Industrial Automation Engineer

Eric Robotics; Maharashtra; On-site; INR 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

ERIC Robotics in Pune invites an Industrial Automation Engineer to lead the plant automation programme. This full-time role focuses on analyzing manual factory operations, improving processes, and identifying opportunities for automation through robotic cells.

You will conduct shop-floor studies, establish baselines for safety, quality and OEE, define URS for robotic cells, and drive continuous improvement with Kaizen while coordinating with controls, PLC, and vision teams.

Qualifications

• B.E. or B.Tech in Industrial, Production, Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineering.
• 3–4 years hands-on experience in process, industrial or manufacturing engineering.
• Experience in brownfield manufacturing preferred.
• Experience delivering process-improvement, production-line or automation-cell projects.
• Experience in Lean, TPM or structured quality-management environment.

Responsibilities

• Process analysis and opportunity assessment across plant sections.
• Map end-to-end manual workflows and conduct time/motion studies.
• Establish baselines for safety incidents, cycle time, OEE and quality metrics.
• Identify operations suitable for automation and prepare URS for robotic cells.
• Support FAT/SAT, trials and continuous improvement after automation.

Skills

Industrial engineering

Lean manufacturing

OEE

Value-stream mapping

Kaizen

Data analysis (shop floor)

Automation

Problem solving

Education

B.E./B.Tech in Industrial, Production, Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Excel

DFA/DFM concepts

GD&T

Robotics knowledge

Job description

About Us

ERIC Robotics, a Premier Seals India initiative to form a dynamic Indian research and development organization is leading the charge in revolutionizing industrial inspection and monitoring through robotics. Our expertise lies in designing and developing next‑generation autonomous mobile robots and drones, intended to push the boundaries of innovation across markets.

Job Description

Industrial Automation Engineer

About The Role

ERIC Robotics is looking for an Industrial Automation Engineer to lead the process side of its plant automation programme. This is a full‑time position based in Pune, requiring 3–4 years of relevant experience.

The role involves analysing manual factory operations, improving and standardising processes, and identifying operations suitable for automation through robotic cells.

The Industrial Automation Engineer will conduct shop‑floor, time and value‑stream studies; establish safety, quality, cycle‑time and OEE baselines; improve processes before automation; and prepare clear specifications for the cell‑design, controls and robotics teams.

Following implementation, the engineer will validate process capability, stability and OEE against the original baseline and prepare the SOPs required to sustain the process.

Key Responsibilities

• Process Analysis and Opportunity Assessment
• Map end‑to‑end manual workflows across plant sections and workstations.
• Conduct time‑and‑motion studies, video studies and value‑stream mapping.
• Establish process baselines for safety incidents, near‑misses, cycle time, first‑pass yield, PPM and OEE.
• Identify repetitive, hazardous, ergonomically difficult and defect‑prone operations suitable for automation.
• Build and maintain an automation opportunity register.
• Evaluate opportunities based on safety, quality, throughput, feasibility, replicability, payback and installation disruption.
• Process Improvement and Design for Automation
• Improve processes before automation by eliminating waste and simplifying unnecessary steps.
• Implement standard work, poka‑yoke, 5S and improved part‑presentation methods.
• Conduct part‑variability and presentation studies across batches and shifts.
• Prepare User Requirement Specifications (URS) and process‑acceptance criteria for robotic cells.
• Establish realistic cycle‑time targets with a 10–15% operating buffer.
• Provide DFM/DFA inputs for cell concepts, end effectors, fixtures, jigs and guarding.
• Support hazard identification and risk assessment (HIRA) and ergonomic evaluations.
• Validation, Ramp‑Up and Process Capability
• Define process‑acceptance criteria and support Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT).
• Conduct production trials and validate process capability, stability and OEE against the established baseline.
• Perform Cpk, SPC and measurement‑system analysis (MSA).
• Establish in‑process quality checks.
• Prepare process SOPs, work instructions and operator‑training content.
• Support production ramp‑up and post‑handover hypercare.
• Ownership and Continuous Improvement
• Own assigned sections from opportunity assessment and business‑case development through benefit realisation.
• Maintain the improvement and automation roadmap for assigned areas.
• Prioritise initiatives based on safety, quality, throughput and replicability—not only ROI.
• Establish process‑engineering standards, standard‑cell templates, naming conventions and documentation practices.
• Track benefits against the baseline and drive continuous improvement through Kaizen.
• Guide junior engineers and review process studies and specifications before submission to the design team.
• Collaboration and Reporting
• Work with plant heads, production managers, maintenance, EHS, quality, procurement teams and operators.
• Coordinate with cell‑design, controls/PLC, robotics and vision teams.
• Translate process requirements into clear and buildable robotic‑cell specifications.
• Act as the primary process point of contact for plant stakeholders.
• Provide regular updates on project progress, baseline improvements, defect and PPM reduction, OEE, benefits and ROI.

