Automation Engineer, Nampa ID

About the role

This role supports the reliability, performance, and continuous improvement of automated material handling systems across distribution centers. The Automation Engineer partners with vendors, system integrators, maintenance, and operations to keep material flowing safely and efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate documentation of system configurations, network/electrical drawings, change logs, and SOPs.
• Manage issue escalation paths and SLAs with equipment OEMs and software vendors.
• Coordinate vendor interventions, ensuring alignment with operations windows and safety requirements.
• Plan and coordinate remote and on-site vendor interventions.
• Build and maintain performance dashboards (e.g., OEE, backlog, flow rates, choke-point analysis).
• Identify recurring faults and systemic constraints; recommend and prioritize improvements with quantified impact.
• Partner with maintenance to drive preventive/predictive strategies and update PM tasks based on failure analysis.
• Support handoffs and integrations between WMS, WES, WCS, robotics, and conveyance systems; participate in FAT/SAT, commissioning, and ramp.
• Draft user requirements, acceptance criteria, and rollback plans for changes; coordinate cutovers and smoke tests.
• Contribute to simulation/modeling reviews to validate expected rates and buffer strategies.
• Operate under tiered, site-specific access policies.

Requirements

• Experience: 1–3 years’ experience in automation, controls, industrial engineering, or reliability in distribution/logistics or manufacturing.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field (Electrical, Controls, Mechatronics, Industrial, or related) preferred. Technical diploma, apprenticeship, or relevant vendor certifications (e.g., Siemens SITRAIN, Rockwell University) considered in lieu of a four-year degree.
• Preferred Knowledge, Skills Or Abilities: Systems thinking across conveyors, robotics/ASRS, WES/WMS, and control layers; proficiency pulling and analyzing operational data; understanding of industrial networking fundamentals.

Qualifications

• Experience coordinating OEMs/integrators and closing out technical tickets to measurable outcomes.
• Systems thinking across conveyors, robotics/ASRS, WES/WMS, and control layers.
• Proficiency pulling and analyzing operational data; familiarity with SQL, Python, R, or BI tools (e.g., Power BI/Tableau) is a plus.
• Strong problem-solving, documentation, and communication skills.
• Comfortable running cross-functional standups and vendor calls.
• Understanding of industrial networking fundamentals.

Skills

• Experience with PLC/HMI environments (Siemens or Allen Bradley) sufficient to read logic/diagnose at a high level; ability to implement minor parameter changes where permitted; direct programming experience a plus but not required.
• Experience with systems thinking across conveyors, robotics/ASRS, WES/WMS, and control layers.
• Proficiency pulling and analyzing operational data; familiarity with SQL, Python, R, or BI tools (e.g., Power BI/Tableau) is a plus.

Benefits

At Tractor Supply and Petsense by Tractor Supply, our Team Members are the heart of our success. Their dedication, passion, and hard work drive everything we do, and we are committed to supporting them with a comprehensive and accessible total reward package. We understand the evolving needs of our Team Members and their families, and we strive to offer meaningful, competitive, and sustainable benefits that support their well-being today and in the future. Our benefits extend beyond medical, dental, and vision coverage, including company-paid life and disability insurance, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, and family planning resources such as adoption and surrogacy assistance, for all full-time Team Members and all part-time Team Members. Part time new hires gain eligibility for TSC Benefits by averaging at least 15 hours per week during their 90-day lookback period. The lookback period starts the first of the month following the date of hire. If the 15-hour requirement was met, the benefits eligibility date will be the first day of the month following 4 months of continuous service. Please visit this link (https://www.tractorsupply.careers/content/Our-Benefits/?locale=en_US) for more specific information about the benefits and leave policies applicable to the position you’re applying for.