Automation Robotics Engineer

Job Title: Automation Robotics EngineerJob Description

The Automation Robotics Engineer plays a key role on a high-impact automation team that leads, supports, implements, and manages complex automation and advanced manufacturing initiatives.

This role drives innovation, standardization, and continuous improvement across multiple manufacturing operations in North America, delivering cutting-edge automation and robotics solutions that enhance productivity, safety, quality, and system reliability.

• 30%-50% travel, typically short frequent trips for training, project work, plant start ups

• Innovation, operational excellence, and continuous improvement, offering exposure to diverse manufacturing processes, automation platforms, and system integrators, along with strong company benefits and opportunities for ongoing technical and leadership development.

Responsibilities

• Lead, support, implement, and manage complex automation and advanced manufacturing initiatives across multiple manufacturing sites in North America.

• Design and implement automation cells, ensuring they meet performance, safety, and quality requirements while aligning with established automation standards.

• Establish, maintain, and continuously improve automation standards across multiple facilities to drive consistency and operational excellence.

• Own automation projects from concept through deployment, including requirements definition, system design support (mechanical and electrical), installation, commissioning, and ongoing operational support.

• Serve as a technical subject matter expert in automation and robotics, providing project leadership and technical guidance to internal teams and external system integrators.

• Support plant startups by commissioning new automation systems and ensuring smooth integration into production environments.

• Train operational and plant-level teams on newly deployed automation systems, including safe operation, basic troubleshooting, and maintenance practices.

• Deliver automation and robotics solutions that measurably improve productivity, safety, quality, uptime, and overall system reliability.

• Perform hands-on integration, programming, troubleshooting, maintenance, and repair of FANUC and Universal Robots (UR) systems.

• Develop and modify HMI applications to support operator usability, system monitoring, and efficient troubleshooting.

• Read and interpret electrical schematics to diagnose and resolve equipment and system issues in a timely manner.

• Establish and track performance metrics to improve equipment uptime, reliability, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

• Apply contingency planning and disaster recovery strategies to automation systems to minimize downtime and production risk.

• Conduct automation risk assessments to identify hazards, evaluate risk levels, and recommend appropriate mitigation measures.

• Mentor and train controls and automation engineers at the plant level to build local technical capability and support knowledge transfer.

• Collaborate effectively with engineering, operations, and support teams to ensure successful project execution and stable production performance.

• Support production operations as needed by troubleshooting automation issues and implementing corrective and preventive actions.

• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, including improvement events, improvement walks, and error-proofing projects focused on safety, quality, and efficiency.

Essential Skills

• 3-5 years of experience in an automation, robotics, or controls engineering role.

• Hands-on experience with FANUC and UR robots (Integration, programming, troubleshooting, maintenance, and repair).

• Proven ability to manage small to medium automation projects, including retrofits and safety upgrades, from concept through deployment.

• Strong electrical and mechanical troubleshooting capabilities in an automated manufacturing environment.

• Strong knowledge of Allen-Bradley PLC platforms, including MicroLogix and CompactLogix, using RSLogix 500, RSLogix 5000, and Studio 5000.

• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics to diagnose and resolve equipment and system issues.

• Experience completing automation risk assessments to support safe system design and operation.

• Ability to mentor and train controls and automation engineers and operational staff.

"Nice to have" Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) or Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) systems.

• Interest in ongoing technical and leadership development within automation and advanced manufacturing.

Work Environment

This role operates within advanced manufacturing environments that utilize cutting-edge automation and robotics technologies.

The position involves regular interaction with production equipment, robotic cells, PLC-controlled systems, HMIs, and related industrial control hardware.

The engineer will collaborate closely with engineering, operations, and support teams, as well as external system integrators, across multiple North American manufacturing sites.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Grand Rapids, MI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $100000.00 - $150000.00/yr.

Lear Corporation - Employee Benefits Overview Health & Insurance Benefits Medical insurance Dental insurance Vision insurance Life insurance Short-term and long-term disability coverage Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) Retirement & Financial Benefits 401(k) retirement plan with employer contributions Profit sharing Defined contribution and defined benefit pension plans (role/location dependent) Paid Time Off & Leave Paid holidays Paid vacation time Paid sick leave Paid maternity leave (availability varies by region)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Grand Rapids,MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 22, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.