Automation Engineer

Deckorators, a brand of UFP Industries, is a leader in composite decking, railing, and outdoor living products. Our Buffalo, New York plant is the newest and flagship location utilizing our proven and growing Surestone technology. This state‑of‑the‑art extrusion and polymer manufacturing facility serves as a center of excellence for innovation, quality, and process automation across our network.

$85,000.00/yr - $/yr

The Automation Engineer will lead the implementation, integration, and support of automation and data systems at the Buffalo plant. This role focuses on driving process efficiency, system connectivity, and digital transformation within our extrusion and polymer operations. The Automation Engineer will collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, and IT to deliver smart, connected manufacturing solutions that enhance production reliability, safety, and quality.

• Design, implement, and support Industry 4.0 initiatives, including data acquisition and system integration.
• Develop, test, and deploy Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES),
  Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA),
  Digital Quality Systems (QMS), and other digital tools to enhance visibility and control on the production floor.
• Design, develop, document, program, debug, and maintain automation PLC/HMI/SCADA/MES software.
• Lead or support automation projects involving extrusion line instrumentation and automated material handling systems
  .
• Integrate process equipment with plant‑wide systems to enable real‑time performance tracking and predictive maintenance
  .
• Partner with process and quality engineers to develop and deploy AI‑driven and machine learning solutions for quality improvement and process optimization.
• Manage all project phases:
  Needs Definition, Design/Build, and Installation/Startup
  , ensuring proper documentation and hand‑off.
• Support troubleshooting, upgrades, and optimization of existing automation systems to minimize downtime and improve OEE
  .
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to ensure automation systems meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets.
• Provide technical guidance and training to maintenance and operations personnel.
• Stay current on emerging technologies and recommend future automation opportunities to maintain plant competitiveness.

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial, Controls, or Computer Engineering (or related field).
• 5–10 years of experience in automation, controls engineering, or process optimization within manufacturing;
  extrusion or polymer experience preferred.
• Proven ability to design, program, and troubleshoot Rockwell Factory Talk View ME & SE systems and Allen‑Bradley PLCs (Micro Logix, Compact Logix, Control Logix).
• Ability to validate and condition PLC/MES data to support process analysis and improvement.
• Experience deploying MES or plant‑level integration platforms such as Ignition; ERP interfacing preferred.
• Working knowledge of Python, Java
  , or other programming languages a strong plus.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing data systems, sensors, and connectivity (OPC, SQL, Ethernet/IP).
• Strong electrical and mechanical troubleshooting skills.
• Knowledge of VFDs, servos, and common system interfaces (CIP, Fieldbus).
• Proficiency in managing multiple automation projects from concept through commissioning.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills.
• Highly organized with demonstrated project management capability and attention to detail.

• 5–10 years of control system programming experience across multiple platforms (Allen‑Bradley, Red Lion, Siemens, Schneider).
• 5–10 years of HMI/SCADA design experience (Ignition Perspective, Factory Talk View, Crimson).
• Knowledge of common industrial networks (Ether Net/IP, Device Net, Control Net).
• Based full‑time at the Buffalo, NY flagship plant.
• Limited travel to other Deckorators facilities may be required (up to 20%).
• Opportunity to help shape automation standards and digital transformation strategy for the Surestone platform across the organization.

$85,000 - $120,000…