Automation integrator

Automation Integrator

The Automation Integrator is responsible for designing, programming, integrating, troubleshooting, and continuously improving industrial automation and control systems throughout the Metals manufacturing facilities. This position supports automated production equipment, robotics, PLC-controlled machinery, servo systems, variable frequency drives, machine vision, and manufacturing software integrations. The ideal candidate combines strong controls-engineering expertise with practical manufacturing experience and can lead automation projects from concept and system design through programming, commissioning, training, and long-term support.

This individual will work closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Operations, Quality, IT, equipment manufacturers, and external integrators to improve safety, equipment reliability, productivity, quality, and overall plant performance.

• Design, program, configure, and troubleshoot programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human-machine interfaces (HMIs), industrial computers, and machine-control systems.
• Develop, modify, and maintain PLC programs using ladder logic, structured text, function block diagrams, and other applicable programming languages.
• Integrate automation equipment with robotics, machine vision, sensors, safety devices, data-acquisition systems, and plant software platforms.
• Program and optimize robotic systems for applications such as material handling, machine tending, assembly, inspection, packaging, and palletizing.
• Configure, commission, and troubleshoot servo motors, servo drives, variable frequency drives (VFDs), encoders, motion-control systems, and industrial communication networks.
• Develop control-system architecture, electrical schematics, panel layouts, I/O lists, sequences of operation, and functional design specifications.
• Ensure automation systems comply with applicable electrical, machinery-safety, and controls-engineering standards.

• Integrate production equipment with manufacturing software, including MES, ERP, SCADA, historian, quality-management, and maintenance-management systems.
• Establish reliable communication between PLCs, robots, databases, industrial computers, and business applications.
• Configure and support industrial communication protocols and networks such as Ethernet/IP, Profinet, Modbus TCP, OPC UA, Device Net, and other applicable platforms.
• Develop automated data collection and reporting capabilities for production output, cycle time, downtime, scrap, quality, and equipment performance.
• Collaborate with IT and cybersecurity teams to ensure secure connectivity, user-access controls, backups, and system recovery procedures.

• Lead automation projects from initial concept through design, programming, installation, validation, and production launch.
• Develop project scopes, technical requirements, schedules, budgets, risk assessments, and commissioning plans.
• Review technical proposals and control-system designs submitted by equipment manufacturers and third-party integrators.
• Participate in factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, equipment runoff, and final commissioning.
• Verify that new equipment meets established requirements for safety, quality, cycle time, reliability, maintainability, and production capacity.
• Manage contractors and external integrators while maintaining ownership of technical standards and project deliverables.
• Provide advanced technical support for automation-related equipment failures and production interruptions.
• Use structured problem-solving methods to identify root causes and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Improve equipment uptime, cycle time, first-pass yield, changeover performance, and overall equipment effectiveness.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual or repetitive processes while maintaining appropriate safety and quality controls.
• Partner with Operations and Maintenance to reduce recurring downtime and improve equipment reliability.
• Establish preventive and predictive maintenance requirements for automation and control systems.