Machining & Automation Engineer

Ultimate Staffing Services is actively seeking a talented and driven Machining & Automation Engineer for a prestigious client located in Research Triangle Park, NC. This dynamic role offers a unique opportunity to be part of a groundbreaking project for a company dedicated to manufacturing American permanent magnets.

• Critical Priority - Equipment & Vendor Selection: Lead the evaluation, quote comparison, and selection of advanced manufacturing technologies and vendors. Ensure selected machinery meets scaling and quality goals.
• End-to-End Process Ownership: Manage equipment design/requirements, vendor performance, commissioning activities, and production qualification for automated production processes such as machining, grinding, coating, testing, and packaging.
• Process Optimization: Develop and optimize manufacturing processes to improve throughput, quality, and equipment reliability. Monitor OEE results and station cycle times to drive improvements.
• Project Management: Oversee technical schedules, budgets, and deliverables aligned with company milestones and customer commitments.
• Hands-on Startup Support: Provide hands-on support during production startup, helping stabilize processes and eliminate early bottlenecks.
• Future Innovation: Collaborate with R&D to develop and innovate new processes and equipment strategies for future production lines.
• EHS & Quality Compliance: Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and quality standards across all process activities.
• Travel: Participate in equipment development reviews and Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) with travel estimated at less than 10%.

• Risk & Safety: Risk Assessments, Ergonomic Assessments, PFMEA.
• Process Design: Line Layouts, Process Flow Charts, Bill of Process (BOP), Station Cycle Times, Process Sheets, and Simulations.
• Engineering Diagrams: CAD Drawings, Electrical & Pneumatic Drawings, and performing necessary Electrical and Pneumatic Calculations.
• Quality & Control: Quality Control Plans, R&R (Gage Repeatability and Reproducibility) Studies, Quality Checklists, and Process Checklists.
• Operations & Maintenance: Work Instructions (SOPs), Calibration Procedures, Spare Parts Lists, Bill of Materials (BOM), and Maintenance Manuals.
• Controls & IT: HMI Controls Manuals, Vision Programs, MES Transactions Lists.

• Education & Experience: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related technical discipline with 3+ years of experience.
• CAD Proficiency: Strong experience creating, modifying, and validating complex equipment assemblies and custom automation layouts in CAD.
• Advanced Automation & Systems: Hands‑on experience specifying, integrating, or operating heavy automation, robotics, AGVs, advanced vision systems, and industrial laser systems.
• Documentation Mastery: Expert‑level experience authoring and developing standard manufacturing documents such as PFMEA, Control Plans, Work Instructions, and Process Flows.
• Technical Literacy: Ability to read, interpret, and create electrical schematics and pneumatic diagrams, including performing core engineering calculations.

Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export‑controlled information or facilities.

• Experience specifically in precision CNC machining, high‑volume grinding, or industrial surface coating applications.
• Hands‑on experience with machine vision programming (e.g., Cognex, Keyence).
• Proficiency with advanced simulation software for automated workflow and line balancing.
• Familiarity with MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) implementation and automated…