Location: San Antonio, TX
Automation / Robot Specialist - Position Summary
The Automation / Robot Specialist serves as the technical owner of automation performance within manufacturing operations. This role is responsible for developing, integrating, optimizing, and troubleshooting PLCs, robotics, vision systems, motion controls, safety systems, and industrial communication networks to achieve production targets related to cycle time, throughput, quality, and uptime. The specialist will provide hands-on support during equipment installation, commissioning, production launches, and stabilization efforts while driving continuous improvement and eliminating recurring equipment failures through structured root-cause analysis.
This position is ideal for an engineer with a strong controls and automation background who enjoys troubleshooting complex manufacturing systems, improving automation performance, and supporting production in a fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Own automation system performance and drive continuous improvements in cycle time, throughput, quality, and equipment uptime.
- Develop, modify, test, and troubleshoot PLC, HMI, robot, vision, motion-control, safety, and supporting automation programs.
- Optimize robot paths, motion profiles, process sequencing, alarms, interlocks, and recovery routines.
- Perform root-cause analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions for chronic equipment and process issues.
- Configure, validate, calibrate, and maintain vision systems, sensors, servo systems, and error-proofing devices.
- Support equipment installation, commissioning, launch activities, and post-launch stabilization.
- Conduct offline programming, reach studies, cycle-time simulations, risk assessments, and system validation.
- Maintain technical documentation, network diagrams, backups, and version-control practices.
- Train maintenance and production personnel and provide a smooth transition to sustainment teams.
- Track performance metrics including cycle-time achievement, uptime, labor reduction, and repeat-failure elimination.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, Controls Engineering, or a related technical field.
- 2-3+ years of experience as a Controls Engineer, Automation Engineer, Automation Specialist, or similar role.
- Hands-on experience in industrial automation and manufacturing environments.
- Experience with machine vision systems and FANUC robots.
- Strong troubleshooting and programming experience with FANUC Robotics and Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation PLCs. This is a must-have requirement.
- Experience developing and troubleshooting PLC, HMI, motion control, safety, and automation systems.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to diagnose complex automation issues.
Preferred Qualifications
- Automotive manufacturing experience is preferred but not required.
- Experience supporting production launches, commissioning activities, and equipment stabilization.
- Experience working with industrial networking protocols and system integration.
- Familiarity with version control systems such as Git or SVN.
- Experience with Factory I/O, FlexSim, or similar simulation tools.
Technical Requirements
PLC, HMI, Motion & Safety Controls
Rockwell Automation ControlLogix
Studio 5000
Ladder Logic, Structured Text, and Function Block Diagrams
FactoryTalk View HMI
RSLinx Communications
Add-On Instructions
Kinetix Motion Control
GuardLogix Safety Programming
Industrial Robotics
Expert-level FANUC Robot Programming
TP Programming
KAREL Programming
Robot Calibration and Mastering
Motion Optimization
FANUC Roboguide
WinOLPC
Collaborative Robots (CR Series)
Force Sensing and Synchronized Motion
Vision Systems
FANUC iRVision (2D/3D)
Keyence CV-X
Cognex In-Sight / VisionPro
OCR, Pattern Matching, Edge Detection, Blob Analysis
Multi-Camera Inspection Systems
Error-Proofing and Validation Systems
Industrial Networking
EtherNet/IP
Profinet
Profibus
Modbus RTU
RS-232
OPC UA
PRIMARY LOCATION
Avanzar San Antonio Facility
Job description provided by Adient.
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