Senior Automation Engineer

Location: Harper Woods, Michigan

Industry: Automotive Manufacturing

Employment Type: Full-Time

Compensation: Up to $145,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications

About the Company

We are a Tier 1 automotive supplier specializing in the design and manufacturing of automotive seating systems. We are seeking an experienced Senior Automation Engineer to join our manufacturing engineering team and play a key role in improving automation, robotics, equipment reliability, production efficiency, and overall manufacturing performance.

This is a hands-on engineering position for an experienced automotive manufacturing professional who understands the demands of high-volume production and can move effectively between engineering, equipment, controls, robotics, and plant-floor operations.

Position Summary

The Senior Automation Engineer will be responsible for the development, implementation, optimization, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of automated manufacturing systems supporting automotive seat production.

The ideal candidate has significant experience with industrial robotics, stamping operations, automated production equipment, and automotive manufacturing processes. This individual will take technical ownership of automation projects from concept through implementation while also supporting existing production equipment and mentoring other engineers and technical personnel.

The successful candidate will be equally comfortable developing a new automation solution, troubleshooting a robotic cell on the plant floor, working with equipment suppliers, and leading a cross-functional improvement project.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the design, development, installation, commissioning, and optimization of automated manufacturing systems.
Provide technical expertise for robotic and automated production cells, including integration, programming, troubleshooting, and optimization.
Support and improve stamping operations and automated stamping equipment.
Troubleshoot complex automation, robotics, controls, electrical, mechanical, and production equipment issues.
Identify opportunities to improve equipment uptime, throughput, quality, safety, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
Lead automation and capital equipment projects from initial concept and specifications through installation, launch, and production validation.
Develop equipment and automation specifications and work with machine builders, integrators, and suppliers to ensure requirements are met.
Support equipment installation, debug, runoffs, commissioning, and production launch activities.
Analyze equipment failures and implement permanent corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Develop and implement automation standards, controls strategies, and engineering best practices.
Collaborate closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Production, Tooling, and Operations.
Provide technical leadership and mentoring to engineers, technicians, and other manufacturing personnel.
Participate in process improvement, lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and cost-reduction initiatives.
Support new program launches and engineering changes in a high-volume automotive manufacturing environment.
Ensure automated equipment meets applicable safety, quality, and production requirements.
Evaluate existing automation and recommend upgrades, modifications, or replacement strategies.
Develop technical documentation, equipment specifications, process documentation, and project reports.
Provide hands-on support during production issues, launches, and equipment downtime when necessary.
Travel periodically to suppliers, equipment integrators, customer facilities, or other company locations as required.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Automation, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field.
7+ years of automation or manufacturing engineering experience, preferably in automotive manufacturing.
Automotive manufacturing experience is required.
Industrial robotics experience is required.
Stamping experience is required.
Demonstrated experience working with automated manufacturing equipment in a high-volume production environment.
Strong understanding of robotic cells, automated material handling, machine controls, sensors, drives, and industrial automation systems.
Proven ability to troubleshoot complex equipment and automation problems in a production environment.
Experience taking automation projects from concept through installation, commissioning, and production launch.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, equipment reliability, and continuous improvement.
Ability to read and interpret electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic drawings.
Strong project management, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work effectively with production personnel, maintenance, engineering teams, suppliers, and management.
Willingness to be hands-on and spend significant time supporting equipment on the manufacturing floor.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with automotive seating manufacturing.
Experience with robotic welding, material handling, assembly, or stamping automation.
Experience with major industrial robot platforms such as FANUC, ABB, KUKA, or Yaskawa.
PLC programming and troubleshooting experience, particularly Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation.
Experience with HMI, servo systems, VFDs, safety PLCs, and industrial networks.
Experience with machine vision and automated inspection systems.
Experience specifying and managing capital equipment.
Experience working with automotive OEM or Tier 1 supplier requirements.
Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement experience.
Experience with PFMEA, process flow, control plans, and related automotive manufacturing documentation.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for a hands-on senior-level engineer and technical leader, not someone limited to desk-based engineering.

The ideal candidate will:

Understand automotive manufacturing and the pressures of high-volume production.
Know how to diagnose problems on the plant floor and develop practical solutions.
Have genuine expertise in robotics and stamping automation.
Be comfortable leading projects and working directly with equipment suppliers and integrators.
Be able to communicate effectively with everyone from maintenance technicians to senior management.
Take ownership of problems and drive them through to resolution.
Understand that successful automation is about more than installing equipment—it must produce safely, reliably, efficiently, and consistently.

Compensation

Salary: Up to $145,000 per year, depending on experience, technical qualifications, and overall fit.

This is an excellent opportunity for a senior automotive automation professional who wants to take ownership of significant automation initiatives within a Tier 1 automotive manufacturing environment.