Manufacturing Automation Engineer

Highwood USA is an entrepreneurial manufacturer serving the hot tub and outdoor furniture market with unique synthetic wood products.  The company has grown each year and continues to increase both its revenues and workforce.

Position Summary:  

Successful Manufacturing /Automation Engineers enjoy the challenges of working in a small engineering team environment to develop and implement creative new technologies for fabrication of outdoor products that enable next generation products for the company.  The Manufacturing/Automation Engineer will be responsible for the design and build of machinery and control systems including pneumatic and electrical controls for the automation of assembly tasks.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

• Design, develop, and build automation (robotics, Arduino, PLC) systems for the manufacturing processes.

• Develop new and modify existing PLC or HMI applications, interfaces, or embedded controls.

• Develop 3D CAD (AutoCAD/Inventor) models of equipment and machinery.

• Demonstrated ability to creatively design equipment, fixtures, and manufacturing processes.

• Build prototypes of all new equipment and test these for efficacy.

• Develop new fabrication technologies that enable the next generation of products.

• Identify, explore, and develop new manufacturing methods, including a diverse array of technologies, from bending and welding/joining to printing, cutting, and automation.

• Ability to develop CNC programs a plus.

• Provide training to technicians and manufacturing personnel on equipment/processes.

• Provide engineering support to production teams for existing processes.

• Participate in cost and waste reduction efforts including product / process improvements.

• Work closely with vendors for new designs or resolving issues with existing designs.

Essential Functions    

• Effectively lead projects, ensuring the right technical resources are utilized and projects are completed in an agreed upon timeframe

• Participate in cross-functional project teams with product design, marketing, sales, materials, operations, quality/business systems, etc. Familiar with design for manufacturing, employ LEAN concepts in all efforts to ensure new processes are efficient, reliable, and promote quality production.

• Strong background and knowledge of manufacturing “best practices” including an understanding of location appropriate levels of automation taking into consideration international location labor rates, and skill sets.

• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to work at all levels of the organization.

• Excellent data analysis skills—proficient at turning data into information and knowledge.

• Effective communication, both verbally and in writing, to affect decision making and keep the organization informed.

• Able to make presentations to various internal groups.

• Establish clear priorities and are enthusiastic about delivering accurate and timely results that add value.

• Committed to making positive changes, but remaining flexible and able to adapt to company growth and evolving responsibilities

• Able to work autonomously once given a task and be self-directed

• Able to work within a team environment as well as independently

• Interested in company results

• Treat people with respect

• Commitment to working safely

• Proficient MS Office Suite skills and keyboarding skills

Qualifications update as needed

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily as well as the ability to handle situations by working as a team.

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience                                                

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering; or extensive Mechatronic education

• Minimum 3 years of industry experience with designing processes and building equipment including pneumatics, electrical controls, and mechanical components for the automation of industrial tasks.

• Minimum 3 years of PLC programming, CNC programming a plus

• Minimum 3 years of CAD Solid Modeling (Inventor, Solidworks, or equivalent)

• Experience with manufacturing processes including CNC routing, profile extrusion, fabrication and assembly is a plus. The ideal candidate will be familiar with woodworking, plastics, and furniture elements.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the responsibilities of the job, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to sit and use his or her hands and fingers, to handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to accurately compare color and pattern of products to quality control standards. Frequent requirement for attention to detail; prolonged use of a computer terminal, telephones and other electronic equipment. The employee must be able to lift and /or move up to 50 pounds. 

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to occasionally loud and PPE is required. Appropriate hearing protection while in the plant is required as noise levels within the facility meet OSHA requirements for hearing protection equipment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Manufacturing Automation Engineers typically work between an office environment and the production floor, but the purpose of the project may sometimes take them to non-standard workplaces. The noise level in the work environment can be loud. 

Highwood provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by the law.   This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.