Advanced Automation Specialist

Colonial Group; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Retirement

Paid vacation/time off

Educational assistance

Paid parental leave

Adoption assistance

Life insurance

AD&D

Disability

Health savings accounts

Job summary

Colonial Group in Portageville, MO is seeking an Advanced Automation Specialist to join our manufacturing team. You will deploy and maintain advanced automation, AI-driven manufacturing solutions, and machine vision systems to support high-volume automotive production.

You will troubleshoot PLCs and HMIs, optimize control systems, and collaborate on predictive maintenance and continuous improvement projects, with a focus on safety, quality, and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in industrial automation within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with PLC platforms such as Allen-Bradley and Siemens.
• Experience with industrial robotics (FANUC) and automated production systems.
• Knowledge of machine vision platforms such as Cognex, Keyence, or similar systems.
• Understanding of AI tools, data analytics, and Industry technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, control drawings, and machine documentation.
• Strong understanding of 24VDC, 120VAC, and 480VAC industrial electrical systems.
• Experience diagnosing issues using electrical prints, PLC software, HMIs, and industrial networks.

Responsibilities

• Maintain advanced automation systems supporting high-volume production lines.
• Streamline machine vision applications for quality inspection, defect detection, traceability, and process verification.
• Leverage AI-enabled solutions to improve process monitoring, predictive maintenance, and manufacturing performance.
• Program, troubleshoot, and optimize PLCs, HMIs, industrial networks, and control systems.
• Support robotic automation systems including material handling, assembly, and inspection processes.
• Analyze production data to improve throughput, reduce downtime, and enhance quality.
• Utilize electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and controls schematics to diagnose and resolve equipment and process issues.
• Interpret and update electrical drawings, wiring diagrams, panel layouts, and network architecture documentation.
• Troubleshoot PLC-controlled equipment using ladder logic, electrical schematics, I/O mapping, and machine diagnostics.
• Support automation-related continuous improvement projects and support new product launches.
• Support autonomous material movement technologies, such as AMR/VGV/Forklifts.
• Ensure compliance with all safety, quality, and environmental requirements.

Skills

Industrial automation

PLC troubleshooting

Machine vision

AI & data analytics

Electrical schematics

Robotics

Safety compliance

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLC

Siemens PLC

FANUC robotics

Cognex/Keyence vision

Industrial networks

Job description

We are looking for you to join our team as Advanced Automation Specialist at our Portageville, MO facility!

Position Summary

The Advanced Automation Specialist supports mass production operations by deploying and maintaining advanced automation, AI-driven manufacturing solutions, and machine vision systems. This position serves as the technical expert for controls and automation systems, leveraging electrical schematics, PLC diagnostics, machine vision data, and AI-enabled analytics to troubleshoot equipment, improve process capability, reduce downtime, and enhance product quality in a high-volume automotive manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain advanced automation systems supporting high-volume production lines.
• Streamline machine vision applications for quality inspection, defect detection, traceability, and process verification.
• Leverage AI-enabled solutions to improve process monitoring, predictive maintenance, and manufacturing performance.
• Program, troubleshoot, and optimize PLCs, HMIs, industrial networks, and control systems.
• Support robotic automation systems including material handling, assembly, and inspection processes.
• Analyze production data to improve throughput, reduce downtime, and enhance quality.
• Utilize electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and controls schematics to diagnose and resolve equipment and process issues.
• Interpret and update electrical drawings, wiring diagrams, panel layouts, and network architecture documentation.
• Troubleshoot PLC-controlled equipment using ladder logic, electrical schematics, I/O mapping, and machine diagnostics.
• Support automation-related continuous improvement projects and support new product launches.
• Support autonomous material movement technologies, such as AMR/VGV/Forklifts.
• Ensure compliance with all safety, quality, and environmental requirements.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in industrial automation within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong experience with PLC platforms such as Allen-Bradley and Siemens.
• Experience with industrial robotics (FANUC) and automated production systems.
• Knowledge of machine vision platforms such as Cognex, Keyence, or similar systems.
• Understanding of AI tools, data analytics, and Industry technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, control drawings, and machine documentation.
• Strong understanding of 24VDC, 120VAC, and 480VAC industrial electrical systems.
• Experience diagnosing issues using electrical prints, PLC software, HMIs, and industrial networks.
• Knowledge of motor controls, VFDs, servo systems, safety circuits, relays, sensors, and instrumentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Automotive manufacturing experience.
• Knowledge of Python, SQL, MES, SCADA, IIoT, or cloud-connected manufacturing systems.
• Lean Manufacturing.

Success Metrics

• Reduction in production downtime.
• Improvement in First Pass Yield and quality performance.
• Increased Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Faster identification and containment of quality defects through vision systems.
• Successful implementation of AI-driven process improvements.
• Reduction in maintenance costs through predictive analytics.

About the Company

We are a fast-growing global manufacturer with a strong internal culture that values respect, diversity, and purposeful work. We offer career paths that enable professional growth, a team-focused environment, and a commitment to safety and wellness.

Our Benefits

Our goal is for each employee and their family to live fulfilling and healthy lives.

• medical
• dental
• vision
• flexible spending and health savings accounts
• life insurance
• AD&D
• disability
• retirement
• paid vacation/time off
• educational assistance
• paid parental leave
• adoption assistance

Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description.

Equal Opportunities

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify.