Automation Engineer

GrowTech Industries, LLC•Goodyear, AZ

1h•Onsite

About The Position

GTI Energy, a division of GTI Fabrication, designs and builds advanced modular infrastructure for mission-critical markets, including energy storage systems, data centers, and defense applications. The company is growing rapidly and investing heavily in automation to increase capacity, precision, and efficiency at its industrial fabrication facilities. The Senior Manufacturing Automation Engineer will lead the development, deployment, and optimization of automated robotic welding systems across production lines. This is a hands-on technical role focused on designing, programming, integrating, and maintaining robotic welding cells with PLC controls. This position is crucial for advancing GTI’s automation strategy, ensuring fabrication processes meet the highest standards of safety, quality, efficiency, and scalability.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, or Industrial Engineering
8–10+ years of experience in manufacturing automation or controls engineering
Hands-on experience implementing and supporting robotic welding systems
Proficiency with industrial welding robots (FANUC, ABB, Motoman, KUKA or similar)
Strong experience with PLC programming and controls integration (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, etc.)
Proven success leading cross-functional automation projects and managing integrators
Strong understanding of welding processes (GMAW, GTAW, resistance spot welding) and metallurgy basics
Knowledge of industrial safety standards (OSHA, NFPA79) and risk assessments for robotic systems
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills
Strong project management skills to coordinate multiple automation projects and vendor integrations
Effective communicator and collaborative team player with leadership experience

Nice To Haves

Experience with robotic simulation tools (RoboGuide, RobotStudio, etc.)
Experience integrating vision systems, sensors, motion control, or automated material handling
Familiarity with CAD (SolidWorks, AutoCAD) for fixture or tooling design
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or higher certification

Responsibilities

Partner with operations, manufacturing engineering, and quality to identify automation use cases that improve safety, quality, and throughput.
Develop capital expenditure justifications and ROI/payback analyses to support automation project funding.
Lead cross-functional project teams (quality, safety, operations, manufacturing engineering, and facilities) assigned to automation initiatives.
Develop specifications for individual automation projects and create GTI-wide standards for control systems, preferred robot manufacturers, and welding equipment OEMs.
Write project-specific performance clauses and high-level automation requirements for new system deployments.
Design, specify, and implement robotic welding cells for modular steel fabrication.
Select and oversee external integrators to execute detailed design work.
Lead internal and external design reviews to verify system safety, quality, and technical alignment.
Coordinate installation, validation, and qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ) of automation systems with integrators and plant teams.
Ensure integration of robotics (FANUC, ABB, KUKA, Motoman, etc.), tooling, sensors, and safety systems.
Develop and modify PLC/HMI logic (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, etc.) to control robotic welding cells and integrate them with conveyors, positioners, and vision systems.
Ensure robust communication between robots, PLCs, and peripheral equipment using Ethernet/IP or Modbus.
Write and optimize robot programs for MIG, TIG, and spot welding applications.
Tune welding parameters, robot paths, and cycle times to improve throughput and first-pass yield while reducing rework and scrap.
Provide hands-on support to troubleshoot automation systems and minimize downtime.
Lead preventive maintenance schedules for robotic welding systems and controls equipment.
Own sustaining work post-installation, ensuring stable long-term performance of robotic systems.
Analyze production data to identify bottlenecks and quality issues.
Implement Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to drive continuous improvement in robotic welding operations.
Lead new product introduction (NPI) ramp-ups from prototype to full-scale automated production.
Partner with mechanical engineers, manufacturing engineers, quality, and maintenance teams to ensure production readiness of automated systems.
Support design-for-manufacturability efforts on new products to enable automated fabrication.
Maintain detailed technical documentation including robot programs, schematics, and SOPs.
Train and mentor technicians, operators, and junior engineers on robotic welding system operation, troubleshooting, and programming.