Automation Engineer

Position Summary

For over 90 years, LECO has been a leader in the development and production of world class laboratory instruments delivering state-of-the-art products nationwide and across the globe. Located in St. Joseph, Michigan, LECO continues to be a family-owned company that understands the value of shared interests, long-term stability, loyalty, and trust.

Position Responsibilities

• Analyze existing processes and develop automation improvement solutions to increase efficiency, quality, and safety.
• Prioritize automation projects based on ROI.
• Identify and make recommendations to executive team on most beneficial projects to pursue.
• Once project is identified, establish equipment requirements, vendors, and personnel required to successfully design and deploy system.
• Cook up with vendors, contractors, and internal stakeholders during project execution.
• Follow through with integration, testing, and commissioning of equipment.
• Maintain system performance and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Establish communication and trust with key stakeholders.
• Collaborate with engineering, production, maintenance, and quality teams to resolve technical issues.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation including electrical schematics, control narratives, SOPs, and validation protocols.
• +Support root cause analysis and corrective actions for automation-related failures.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, safety regulations, and company policies.

Key Skills

• Floor Credibility - build trust with operators and management
• Bottleneck Identification
• Identify waste and non-value-added activity
• PLC Programming
• SCADA & HMI Development
• Industrial Robotics
• Process Automation
• Troubleshooting & Diagnostics
• Electrical & Control Systems
• Project Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Technical Documentation
• Communication & Team Collaboration

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, or related field.
• Experience in industrial automation and/or manufacturing engineering.
• Experience with robotics integration and motion control systems.
• Experience with PLC programming platforms such as Siemens, Allen-Bradley, or Schneider Electric.
• Experience with HMI and SCADA systems.
• Knowledge of industrial communication protocols including Ethernet/IP, Modbus, Profibus, or OPC.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical drawings, P&IDs, and technical specifications.
• Experience with troubleshooting automated equipment and control systems.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Knowledge of Industry 4.0, IIoT, and smart manufacturing technologies.
• Experience with vision systems and sensor integration.