Junior Automation Engineer Jobs in Riverside, CA

At Niagara, we're looking for Team Members who want to be part of achieving our mission to provide our customers the highest quality most affordable bottled water.

Consider applying here, if you want to:

• Work in an entrepreneurial and dynamic environment with a chance to make an impact.
• Develop lasting relationships with great people.
• Have the opportunity to build a satisfying career.

We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages for our Team Members.

This mid-level role is responsible for leading and executing automation initiatives across manufacturing plants, including systems that integrate AIenabled capabilities directly into solutions. The Automation Engineer II designs programs and troubleshoots complex automation systems spanning multiple equipment OEMs and technology generations. The role emphasizes technical independence, project leadership, and the ability to mentor junior engineers, with the expectation of driving significant improvements in automation and efficiency. Drive automation solutions from concept through commissioning, requiring minimal daytoday supervision. This role leverages operational data and AIassisted analytics to improve system reliability, performance, and decisionmaking across automation platforms.

Essential Functions

Automation Design and Implementation

• Own the programming, testing, and maintenance of PLC, HMI, and control systems
• Independently plan and execute automation projects, escalating only when scope, safety, or cost thresholds are exceeded
• Incorporate datadriven and AIassisted insights when selecting architectures, defining controls strategies, or evaluating automation design tradeoffs
• Design, implement, and support automation solutions that may incorporate AIenabled components such as machine vision, adaptive control, intelligent inspection, optimization logic, or vendorembedded AI systems
• Exercise sound engineering judgment to identify risk, scope, or architectural decisions that require escalation
• Oversee the commissioning and validation of new equipment and upgrades
• Apply established control standards, programming practices, and validation approaches consistently
• Provide feedback and improvement proposals to leadership on standards, tooling, and repeatable patterns
• Contribute reusable code, documentation, and templates to shared automation libraries

Engineering Judgment and Decision Making

• Make independent technical decisions within defined project and system boundaries
• Proactively identify risks, edge cases, and failure modes before commissioning
• Clearly document assumptions, trade-offs, and rationale when proposing solutions

Troubleshooting and Maintenance

• Serve as the primary technical authority for complex automation failures, performing root cause analysis and defining corrective actions
• Collaborate with maintenance and production teams to resolve complex technical issues
• Document and standardize changes and updates to control systems

Data Analysis and Process Improvement

• Independently identify, prioritize, and implement automation improvement opportunities using operational data
• Design methods to capture and store data points for post execution validations and tracking
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance safety, quality, and efficiency

Collaboration and Compliance

• While collaborating crossfunctionally, maintains ownership of automation decisions within assigned systems and projects
• Ensure compliance with safety standards, company policies, and regulatory requirements

• Please note this job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without prior notice.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications:
  • 2 Years - Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, or related field.
  • Proven experience with PLCs, control systems, and industrial automation.
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
  • Provide day-to-day technical guidance to junior engineers.

*experience may include a combination of work experience and education

• List if any travel is required using percentage of time:
  • 50% - on average

• Preferred Qualifications:
  • 4 years of experience in automation, controls, or manufacturing.
  • Proficiency with Rockwell, Siemens, or similar PLC platforms.
  • Familiarity with governing, validating, and supporting automation systems that include AIbased decision logic or learning components.
  • Experience with SCADA systems, HMIs, and industrial networks.
  • Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologies.
  • Professional Engineering (PE) license or relevant certifications.

*experience may include a combination of work experience and education

• Minimum Required:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, or related field.

• Preferred:
  • Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, or related field.

Certification/License:

• Required:None Required
• Preferred:None Required

Foreign Language

• Required:None Required
• Preferred:None Required

Typical Compensation Range

Benefits

Our Total Rewards package is thoughtfully designed to support both you and your family:

Regular full-time team members are offered a comprehensive benefits package, while part-time, intern, and seasonal team members are offered a limited benefits package.

• Paid Time Off for holidays, sick time, and vacation time
• Paid parental and caregiver leaves
• Medical, including virtual care options
• Dental
• Vision
• 401(k) with company match
• Health Savings Account with company match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Expanded mental wellbeing benefits including free counseling sessions for all team members and household family members
• Family Building Benefits including enhanced fertilitybenefits for IVF and fertility preservation plus adoption, surrogacy, and Doula reimbursements
• Income protection including Life and AD&D, short and long-term disability, critical illness and an accident plan
• Special discount programs including pet plans, pre-paid legal services, identity theft, car rental, airport parking, etc.
• Tuition reimbursement, college savings plan and scholarship opportunities
• And more!

https://careers.niagarawater.com/us/en/benefits

* *Los Angeles County applicants only** Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the California Fair Chance Act, and any other applicable local and state laws.

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