Sr Specialist, Automation Manufacturing Engineer

L3Harris•Huntsville, AL

About The Position

The Advanced Operations Technology (AOT) organization is seeking an experienced Automation Engineer to support engineering and production operations, with a focus on the automated equipment lifecycle for solid rocket motor manufacturing. The role works with manufacturing and facility teams to develop, implement, and maintain automation solutions that improve manufacturing capability, effectiveness, and employee safety. AOT partners with cross-functional teams to identify manufacturing-process opportunities, draft technical requirements, and develop solutions aligned with the organization’s manufacturing modernization vision. Automation Engineers lead solutions through project management activities, including developing requirements, working with suppliers, testing automation, and transitioning solutions to production. The position also supports process optimization, continuous improvement, production troubleshooting, new product development and introduction, equipment validation, and the creation and maintenance of process documentation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline and at least 6 years of relevant experience; or a graduate degree and at least 4 years of prior related experience; or, in lieu of a degree, at least 10 years of prior related experience.
Strong knowledge of automation systems design and sustainment involving robotic cells, custom automation solutions, vision systems, motion control, or testing solutions.
Experience programming control systems, including PLCs, HMIs, and VFDs.
Experience developing statements of work and functional requirements specification documents.
Ability to read electrical design schematics.
Experience integrating automation systems with business and manufacturing systems.

Nice To Haves

Experience programming Fanuc robotics systems and simulations.
Experience programming Allen-Bradley PLCs.
Experience programming Inductive Automation IGNITION.
Experience in project management.
Experience managing automation integrators.
Experience with parametric modeling solutions.

Responsibilities

Design and implement manufacturing technology to optimize throughput and improve operational cycle time.
Troubleshoot and maintain custom automation and robotics systems.
Analyze production processes and workstreams to identify improvement opportunities and recommend solutions that enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
Optimize processes to support safety, quality, and productivity.
Partner with industrial and manufacturing engineers to develop work standards, time studies, and ergonomic analyses.
Monitor and report on process performance, using data to drive continuous improvement initiatives.
Conduct root cause analysis to identify and resolve AOT production issues in coordination with quality assurance and operations teams.
Provide technical support for new product development, ensuring designs are manufacturable and scalable.
Support creation and maintenance of process documentation, including process flows and standard operating procedures.
Participate in cross-functional teams supporting new product introduction and equipment validation.
Lead automation solutions through project management activities, including requirements development, supplier coordination, testing, and transition to production.