Automation Engineer

MISSION

Build and own the automation layer that turns FI's floor from manual cells into instrumented, autonomous capacity — designing, integrating, and commissioning robotic and controls systems that hold takt, feed our data backbone, and pay back the capital that bought them.

OUTCOMES — What Success Looks Like in 6–12 Months

• Cells scoped, justified, and on order within the first 90 days — robots, end-effectors, safety architecture, and material presentation defined against a real bottleneck, with a healthy payback.
• Cells commissioned and running at rated takt with first-pass yield and uptime instrumented and streaming data by the first 6 months.
• A repeatable cell-design and commissioning playbook in place by 12 months: standard robots/controls/safety stack, fixturing conventions, FAT/SAT acceptance criteria, so the next cells are a configuration.
• Cells live across distinct process steps, with measured OEE gains and a prioritized automation roadmap tied to where labor, variability, or ergonomics are optimized.

Skills

• Hands-on robotics integration (6-axis and/or collaborative): cell layout, reach/payload sizing, end-effector and fixture design, path optimization, and machine-tending integration.
• Controls and PLC programming (ladder/structured text), HMI development, servo/motion, sensor and vision integration, and tying cell data into higher-level systems.
• Machine safety: risk assessment, safeguarding design, and functional safety conforming to recognized standards — you design it in, not bolt it on.
• Capital justification: building the cost/takt/yield/payback case for an automation investment and defending it to people who control the money.
• Commissioning discipline: FAT/SAT, acceptance criteria, debug methodology, and the documentation that lets someone other than you keep the cell running.

COMPETENCIES

• Accountability — You own outcomes. If something's off track, you say so and fix it.
• Bias for action — You ship. You iterate. You move toward the hard thing.
• Clarity of communication — Direct and concise, especially when it counts.
• Learning agility — You get up to speed fast in unfamiliar territory.
• Resilience — You stay sharp when things are hard, ambiguous, or moving fast.
• High standards — You raise the bar rather than match it — and hold yourself to it first.
• Building from zero — You can stand up a mechanical engineering function from scratch — drawing standards, analysis practices, release discipline — and run it yourself until there’s a team to hand it off to.

COMPENSATION

The compensation package includes base, bonus, and equity to reflect impact, responsibility, and results, with meaningful upside for the people who help build and scale this company.

COMPANY VALUES

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Foundational complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

FOUNDATIONAL IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

We evaluate every candidate on what they can do and who they are.