Senior Automation Engineer

Spectrum Killian Dental Lab Alliance (SKDLA) is a nationally recognized leader in restorative dentistry, passionate about helping people smile with confidence. We partner with dental professionals across the country to deliver world-class restorations, advanced dental equipment, and trusted services that make a difference for patients every day.

At SKDLA, we combine craftsmanship, cutting‑edge technology, and a deep commitment to quality to create beautiful, lasting results. More than just a dental lab, we are driven by the belief that every restoration represents a person’s confidence, comfort, and well‑being - and that’s a responsibility we take to heart.

Our operations are centered around two advanced Centers of Excellence located in Orange County and Los Angeles. This collaborative environment allows our skilled technicians to innovate, mentor one another, and consistently deliver outstanding results.

The Senior Automation Engineer is responsible for developing and implementing new materials, manufacturing processes, and automation opportunities that improve product quality, reduce cost, and increase manufacturing efficiency. This position acts as a bridge between R&D experimentation and scalable operational improvements ensuring that process innovations are validated before being transferred to the integration engine for deployment.

This person focuses on creating the future through new product platforms, advanced dental materials, digital dentistry workflow innovation, automation‑first process concepts, and early validation of emerging technologies that enhance the current manufacturing systems while operating under the following doctrine:

Move Fast. Rapidly explore and prototype new product and process ideas.

Fail Fast. Use micro‑pilots and prototypes to identify risk early.

Learn Fast. Leverage experimentation, feedback, and engineering data to iterate quickly.

Lock Stability Quickly. Deliver validates prototypes and defined process architectures before hand‑off to integration teams.

Protect Margin. Design products and workflows that reduce labor, improve yield, and scale efficiently.

• Lead the development of new dental product platforms, including restorations, prosthetics, digital workflows, and treatment solutions.
• Translate customer needs into engineering concepts and product designs.
• Develop prototype designs and proof-of-concept builds.

• Evaluate and develop next generation dental materials including ceramics, resins, hybrid materials, biomaterials, and additive manufacturing materials.
• Conduct material testing and performance analysis.
• Work with suppliers and research partners to evaluate emerging technologies.

• Design new manufacturing processes and digital workflows for future production systems.
• Develop prototype manufacturing processes that improve cycle time, labor efficiency, and quality.

• Lead rapid prototyping cycles to validate product and workflow concepts.
• Execute design iterations based on testing and feedback.
• Conduct feasibility studies for new technologies.

• Prepare validated innovations for transition into the Integration Engine that include validated prototype designs, process architecture definitions, design for manufacturability inputs, initial BOM structures, and technology risk assessments.

• Identify emerging technologies relevant to restorative dentistry including digital dentistry platforms, automation, additive manufacturing, advanced materials, AI-enabled workflows.
• Conduct technical feasibility assessments.

• Bachelor's degree in robotics engineering, mechanical engineering, mechatronics engineering, or related engineering discipline required.
• AI and Machine learning preferred.
• Materials science knowledge preferred.
• Lean/Six Sigma Belt certification a plus.

• 5+ years of experience in product development, advanced manufacturing, materials development, device engineering, R&D environments, and prototype development.
• Preferred experience in…