Automation Engineer

At Gentex Corporation, we’ve created an environment where great ideas and great people can thrive. Leveraging a history that spans over 130 years, Gentex is a global leader in personal protection and situational awareness solutions for defense forces, emergency responders, and industrial personnel operating in high performance environments. Join our multinational team of exceptional and dedicated employees around the world and work on challenging and rewarding projects, grow your skills, and advance your career all while making a positive difference in the lives of our customers.

Together, you and Gentex can build a career that’s uniquely yours.

The Automation Engineer is responsible for developing, implementing, maintaining, and improving automated manufacturing systems and processes supporting new and existing products. This role focuses on integrating automation, robotics, controls, and advanced manufacturing technologies to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.

The position supports new product introduction, production sustainment, and continuous improvement initiatives by identifying automation opportunities, developing technical solutions, troubleshooting equipment and process issues, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. The Automation Engineer works under established technical direction to implement reliable, efficient, and scalable automation solutions aligned with manufacturing objectives.

• Support the design, development, and implementation of automated manufacturing systems and equipment.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual processes and improve manufacturing efficiency, consistency, and repeatability.
• Assist in the integration of robotics, PLCs, sensors, machine vision, motion control, and other automation technologies.
• Support the development of equipment concepts, functional requirements, specifications, and system layouts.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and design engineering to incorporate Design for Automation (DFA) and Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles into new products and processes.
• Support the evaluation of emerging automation technologies and their potential manufacturing applications.

• Support equipment installation, startup, commissioning, and acceptance activities.
• Assist in developing and executing equipment testing, process validation, and qualification plans.
• Verify automated equipment performance against established specifications, safety requirements, and production objectives.
• Coordinate with equipment suppliers, system integrators, and internal technical teams to resolve installation and performance issues.
• Support equipment acceptance testing and the transition of automated systems into production.
• Develop and maintain equipment operating parameters, recipes, and control settings as applicable.

• Provide technical support for automated manufacturing equipment and production processes.
• Troubleshoot automation, controls, sensors, robotics, and equipment-related issues to minimize downtime and production interruptions.
• Identify root causes of recurring equipment failures and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Engineering to improve equipment reliability and process performance.
• Support the development of preventive maintenance requirements and troubleshooting procedures.
• Assist in monitoring equipment performance, cycle time, uptime, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

• Identify and implement automation and process improvements that enhance safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.
• Support Lean Manufacturing initiatives, including waste reduction, standardized work, cycle-time improvement, and production flow optimization.
• Analyze manufacturing data to identify trends, process constraints, and opportunities for improvement.
• Participate in root cause analysis, corrective action, and continuous improvement activities.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of implemented automation solutions and recommend further improvements.
• Support efforts to reduce scrap, rework, labor content, and process variability.

• Execute assigned automation projects in accordance with established scope, schedule, budget, and technical requirements.
• Assist in…