Manufacturing Automation Engineer

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Full Time Asheville, NC, US

6 days ago Requisition

Position Summary

HBD Industries is an integrated operating company of middle market manufacturing businesses. HBD operates four business platforms, each of which designs and manufactures highly-engineered industrial products for mission-critical applications. HBD operates eleven (11) manufacturing sites across the United StatesHBD is embarking on a new initiative to surgically deploy automation into select sites. The Automation Project Engineer is responsible for implementing the selected automation projects.

It starts with developing the technical specifications, working with external integrators, then installing the automation successfully at a factory. Our sites are not well-resourced with manufacturing engineers, so this role will be the primary engineer to implement the automation. This role will partner with another new role, Automation Project Manager, to get the projects done.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities

• Facilitate feasibility studies including technical, operational, safety, quality, and financial evaluations.
• Evaluate alternative technologies, concepts, and implementation approaches.
• Define system requirements, functional specifications, and performance criteria.
• Lead the acquisition and installation of automation equipment from initial concept through production stabilization.
• Manage equipment suppliers, system integrators, contractors, and technical consultants.
• Perform robot programming, path optimization, and process configuration.
• Support PLC integration, I/O validation, HMI configuration, and controls troubleshooting.
• Provide hands‑on support at the factory during equipment installation and startup.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex automation‑related technical issues.
• Diagnose and resolve robotic, electrical, mechanical, vision, controls, and integration problems.
• Analyze system performance and identify improvement opportunities
• Lead factory acceptance testing (FAT) and site acceptance testing (SAT).
• Ensure successful startup, commissioning, validation, and throughput achievement.

Experience and Education

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Robotics Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Three (3) years of experience implementing industrial automation and robotics solutions.
• Demonstrated experience with robotic system programming and commissioning.
• Experience integrating automation systems into manufacturing environments.
• Experience troubleshooting electrical, mechanical, controls, and robotic systems.
• Experience leading technical execution of capital projects.

Preferred

• Experience leading automation deployments in factories with limited prior automation exposure, and limited manufacturing engineering resources.
• Experience in forging, machining, metal fabrication, industrial manufacturing, or heavy manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, TPM, and Continuous Improvement methodologies.

Technical Skills

• Deep Experience with industrial robotic platforms such as FANUC, ABB, KUKA, Yaskawa/Motoman, Universal Robots, or equivalent.
• Robot programming, troubleshooting, and optimization.
• End‑of‑arm tooling selection and integration
• PLC programming and troubleshooting (Allen‑Bradley, Siemens, Omron, or equivalent).
• HMI development and configuration.
• Motion control and servo systems.
• Sensor integration and controls architecture.
• Strong understanding of industrial electrical systems.
• Mechanical design fundamentals and machine integration.
• Pneumatic and hydraulic systems knowledge.
• FAT/SAT execution.
• Machine safety standards and safeguarding practices.
• Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Root cause analysis and structured problem‑solving techniques

Organizational Relationships

• Reports to VP Operational Excellence.

Travel Required

The automation projects will require on‑the‑ground project management at the…