Senior Automation Engineer

Cushman & Wakefield • Rialto, CA

5d

About The Position

C&W Services is seeking a Senior Automation Engineer (SAE) to manage the Automation Engineering team at a fulfillment center. The SAE coordinates control-system maintenance, schedules team tasks and projects, and designs more efficient operating methods. The position serves as a primary resource for facility operational efficiency and supports leaders across the building’s maintenance team. The role focuses on maximizing reliability and performance of material handling equipment, including conveyors, sortation systems, scanners, cameras, print-and-apply systems, and SCADA devices and programs. The position may require travel up to 10%.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related field, or at least 5 years of equivalent professional or military experience.
• Experience with electrical theory, robotics, control components, and automated equipment.
• Proficiency with programming software such as RSLogix5000 Studio and FT View.
• Knowledge of robotics work cells and their control systems.
• Experience identifying, maintaining, troubleshooting, programming, and designing HMI and control-network components.
• Experience identifying, maintaining, troubleshooting, and modifying motor controls, including motor starters, VFDs, DC drives, and standard electrical components.
• Hands-on troubleshooting experience with industrial electrical systems, including 480V three-phase, 110 VAC, and 24VDC systems.
• Knowledge of Warehouse Management System software concepts and messaging protocols.
• Experience interpreting, modifying, and developing mechanical and electrical drawings.
• Experience with SCADA systems and KPIs.
• Proven leadership skills in a technical role and ability to interact with all levels of management.
• Strong reasoning, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience training and developing others.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency in systems controls design, programming, and integration.
• Field service engineering experience.
• Experience supporting a wide range of conveyors and sortation systems.
• Proven history of remote technical phone support.
• Experience with advanced automation controls systems, industrial robotics, and ASRS systems.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with and mentor Automation Engineers to meet the facility operational plan’s goals and objectives.
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Safety, and other departments on material handling equipment optimization and project implementation.
• Understand, maintain, and troubleshoot material handling control systems, including PLC/PC controllers, industrial networks, motor control systems, servo and frequency drives, and electrical distribution systems.
• Monitor material handling equipment metrics and work with maintenance and operations teams to address performance issues; provide analysis across facilities.
• Serve as the first-level escalation resource for Automation Engineers during and after business hours, troubleshooting locally and remotely and repairing hardware or controls software systems in the building.
• Escalate downtime situations to network support teams, experts, or vendors to restore equipment operation.
• Facilitate failure analysis and incident reviews, and implement process improvements or retraining to prevent recurring incidents.
• Apply material-handling and electronic-systems expertise to maximize building utilization of systems.
• Perform and analyze material handling system performance assessments and analytics.
• Partner with facility Operations leadership, equipment vendors, and parts suppliers to plan and coordinate new technology installations; serve as the technical consultant for building capital projects.
• Communicate technical issues and project timelines to building leadership, operations, and the maintenance team, explaining operational impact.
• Assist with skill assessments for technical positions on site maintenance teams.
• Participate in Automation Engineering conference calls and coordinate with the central team to complete required tasks.

Benefits

• Weekly pay.
• Comprehensive benefits starting on the first day.
• Training, development, and advancement opportunities.
• Clean and cutting-edge facility.
• Safety-first culture.
• Eligible employees may enroll in health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life insurance, disability insurance, and paid and unpaid time away from work.
• Competitive pay.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior