Automation Engineer

COMPANY

SUMMARY:

CDI Products, a Michelin Group Company, is a global leader in high-performance polymer products, wear components, and functional parts. With locations across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, we deliver fully integrated solutions from raw materials to finished products through in-house engineering and material development capabilities. Serving industries such as Aerospace, Automotive, Energy, Medical, Semiconductor, and Water Treatment, our materials and products are expertly engineered and tested on-site.

Our team is committed to innovation and excellence in delivering cutting-edge solutions around the globe.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Automation Engineer designs, programs, integrates, and supports industrial automation systems used in manufacturing. The role focuses primarily on PLC controls, robotics, HMI/SCADA systems, machine communications, and automation project execution. The engineer will also collaborate with IT and data teams to enable secure equipment connectivity and manufacturing data integration.

This position creates efficient and effective automated manufacturing systems while advancing CDI’s Industry 4.0 capabilities. The Automation Engineer works closely with application and manufacturing engineers, quality personnel, IT, production, and maintenance teams to define, design, program, document, and support control systems for automated equipment.

The successful candidate will program automated equipment, including robots, HMIs, PLCs, and controllers, using applicable programming languages and industrial communication protocols. The role will also develop solutions that collect, process, and securely transfer manufacturing data between production equipment, CDI’s manufacturing network, and approved data platforms.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Design and implement automated systems for use in polymer manufacturing and production environments

Support existing automation technology with component and process upgrades

Review and evaluate new equipment and systems to ensure compliance with established hardware, software, and design standards.

Selects the appropriate technology for projects (PLC, Drive, Instruments, Sensors, Valves, Actuators, MCC, Motors, etc.) and ensures that they are fully compatible.

Performs engineering studies on new equipment to determine proper settings, control points, etc.

Lead collaborative discussions between leadership and key stakeholders to determine automation capabilities and goals.

Direct and motivate cross-functional teams (internal and external) on automation projects relating to existing and new product lines.

Create project technical performance specifications, feasibility evaluations, estimating, risk assessments.

Develop project-specific scope-of-design and design deliverables in alignment with Stakeholder requirements.

Complete project functions within agreed upon time frames and budgets to ensure operations are efficiently maintained and downtime is minimized.

Create detailed road maps to guide automation projects from conception to final implementation.

Host frequent, formal design review meetings with design teams to ensure outputs continually satisfy design goals including functionality, reliability, quality, budget, & timeline.

REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical or manufacturing Engineering or an equivalent discipline combined with a minimum of five (5) years of practical, applied engineering design experience relating to industrial equipment including machine design, mechanical, fluid power, electrical & automation, or mechatronics disciplines.

Proven track record illustrating successful leadership of cross-functional work teams in the successful completion & total ownership of design projects.

Proficiency in Omron PLC programming and hardware design, SCADA systems (i.e. Indusoft), control system architectures, communication networks (Ethernet I/P, Profibus, Modbus, etc.), and control system design principles.

Thorough understanding and hands-on experience using design software (i.e. Autodesk and Solidworks products or equivalent) and the ability to read, understand, and create drawings, flowcharts, schematics, as it relates to control system design documentation.

Familiarity with automated equipment (robots) from Fanuc and Universal Robots.

Embodies a strong character of accountability and leadership, exemplifying project ownership and management skills.

Exhibits excellent problem-solving skills, sound decision making abilities, and demonstrated ability to meet deadlines in a team-oriented environment.

Demonstrates self-confidence and the ability to interface with multiple departments, consultants, and contractors.

Holds a solid understanding of software development, computer programming and troubleshooting.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & POTENTIAL HAZARDS:

The work environmental characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while…