Senior Engineer, Automation Controls, Air Manufacturing Innovation

Nike • Beaverton, OR

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Nike Air Manufacturing Innovation operates in a fast-paced, highly integrated production environment. This role is part of the Production Equipment Engineering team within Manufacturing Operations, driving equipment reliability and enabling scalable automation deployment. The team serves as the final line of technical support in the escalation process, providing solutions and structured action plans for complex equipment issues. You will partner with Production, Maintenance, Facilities, Planning, EHS, Manufacturing Engineering, IT, and external vendors to support performance, continuous improvement, and pilot-to-scale execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Automation, Controls, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, or related Engineering field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in manufacturing, automation, or controls engineering in high-volume production environments.
• Advanced experience troubleshooting complex industrial equipment and control systems (< 50VDC, <440VAC).
• Hands-on experience with PLC and VFD systems (Allen-Bradley, Siemens), HMI, and integrated automation architectures.
• Experience with communication protocols and integration of electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems.
• Proven experience leading equipment continuous improvement or retrofit projects.
• Strong experience applying structured problem solving.
• Ability to read and interpret complex electrical, mechanical, and controls system documentation
• Demonstrated experience working cross-functionally in production environments.
• Strong leadership, communication, and technical decision-making skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with plastics processing equipment (extrusion, thermoforming, RF welding, trimming)
• Experience with robotics (ABB, Denso) and vision systems (Keyence, Cognex) integration
• Proficiency in AutoCAD Electrical or equivalent controls design tools.
• Experience leading vendor-supported projects (scope definition, execution, validation).
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or reliability-centered maintenance principles.
• Experience supporting pilot-to-production transitions of automation solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead resolution of critical equipment escalations, driving root cause elimination and long-term reliability improvements.
• Own and execute complex continuous improvement and retrofit projects that improve uptime, performance, and cost efficiency.
• Drive improvements in key performance metrics including uptime, OEE, and equipment stability.
• Lead vendor engagement, defining scope, managing execution, and ensuring delivery of technical solutions
• Support and validate pilot automation solutions, ensuring readiness for production deployment and scale.
• Define and implement technical standards, system improvements, lessons learned and best practices.
• Ensure systems are production-ready, maintainable, and sustainable after implementation.
• Mentor and support junior engineers and maintenances technicians, providing technical guidance and problem-solving leadership.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Manufacturing Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering teams to drive execution and alignment.

What This Job Offers

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