Food Processing Automation Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Regular Full Time Manufacturing St. Joseph, MI, US

Automation Engineer

For over 90 years, LECO has been a leader in the development and production of world class laboratory instruments delivering state-of-the-art products nationwide and across the globe. Located in St. Joseph, Michigan, LECO continues to be a family-owned company that understands the value of shared interests, long-term stability, loyalty, and trust.

Schedule:Monday through Friday, 7am to 3:30pm.

Position Summary:

The Automation Engineer analyzes existing manufacturing processes and identifies areas of opportunities for automation. This position will identify, specify, develop, implement, and maintain automated systems and processes that improve operational efficiency, product quality, and system reliability. A strong technical expertise in industrial automation, control systems, robotics, PLC programming, and process optimization within a manufacturing or industrial environment is desired.

The ability to build trust with floor operators and management is a must as these systems will be integrated with existing manufacturing personnel. This role requires excellent skills in cross-functional collaboration, project management, problem-solving, and the ability to lead automation projects from concept through implementation.

Position Responsibilities:

• Analyze existing processes and develop automation improvement solutions to increase efficiency, quality, and safety.
• Prioritize automation projects based on ROI.
• Identify and make recommendations to executive team on most beneficial projects to pursue.
• Once project is identified, establish equipment requirements, vendors, and personnel required to successfully design and deploy system.
• Coordinate with vendors, contractors, and internal stakeholders during project execution.
• Follow through with integration, testing, and commissioning of equipment.
• Monitor system performance and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Establish communication and trust with key stakeholders.
• Collaborate with engineering, production, maintenance, and quality teams to resolve technical issues.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation including electrical schematics, control narratives, SOPs, and validation protocols. +
• Support root cause analysis and corrective actions for automation-related failures.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, safety regulations, and company policies.

Key Skills

• Floor Credibility - build trust with operators and management
• Bottleneck Identification
• Identify waste and non-value-added activity
• PLC Programming
• SCADA & HMI Development
• Process Automation
• Electrical & Control Systems
• Project Management
• Technical Documentation

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, or related field.
• Experience in industrial automation and/or manufacturing engineering.
• Experience with robotics integration and motion control systems.
• Experience with PLC programming platforms such as Siemens, Allen-Bradley, or Schneider Electric.
• Experience with HMI and SCADA systems.
• Knowledge of industrial communication protocols including Ethernet/IP, Modbus, Profibus, or OPC.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical drawings, P&IDs, and technical specifications.
• Experience with troubleshooting automated equipment and control systems.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Knowledge of Industry 4.0, IIoT, and smart manufacturing technologies.
• Experience with vision systems and sensor integration.

Education/Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, or related field.