Automation Engineer - ABB Robotics & PLC Systems Integration

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer – Custom Robotic Cells & Machine Architecture

$100,000 – $120,000/yr • Brown Deer, WI Area (Northern Milwaukee County) • 1st Shift (Mon–Fri) • Direct-Hire

• Pay & Incentives: Base salary up to $120,000/yr based on custom machine design depth, backed by a comprehensive corporate health and retirement benefits package.
• Work Pattern/Schedule: Predictable 1st shift schedule (Monday – Friday), 100% onsite in a high-growth, modern manufacturing and engineering environment.
• Environment & Company Profile: Elite global OEM designing ground-up, complex custom automation and robotic cells; small, agile team of five Lead Engineers with design bays and assembly floor under one roof.
• Core Functional Scope: Ground-up machine architecture, SolidWorks large assemblies, custom robotic cell integration, high-speed pick-and-place, precision power transmission, pneumatics/hydraulics, and project leadership.
• Strict Requirements & Authorization: Requires BSME or 5–10 years of ground-up custom equipment design depth, expert SolidWorks fluency, US work authorization, and a local commute to Brown Deer, WI.

If you are a veteran machine designer or BSME looking to escape rigid corporate silos and repetitive product tweaks, this direct-hire role provides an exceptional technical home. Our client is a high-growth, international OEM designing ground-up, complex custom automation and robotic cells for global market leaders across North America and Europe.

Operating in a 100% SolidWorks environment as one of five Lead Engineers, you will enjoy the unique privilege of watching your custom mechanical creations manufactured, wired, and assembled right on-site with an immediate feedback loop from machinists, builders, and controls engineers. Offering high technical autonomy, zero micromanagement, and a clear path toward senior leadership, this position is built for an inventive engineer who thrives on solving complex industrial puzzles.

What You Will Be Doing (Daily Responsibilities)

• Ground-Up Machine Architecture: Lead mechanical design integrity and engineering accuracy for high-speed, multi-axis automated machinery and robotic work cells.
• Conceptual Design & Quoting: Develop concepts and collaborate with Project Managers to brainstorm cost-effective, high-performance automated solutions.
• Project & Team Leadership: Break down complex design scopes into milestones, guiding internal detailers/designers and coordinating with external fabrication partners.
• Fluid Power & Drive Systems: Integrate fluid power and drive mechanics, applying advanced engineering principles to select hydraulics, pneumatics, and servo systems.
• Design Reviews & Safety Verification: Conduct early-stage design reviews to eliminate safety hazards, pinch points, and ergonomic issues prior to shop release.
• Client & Assembly Floor Collaboration: Serve as technical contact for global clients while managing strict BOM engineering releases and resolving assembly floor issues in real time.

What We Are Looking For (Requirements & Qualifications)

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) or 5–10 years of verifiable, ground-up custom equipment design experience in heavy machinery or high-speed automation.
• SolidWorks Expertise: Expert fluency modeling large assemblies, managing configurations, and drafting production-ready drawings in SolidWorks.
• Manufacturing Acuity: Practical understanding of structural weldments (GMAW/GTAW), material selection, machine shop processes, and precision machining tolerances.
• Project Management & Career Stability: Proven history of maintaining project schedules and budgets, paired with a solid employment history showing strong tenure.
• Local Residency: US Citizen or Green Card holder residing within a dependable daily driving radius of Brown Deer / Northern Milwaukee County, WI.

Preferred Technical Assets (Bonus Skills)

• Robotic Cell Integration: Hands-on experience designing end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) and integrating Fanuc or ABB robotic arms into automated lines.
• International Standards: Familiarity with European machinery safety standards (CE marking, ISO/ISO 13849 safety integration).
• Cross-Functional Design: Background working directly alongside controls engineers to co-design servo-driven motion profiles and sensor placement.