Requirements

Educational Qualifications and Experience

• B.E. or B.Tech in Industrial, Production, Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 3–4 years of hands‑on experience in process, industrial or manufacturing engineering.
• Experience working in a brownfield manufacturing plant is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience delivering process‑improvement, production‑line or automation‑cell projects.
• Experience working within a Lean, TPM or structured quality‑management environment.

Technical Skills – Must Have

• Strong understanding of industrial and manufacturing engineering.
• Knowledge of value‑stream mapping, time studies, SMED, standard work, poka‑yoke, 5S and Kaizen.
• Understanding of process‑capability and production metrics, including Cpk, SPC, MSA, OEE, FPY and PPM.
• Experience with process mapping, workflow design, flowcharts or BPMN.
• Knowledge of DFM/DFA, fixture and jig concepts and GD&T fundamentals.
• Understanding of HIRA, ergonomics and basic machine‑safety practices.
• Ability to read engineering drawings.
• Working understanding of robotic cells and shop‑floor automation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for shop‑floor data analysis.
• Strong problem‑solving skills using 8D, RCA, fishbone analysis and 5‑Why.

Good to Have

• Experience in rubber moulding, seals, pressing or automotive Tier‑1 or Tier‑2 manufacturing.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Exposure to robotic workcells, machine tending, palletising, trimming or Special Purpose Machine integration.
• Familiarity with ISO 10218, ISO 13849, LOTO and machine‑guarding practices.
• Experience with OEE, MES, traceability systems or shop‑floor dashboards.
• Knowledge of process simulation, cycle‑time simulation or layout and reach studies.
• Lean, TPM or production‑engineering certification.
• Experience delivering automation projects in brownfield plants.
• Knowledge of Minitab, Python or similar data‑analysis tools.

Key Competencies

• Process analysis and structured problem‑solving
• Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement
• Automation‑opportunity assessment
• End‑to‑end project ownership
• Clear process documentation
• Data‑driven decision‑making
• Shop‑floor stakeholder management
• Cross‑functional collaboration
• Mentoring and technical guidance
• Focus on safety, quality and measurable business outcomes

Work Requirements

• Full‑time position based in Pune.
• Regular presence on the manufacturing shop floor.
• Ability to work across shifts when required for process studies, trials and commissioning.
• Willingness to visit plant and vendor locations when required.
• Ability to coordinate with production, quality, maintenance, EHS and engineering teams.
• Ability to manage assigned initiatives from assessment through validation and handover.

What You’ll Gain

• Opportunity to build a plant‑wide automation programme from the ground up.
• Exposure to robotics, machine vision, controls and shop‑floor data systems.
• Ownership of process‑improvement and automation initiatives with measurable business impact.
• Opportunity to establish standards for future robotic‑cell projects.
• Structured learning and certification support in Six Sigma, Lean and machine safety.
• Competitive compensation of ₹6–8 LPA, commensurate with experience and skills.