Automation Lead - Robotic & Automated Fabrication Cells

Kelso Industries • Duncan, SC

11h • Onsite

About The Position

Kelso Industries is seeking a hands-on, technically strong Automation Lead to own the performance, uptime, and day-to-day health of robotic and automated fabrication cells used in pipe fabrication and modular manufacturing. The role is the shop-floor champion for these cells, trains operators, leads preventive maintenance, manages software interfaces and file workflows, and serves as the primary technical contact for equipment OEMs.

Reporting to the Production Manager, with a dotted line to the Sr. Engineering Manager, the Automation Lead bridges production and engineering. The position ensures drawings, programs, and data flow correctly into the cells and that equipment delivers predictable throughput and quality. The role also supports the effective use and growth of the company’s automation investments.

The position is based in Duncan, South Carolina, and is full-time. It requires comfort working on an active shop floor and willingness to flex hours when a cell is down.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree or technical certificate in automation, robotics, mechatronics, industrial maintenance, or welding technology, or equivalent work experience.
• At least 4 years of hands-on experience operating, programming, or maintaining industrial robots or automated fabrication equipment.
• Working knowledge of teach-pendant and offline robot programming, PLC/HMI basics, sensors, and safety circuits.
• Comfort working with CAD and model file formats and transferring data to robotic or CNC equipment.
• Ability to read fabrication drawings, spool isometrics, and welding symbols.
• Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills, including reading schematics and using test equipment.
• Comfort working on an active shop floor and willingness to flex hours when a cell is down.

Nice To Haves

• Welding experience.
• AWS certification.
• OEM training certifications.

Responsibilities

• Own robotic and automated fabrication cells and be accountable for availability, performance, and quality output.
• Track downtime, root causes, and utilization metrics, and report results and trends to the Production Manager.
• Respond to cell faults and breakdowns, diagnose issues, and restore production.
• Maintain a critical spare-parts and consumables list and coordinate purchasing with Procurement.
• Develop, schedule, and execute preventive maintenance plans based on OEM recommendations, including consumables, calibration, and tool center point checks.
• Maintain accurate maintenance logs and equipment history for each cell.
• Coordinate planned maintenance windows with Production to limit schedule impact.
• Manage cell software interfaces, including offline programming, job and part libraries, and process parameter sets.
• Manage cell-driving file formats and data exchange, ensuring the correct revision reaches the shop floor.
• Work with Engineering and detailers to format design outputs for the cells and resolve file translation and import issues.
• Back up robot programs, configurations, and software versions, and coordinate updates with the OEM and IT.
• Train and qualify operators on safe operation, setup, programming basics, and first-level troubleshooting.
• Develop SOPs, setup sheets, and quick-reference guides for each cell.
• Maintain a training matrix of qualified operators by cell and build operator capability across shifts.
• Serve as the primary technical contact with OEMs and integrators for troubleshooting, service calls, warranty claims, software updates, and upgrades.
• Provide OEMs with clear issue descriptions and supporting information such as fault codes, logs, and video.
• Partner with the Sr. Engineering Manager on equipment evaluation, cell layout, process improvements, and capital requests.
• Identify opportunities to expand automated content and improve cell throughput.
• Enforce robotic-cell safety, including guarding, interlocks, light curtains, lockout/tagout, and safe work zones.
• Partner with Quality to ensure cell output meets applicable welding procedures and code requirements, such as ASME B31.3 and ASME BPE where applicable.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Health insurance.
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Paid time off.
• Company holidays.
• Growth opportunities and support for developing new skills and advancing a career.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree