Senior Principal Automation Technician

Senior Principal Automation Technician

Shift: 1st shift

Location: Valley City, Northeast Ohio, USA

Swagelok is a global organization and one of the largest employers of manufacturing talent in Northeast Ohio. We are driven by core values of Quality, Integrity, Respect for the Individual, Customer Focus, Innovation, and Continuous Improvement. For 75 years, our dedication to our core values has been the foundation for our success. Our products have been used up into space, down into the ocean, and everywhere in between.

That dedication extends to our customers.

We strive to be a company where we thrive in a culture that promotes learning and development, with a true sense of purpose and belonging.

Position Summary: The Senior Principal Automation Technician is an advanced technical role focused on expert-level troubleshooting, system optimization, and system design across complex automation systems. The position handles challenging technical issues, optimizes automation systems to improve performance, reliability, and efficiency, and works with engineering teams for seamless integration. The role involves mentoring a team of technicians, leading long‑term automation projects, and influencing strategic direction related to automation.

• Mentor a team of technicians, fostering an environment of growth, collaboration, and technical excellence.
• Design, integrate, and optimize complex automation systems to enhance operational efficiency and reliability.
• Provide expert-level troubleshooting and support for complex automation systems, driving problem resolution and continuous improvement.
• Lead automation projects and installations, ensuring they meet specifications.
• Modify, reverse engineer, and optimize existing automation systems to improve functionality and performance.
• Provide leadership and guidance for long‑term automation projects, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Enhance comprehensive documentation and report system performance regularly.
• Recommend and influence improvements for automated system solutions, including electrical, controls, robotic, pneumatic, and mechanical systems.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to optimize and improve automation systems (PLCs, robots, vision systems) for better efficiency, quality, and reliability.
• Influence decision‑making and strategic planning regarding automation systems and technological innovations.
• Oversee the development of new automation systems from conceptual design through implementation and optimization.
• Ensure all automation systems and projects comply with safety, quality, and regulatory standards.
• Proactively identify opportunities for continuous improvement and implement solutions to enhance system performance and reduce downtime.
• Apply engineering theory, practices, and principles to perform failure analysis to determine root cause of equipment failures and conduct machinery performance evaluations.
• Lead technical communication and quotations with 3rd‑party automation/integrator vendors.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with other groups such as Operations, IT, Sourcing, and stakeholders as needed.
• Contribute to training and development activities to stay current with new automation technologies.

• 2‑year associate’s degree in a related field (Mechanical Engineering Technology, Robotics, Mechatronics, Controls, or other automation fields) or 2 additional years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in automation and controls engineering.
• Manufacturing, assembly, and/or warehouse experience preferred.
• Advanced technical courses or on‑the‑job training in related field.
• Extensive experience leading automation projects, system integrations, and troubleshooting complex automation issues.
• Excellent user of moderately technical tools.
• Subject matter expert (SME) in areas of expertise.
• Demonstrates excellent communication, programming, and troubleshooting skills.
• Strong computer and office software skills.
• Excellent written communication skills.

• Service Orientation
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Resilience
• Enabling Change
• Managing…