Manufacturing and Automation Engineer

JMS Technical Solutions•Vista, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Our client in Vista, California is looking for a Manufacturing and Automation Engineer to join their team! This is an on-site/full-time/direct-hire position. The role involves leading automation, controls, and systems engineering initiatives across manufacturing and packaging operations. This includes areas such as compounding, encapsulation, capsule drying, sorting, capsule bottling, liquid filling, labeling, cartoning, case packing, and palletizing, as well as future manufacturing and packaging technologies. The engineer will also lead equipment selection, specification, procurement, FAT, installation, commissioning, optimization, and lifecycle management of various systems, coordinating with OEMs, contractors, and system integrators. Collaboration with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Product Development, and Engineering teams is crucial for improving equipment reliability, product quality, throughput, and operator effectiveness. The position requires analyzing manufacturing and packaging system performance to identify bottlenecks and implement improvements, leading troubleshooting and root cause analysis efforts, and supporting integration between various operational systems. Developing and maintaining documentation such as SOPs, WIs, OPLs, and checklists is also a key responsibility, along with supporting training for personnel. The role drives continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, and OEE tracking, and leads automation and controls aspects of capital projects. A significant focus will be on driving Industry 4.0 initiatives, including smart factory technologies and connected equipment, and establishing machine-to-machine and enterprise-level connectivity.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Automation Engineering, or Mechatronics Engineering is a must.
7+ years of hands-on experience with packaging and production line systems automation in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, supplement or food industries.
Hands-on experience with bottling lines, liquid filling machines, labelers, case packers, and other downstream packaging equipment.
Experience with vision inspection systems, servo drives, robotics (pick & place, palletizers), and conveyor systems.
Proficiency in PLC programming (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, etc.), HMI/SCADA systems configuration, and industrial communication protocols.
Experience with robotic systems (e.g., ABB, FANUC, Yaskawa) integration and programming.
Hands-on experience with automation and control of CIP (Clean-In-Place) systems, including validation and optimization of cleaning cycles.
Familiarity with Industry 4.0 technologies, IoT devices, smart factory solutions, and data analytics platforms.
Excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to improving equipment, processes, and cleaning systems.
Strong communication skills for cross-functional collaboration with production, engineering, maintenance, quality, and IT teams.
Strong project management skills with the ability to handle multiple priorities.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

LEAN Certification (e.g., Green Belt / Black Belt) is highly preferred.
Understanding of SAP, Oracle, or specialized MES platforms.
Programming/Scripting Skills (optional)
CMMS and Maintenance Software (for asset management and predictive maintenance) (e.g., Fiix, UpKeep, IBM Maximo)
CIP System Automation Software (controlled through PLC/SCADA — familiarity with setting up/optimizing automated CIP recipes and sequences)

Responsibilities

Lead automation, controls, and systems engineering initiatives across manufacturing and packaging operations, including compounding, encapsulation, capsule drying, sorting, capsule bottling, liquid filling, labeling, cartoning, case packing, palletizing, and future manufacturing and packaging technologies.
Lead equipment selection, specification, procurement, FAT, installation, commissioning, optimization, and lifecycle management of manufacturing, packaging, automation, and robotics systems while coordinating with OEMs, contractors, and system integrators.
Collaborate with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Product Development, and Engineering teams to improve equipment reliability, product quality, throughput, and operator effectiveness.
Analyze manufacturing and packaging system performance to identify bottlenecks and implement automation, controls, and process improvements that increase throughput, improve OEE, reduce downtime, and minimize waste.
Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis efforts involving manufacturing equipment, packaging systems, PLC controls, vision systems, sensors, servo systems, industrial networks, and machine communications.
Develop standardized troubleshooting guides and corrective action procedures to support rapid issue resolution and knowledge transfer.
Support integration and communication between processing equipment, packaging equipment, OEE systems, MES platforms, SCADA systems, and enterprise reporting systems.
Develop, maintain, and continuously improve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Work Instructions (WIs), One-Point Lessons (OPLs), troubleshooting guides, startup and shutdown procedures, and equipment operating manuals.
Create and maintain manufacturing, packaging, setup, changeover, inspection, cleaning, and preventive maintenance checklists.
Create and maintain automation standards, controls documentation, network architecture diagrams, equipment specifications, and system validation records.
Support development of training materials and provide technical training for operators, mechanics, technicians, and engineering personnel.
Drive continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, and OEE tracking to boost packaging line reliability and uptime.
Develop and implement changeover reduction strategies (e.g., SMED) to improve packaging flexibility and responsiveness.
Lead automation and controls aspects of capital projects including new equipment installations, facility expansions, utility upgrades, and manufacturing line improvements.
Develop project scopes, budgets, schedules, technical specifications, and commissioning plans while managing contractors, vendors, and integrators.
Drive Industry 4.0 initiatives including smart factory technologies, connected equipment, machine data collection, cloud-based analytics, predictive maintenance, and AI-enabled manufacturing solutions, including Snowflake.
Establish and maintain machine-to-machine, machine-to-system, and enterprise-level connectivity utilizing OPC UA, MQTT, Ethernet/IP, Profinet, Modbus TCP, and other industrial communication protocols.