Mold & Automation Technician

Be yourself at Protolabs

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to building a diverse team that feels they are valued in the workplace. So do you feel you do not meet every single requirement but still intrigued? We encourage you to still apply!

You can help make our company even better. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, age, mental or physical ability, or any way you represent yourself. We strongly believe diversity makes for more successful teams.

We are the leaders in digital manufacturing. We hire doers, makers, and creative thinkers who tackle our roles with an entrepreneurial spirit. Our culture is centered around meaningful work that brings new and innovative products to market at unprecedented speeds. We are a diverse team that comes from all walks of life and take pride in our team who is smart, genuine, humble, and passionate about what we do.

It’s our people who fuel our creativity and make our culture feel like home.

The Automation Technician is responsible for contributing to efforts aimed at developing and implementing optimal, cost-effective manufacturing processes and methods in accordance with product specifications and quality standards. Provide guidance to improve proficiency in automation.

• Be a member of cross-disciplinary teams developing and improving manufacturing automation processes. Identify opportunities for cost saving or expanded automation capabilities.
• Help develop automation concepts and apply analytical techniques to support decision processes.
• Initiate, design, and develop automation strategies for new processes.
• Troubleshoot production problems in terms of automation as needed. Identify automation bottlenecks and quality issues. Identify potential design improvements and alternatives in terms of press/manufacturing automation.
• Collaborate with engineering department and automation team to enhance and debug processes, tooling, and new products.
• Support area as "Automation Molding Subject Matter Expert", who thoroughly knows equipment and processes as it relates to automation.
• Mentor and train Associate Mold Process Technicians and Mold Process Technicians on automation set-up, troubleshooting & creative automation solutions.
• Flexibility to change schedule hours and support off shift for automation evaluations and training mold techs.
• Help to design and implement ergonomics solutions as part of the automation process.
• Meet with the Shift Supervisor and other Process Technicians to discuss all issues relating to automation on the shop floor.
• Ensure presses are running correct cycle time and match what is documented.
• Perform thorough part inspections and make appropriate decisions relative to part quality requirements.
• Request, evaluate and monitor mold modifications and repair through the rework system.
• Build communication relationships with Build, Designers, Engineers, CSEs and Supervisors.
• In relation to Automation, ensure mold is set properly and document set‑up.
• Accurately record process specifications onto cycle sheets.
• Adhere to all quality and safety standards within the department.
• Maintain clean and organized work area with emphasis on safety, quality, efficiency, and utilization.
• Continually seek to improve work processes and individual performance.
• Develop, optimize (incorporating design of experiments), stabilize, and troubleshoot injection molding processes using a wide variety of engineered and commodity type resins on a wide range of injection molding machinery.

• Minimum 2‑year technical degree or 4 years of equivalent experience in molding.
• 1 year experience in automation implementation experience.

• Strong written and oral communication skills: able to communicate complex technical information to all levels of the organization, able to clearly present data in written and verbal form.
• Exhibit leadership skills that…