Automation Engineer II

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. Automation Engineer II This mid‑level role is responsible for leading and executing automation initiatives across manufacturing plants, including systems that integrate AI‑enabled capabilities directly into solutions. Responsibilities Design, program, test, and maintain PLC, HMI, and control systems. Plan and execute automation projects independently, escalating only when scope, safety, or cost thresholds are exceeded. Incorporate data‑driven and AI‑assisted insights when selecting architectures, defining control strategies, or evaluating automation design trade‑offs. Design, implement, and support automation solutions that may incorporate AI‑enabled components such as machine vision, adaptive control, intelligent inspection, optimization logic, or vendor‑embedded AI systems. Exercise sound engineering judgment to identify risk, scope, or architectural decisions that require escalation. Oversee 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. 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. 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. 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. Ensure compliance with safety standards, company policies, and regulatory requirements. Qualifications Minimum Qualifications: 2 years of experience; 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. Travel: 50% average. Preferred: 4 years of experience in automation, controls, or manufacturing; proficiency with Rockwell, Siemens, or similar PLC platforms; experience with AI‑based decision logic or learning components; SCADA systems, HMIs, and industrial networks; Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologies; Professional Engineering license or relevant certifications. Compensation & Benefits Typical Compensation Range: Salary $87,360.12 – $126,672.19 per year. Benefits include paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, Health Savings Account with company match, Flexible Spending Accounts, mental wellbeing benefits, family building benefits, life and disability coverage, and special discount programs. Niagara Bottling LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in relation to our recruiting, hiring, and promoting practices. #J-18808-Ljbffr Niagara Bottling