Automation Engineer

Alco Harvesting LLC•Santa Maria, CA

20d•$99,600 - $150,725

About The Position

The Harvest Engineer reports directly to the Director of Engineering and manages automation technicians and the automated equipment fleet used in harvest activities. The role works closely with Operations, Harvest Supervisors, and Mechanics to plan equipment needs, monitor machine performance, coordinate repairs and preventive maintenance, and control equipment-related costs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an applicable engineering field from an accredited university or college, or equivalent experience.
Fluent in Spanish.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
Familiarity with 2D and 3D modeling software.
Ability to translate agricultural and IT requirements into non-technical, lay terms.
High-level written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience with electrical systems and sensors.
Basic hydraulics experience.
Experience with mechanical systems.
Experience with pneumatic control systems.
Fabrication experience.
Experience with programmable logic controllers.
Degree in Agricultural Engineering or a similar engineering field.
Management experience.

Responsibilities

Support the design and implementation of new automation equipment.
Evaluate emerging agricultural technology solutions and support pilot implementations.
Create or modify designs to improve the functionality of existing equipment.
Maintain the integrity and safety of monitored equipment.
Troubleshoot and proactively maintain automation equipment.
Support technicians with equipment repairs and maintenance.
Determine the root causes of failures and develop solutions to prevent recurring downtime.
Create and implement preventive maintenance plans for automation systems.
Create and maintain documentation for automation equipment, including reports, maintenance, training, costs, and efficiencies.
Ensure proper inventory of automation parts and associated equipment.
Communicate with equipment vendors about issues and potential machine upgrades.
Manage automation technicians and the automated equipment fleet used in harvest activities.
Work with Operations, Harvest Supervisors, and Mechanics to plan equipment needs, monitor machine performance, coordinate repairs and preventive maintenance, and control equipment-related costs.