Automation Engineer, SGP
About the role
Saint-Gobain is seeking an experienced Automation Engineer to support the implementation and ongoing advancement of automation, systems integration, and data acquisition solutions across our Specialty Grains and Powders manufacturing operations. In this role, you will design and implement Industry 4.0 solutions that improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and overall manufacturing performance. You will work with plant teams, process experts, and technical partners to deliver projects involving Manufacturing Execution Systems, quality management systems, robotics, controls, instrumentation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. This is a hands-on role for an engineer who enjoys solving complex manufacturing challenges, working directly with plant teams, and taking projects from initial concept through installation and startup. The position reports to the Digital Transformation Manager and supports multiple manufacturing locations. At Saint-Gobain, our employees have pride in belonging to an organization whose culture is made up of these core values: Trust, Empowerment, & Collaboration. Our company encourages diversity and inclusion in all its forms while our products make the world a more beautiful, safer, and sustainable home.
Responsibilities
- Plan, design, implement, test, and support Industry 4.0 projects, including Manufacturing Execution Systems and digital Quality Management Systems.
- Lead automation projects through requirements definition, design and build, installation, startup, and ongoing support.
- Develop and implement automation solutions involving PLCs, robotics, collaborative robots, automated production lines, controls, and instrumentation.
- Perform requirements gathering, technical analysis, and gap assessments to translate business needs into effective technical solutions.
- Manage technical deliverables and communicate project scope, schedules, risks, issues, and progress.
- Develop modeling, artificial intelligence, and machine-learning solutions focused on reducing operational losses and improving process and product stability.
- Troubleshoot newly installed and existing automation systems, controls, and manufacturing processes.
- Work directly with operators and manufacturing teams to identify improvement opportunities and implement practical solutions.
- Coordinate internal and external resources, including automation integrators, to complete projects.
- Create and maintain technical, process, training, and compliance documentation.
- Train plant employees and local system champions on new equipment, systems, processes, and procedures.
- Support integration between manufacturing systems, enterprise systems, production operations, supply chain, and quality processes.
- Ensure projects comply with applicable company standards, plant requirements, IT controls, and governmental regulations.
- Collaborate with the broader Industry 4.0 and Operational Excellence teams to develop and share technical knowledge across the organization.
- Balance long-term project responsibilities with unplanned operational and troubleshooting priorities.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Chemical, Mechanical, Industrial, Control Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- Five to ten years of experience in process optimization, automation, manufacturing engineering, or a related technical field.
- Strong data analysis and problem-solving capabilities.
- Strong organizational and project-management skills.
- Effective interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively across technical, operational, and business teams.
- Self-motivated approach with the ability to gather and coordinate the resources needed to complete projects.
Qualifications
- Experience executing Manufacturing Execution System projects, including requirements analysis, solution design, software development, and implementation.
- Experience with Ignition or a comparable industrial application platform.
- Experience with Python or other programming languages.
- Experience implementing process-automation solutions in a manufacturing environment.
- Experience integrating manufacturing systems with ERP platforms.
- Experience with robotics, collaborative robots, PLCs, automated equipment, industrial controls, or production-line instrumentation.
- Exposure to artificial intelligence, machine learning, or manufacturing data-modeling applications.