Senior Industrial Automation Engineer

Arxlight • Oakland, CA

8d • $170,000 - $190,000

About The Position

Arxlight is seeking a hands-on Senior Industrial Automation Engineer to build automation for its drone manufacturing process from the ground up. The engineer will design and build automated cells, robotics, and fixtures for a repeatable, high-yield production line covering component preparation, subassembly, final assembly, calibration, end-of-line testing, and packaging. There is no existing automated line or set of standards to inherit, so the engineer will determine automation priorities and implement them while product designs may still be changing.

The role works closely with Manufacturing, Hardware, Test, and Supply Chain to identify throughput, quality, and cost constraints and develop robust production-floor automation. The engineer will build machines, write the software that runs them, measure their impact, and respond directly to station downtime and production-readiness needs.

Responsibilities span process mapping and automation roadmapping; PLC, motion-control, robot, and HMI programming; integration of vision systems, sensors, torque tools, and test equipment; and creation of station software and data connections to MES, traceability, and data-collection systems. The engineer will also automate calibration, testing, firmware flashing, and packaging; support design-for-automation and design-for-manufacturing; own stations from concept through validation and production ramp; and resolve stoppages, defects, and yield losses.

Requirements

• At least 7 years of hands-on experience in industrial automation, controls, robotics, or manufacturing engineering for complex hardware products.
• Demonstrated experience designing, building, and commissioning automated assembly stations or production lines from concept through stable production.
• Strong PLC and controls experience with platforms such as Siemens, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, Beckhoff, or similar, including ladder logic or structured text, motion control, safety circuits, and HMI development.
• Hands-on experience programming and integrating industrial or collaborative robots, such as FANUC, ABB, KUKA, or Universal Robots, as well as machine vision, sensors, pneumatics, and end-of-arm tooling.
• Strong programming skills in Python or similar languages for station software, data collection, and integration with MES, databases, and hardware communication protocols such as EtherNet/IP, Modbus, OPC UA, serial, or CAN.
• Experience designing fixtures and tooling in CAD such as SolidWorks, Onshape, or similar, and applying machine-safety standards and risk assessment to equipment design.
• Comfort working hands-on on a production floor, building and debugging equipment, and adapting to changing products or production volumes.

Nice To Haves

• Experience automating the manufacture of drones, robotics, aerospace hardware, consumer electronics, or other complex electromechanical products.
• Experience automating electronics and electromechanical processes such as PCBA handling, wire harness and connector assembly, motor and propeller assembly, battery pack assembly, potting, or conformal coating.
• Experience with automated calibration and end-of-line testing for sensors, IMUs, cameras, motors, ESCs, radios, or GPS/GNSS.
• Experience with MES, traceability, and manufacturing data systems, and using production data to improve yield, cycle time, and OEE.
• Experience with lean manufacturing, line balancing, process capability (Cp/Cpk), PFMEA, and scaling products from low-volume builds to high-rate production.
• Experience in a startup or fast-moving hardware company where automation is built from scratch rather than limited to maintaining an established line.

Responsibilities

• Map the end-to-end drone build process, identify constraints involving throughput, quality, cost, or safety, and own a prioritized automation roadmap.
• Develop PLC, motion-control, robot, and HMI programs, integrating vision systems, sensors, torque tools, and test equipment into reliable, maintainable stations.
• Build the software and data layer connecting stations to MES, traceability, and data collection so unit build histories, process parameters, and results are recorded and analyzable.
• Automate calibration, end-of-line testing, firmware flashing, and packaging in collaboration with Test Engineering.
• Work with Hardware and Manufacturing to drive design-for-automation and design-for-manufacturing changes for new drone designs.
• Own stations from concept through validation and ramp, including fixture and tooling design, process capability, cycle time, OEE, preventive maintenance, operator training, and documentation.
• Investigate line stoppages, defects, and yield losses, identify root causes, and implement lasting fixes.
• Build and debug equipment hands-on on the production floor and respond to station downtime and production-readiness needs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed