Automation Engineer – Warehouse Automation

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Identify automation opportunities that can be standardized and scaled across multiple processes and plants.
• Assess the technical feasibility of proposed automation projects.
• Develop industrialization strategies for automation solutions using the appropriate mix of internal and external resources.
• Develop, maintain, and enforce equipment and process standards, including specifications, sourcing, design reviews, validation, and installation.
• Serve as the primary interface with Adient central and business unit IT teams.
• Provide technical support for automation-related issues across JIT and seat structures plants.
• Identify, qualify, and develop equipment suppliers while building strong partnerships to ensure consistent execution of standards.
• Drive supplier performance reviews, provide feedback, and improve execution.
• Coach AME teams on equipment standards, processes, and execution expectations.
• Define requirements for refurbishment and redeployment of used equipment.
• Provide equipment cost estimating for new program quoting and strategic projects.
• Identify, evaluate, and test emerging technologies for assembly and material handling applications, including robotics, vision systems, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence.
• Lead the evaluation, specification, testing, and deployment of autonomous warehouse distribution and fulfillment technologies including autonomous forklifts, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), goods-to-person systems, robotic picking, and humanoid robots, ensuring safe integration with plant material flow, warehouse management systems, and operating processes.

Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of industry experience; automotive interiors experience preferred.
• Proven ability to identify automation opportunities and lead projects from concept through implementation.
• Experience installing and commissioning automated equipment, including robotic assembly cells and test systems.
• Experience with warehouse distribution and fulfillment automation is strongly preferred, including autonomous forklifts, autonomous mobile robots, robotic material handling, and integration with warehouse execution or warehouse management systems.
• Software or application development desired.
• Experience with seating products desired.

Technical Skills

• Knowledge of PLC programming and troubleshooting (Allen Bradley preferred).
• Familiarity with controls systems and other programming languages such as C++.
• HMI programming.
• Robot cell design and programming.
• Industrial networking.
• System specification, ordering, run-off, installation, and qualification.
• Capital equipment budget planning and tracking.
• Strong computer skills with ability to quickly learn new software/applications.
• Ability to draw two dimensional layouts in CAD software.
• Analytical problem solving.
• Project management, including plan development and execution.
• Ability to interact with the equipment controls team and IT groups to understand network topology.
• Knowledge of autonomous material handling systems including autonomous forklifts, AMRs/AGVs, and robotic pallet movement in warehouse and distribution environments.
• Experience integrating mobile robotics and fulfillment automation with WMS/WES/MES platforms, fleet management software, barcode/RFID systems, and plant IT infrastructure.
• Understanding of navigation, traffic management, safety zoning, and risk assessment for robots operating in dynamic environments shared with people and industrial vehicles.
• Ability to evaluate emerging robotics platforms, including humanoid robots, for material handling, kitting, picking, line-side delivery, and other fulfillment use cases.