology strategy.
Evaluate emerging technologies including robotics, vision, simulation, digital twins, and AI-enabled manufacturing.
Provide hands-on technical support and knowledge sharing for site engineering teams.