Automation Engineering Leader

Company: Saelens LLC
Department: Engineering
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Position: Full-time, salaried

Salary: Competitive base salary with a performance-based bonus opportunity

Key Responsibilities
• Develop and execute the automation and controls roadmap for autonomous manufacturing cells.
• Lead automation projects from concept and equipment selection through integration, commissioning, and production handoff.
• Design and integrate robotics, PLC and HMI controls, machine vision, sensors, motion systems, and machine-safety systems.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, IT, and outside integrators.
• Create consistent automation standards, equipment specifications, documentation, and change-control practices.
• Use throughput, cycle time, scrap, downtime, labor efficiency, and return on investment to prioritize projects and measure results.
• Troubleshoot complex automation issues and ensure systems are reliable, maintainable, and scalable.
• Share technical knowledge and help build automation capabilities across the organization.

Requirements

Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in electrical, controls, mechanical, mechatronics, robotics, or manufacturing engineering; equivalent experience will be considered.
• Seven or more years of industrial automation experience, including responsibility for manufacturing-cell projects.
• Strong knowledge of PLC and HMI platforms, industrial robotics, machine vision, motion control, industrial networks, and machine safety.
• Experience working with automation integrators, equipment manufacturers, and technical vendors.
• Ability to balance technical requirements, operational needs, project schedules, cost, and risk.
• Strong communication, project leadership, and hands-on problem-solving skills.

How Success Will Be Measured
• A clear and practical automation roadmap is established.
• Priority autonomous-cell projects launch safely and meet performance expectations.
• Automation standards are consistently applied across projects.
• Equipment reliability, throughput, quality, and labor efficiency improve.
• Internal teams develop the skills needed to support and improve automated systems.

Benefits: We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes insurance coverage, paid time off, paid holidays, a 401(k) with employer match, tuition reimbursement, and additional voluntary benefits.