Associate Automation Engineer, Design and Integration

Newell Brands; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

Newell Brands in the United States (Richmond, VA) is seeking an Associate Automation Engineer, Design and Integration to help develop, maintain, and deploy engineering standards across manufacturing and distribution sites. Early-career role with 1–2 years of experience, working with ERA leaders and cross-functional teams to translate standards into practical tools.

The role covers engineering standards, project support, and AI-enabled knowledge management, requiring willingness to travel up to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 1–2 years engineering experience in manufacturing, product/process development, plant engineering, automation, capital projects, or related technical work preferred.
• Internship, co-op, capstone, undergraduate research, manufacturing project, or engineering competition experience strongly preferred.
• Basic understanding of manufacturing processes, technical drawings, equipment specifications, process flow, continuous improvement, and engineering documentation.
• Familiarity with CAD, DFM, Lean, Six Sigma, FMEA/PFMEA, project management tools, or technical writing preferred.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and follow-through skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Teams, and SharePoint; Power BI or Smartsheet exposure preferred.
• Ability to work across functions, sites, regions, and vendors with guidance from senior engineering leaders.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% to manufacturing and distribution sites as business needs require.

Responsibilities

• Assist in creating, updating, and organizing engineering standards, technical guidelines, project templates, and site-facing documentation.
• Support the ERA standards library by maintaining clear document structure, version control, and easy-to-use reference materials.
• Capture lessons learned from pilot projects, technical reviews, vendor evaluations, and site deployments and convert them into reusable guidance.
• Help prepare technical playbooks, checklists, and training materials that improve consistency across Newell manufacturing and distribution sites.
• Work with subject matter experts to ensure standards reflect practical operating needs, safety expectations, maintainability, and manufacturability.
• Support engineering reviews for capital projects, manufacturing equipment changes, DFM pilots, automation initiatives, and site improvement work.
• Assist with Design for Manufacturing tools and workflows, including manufacturability assessments, site process capability inputs, and lessons-learned documentation.
• Help gather project data, organize technical inputs, prepare status updates, and track action items through completion.
• Review technical drawings, specifications, vendor information, and project documentation with guidance from senior engineers and pillar leads.
• Participate in site assessments, project meetings, and cross-functional reviews to support standards-based project execution.
• Support Ask-an-Engineer and other ERA knowledge-management initiatives by organizing engineering standards, guides, lessons learned, and project materials.
• Help create user-friendly training materials, quick-reference guides, and office-hour content for site engineering, maintenance, and project teams.
• Maintain project trackers, standards deployment logs, and simple dashboards using Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Smartsheet, Power BI, or similar tools.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of ERA documentation and knowledge-sharing processes.

Skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Documentation

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Electrical/Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering or related

Tools

CAD

DFM

Lean

Six Sigma

FMEA/PFMEA

Project management tools

Technical writing

Power BI/Smartsheet

Job description

Job ID: 17508

Newell Brands is a leading consumer products company with a portfolio of iconic brands like Graco®, Coleman®, Oster®, Rubbermaid®, Sharpie® and Yankee Candle® - and 24,000 talented teammates around the world. Our culture is built on values in action: Integrity, Teamwork, Passion for Winning, Ownership, and Leadership. We work together to win, grow, and make a real impact—supported by a high-performing, inclusive, and collaborative environment where you can be your best, every day.

The Associate Automation Engineer, Design and Integration supports Newell Brands' Engineering, Reliability & Automation organization by helping develop, maintain, and deploy engineering standards, playbooks, technical templates, and project execution tools across the manufacturing and distribution network.

This role is designed for an early-career engineer with 1-2 years of experience who is ready to build broad technical capability across manufacturing engineering, design for manufacturing, capital project support, standards deployment, and site-facing documentation. The Associate Engineer will work closely with ERA leaders, site engineering teams, Manufacturing Optimization, R&D, Packaging, Industrial Engineering, EHS, Procurement, and external partners to help translate engineering standards into practical tools sites can use.

Responsibilities

Engineering Standards & Documentation

• Assist in creating, updating, and organizing engineering standards, technical guidelines, project templates, and site-facing documentation.

• Support the ERA standards library by maintaining clear document structure, version control, and easy-to-use reference materials.

• Capture lessons learned from pilot projects, technical reviews, vendor evaluations, and site deployments and convert them into reusable guidance.

• Help prepare technical playbooks, checklists, and training materials that improve consistency across Newell manufacturing and distribution sites.

• Work with subject matter experts to ensure standards reflect practical operating needs, safety expectations, maintainability, and manufacturability.

Project, DFM & Site Support

• Support engineering reviews for capital projects, manufacturing equipment changes, DFM pilots, automation initiatives, and site improvement work.

• Assist with Design for Manufacturing tools and workflows, including manufacturability assessments, site process capability inputs, and lessons-learned documentation.

• Help gather project data, organize technical inputs, prepare status updates, and track action items through completion.

• Review technical drawings, specifications, vendor information, and project documentation with guidance from senior engineers and pillar leads.

• Participate in site assessments, project meetings, and cross-functional reviews to support standards-based project execution.

AI Enablement & Knowledge Management

• Support Ask-an-Engineer and other ERA knowledge-management initiatives by organizing engineering standards, guides, lessons learned, and project materials.

• Help create user-friendly training materials, quick-reference guides, and office-hour content for site engineering, maintenance, and project teams.

• Maintain project trackers, standards deployment logs, and simple dashboards using Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Smartsheet, Power BI, or similar tools.

• Contribute to continuous improvement of ERA documentation and knowledge-sharing processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline required.

• 1-2 years of engineering experience in manufacturing, product/process development, plant engineering, automation, capital projects, or related technical work preferred.

• Internship, co-op, capstone, undergraduate research, manufacturing project, or engineering competition experience strongly preferred.

• Basic understanding of manufacturing processes, technical drawings, equipment specifications, process flow, continuous improvement, and engineering documentation.

• Familiarity with CAD, DFM, Lean, Six Sigma, FMEA/PFMEA, project management tools, or technical writing preferred.

• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and follow-through skills.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Teams, and SharePoint; Power BI or Smartsheet exposure preferred.

• Ability to work across functions, sites, regions, and vendors with guidance from senior engineering leaders.

• Willingness to travel up to 50% to manufacturing and distribution sites as business needs require.

The remote base pay range for this position is from $70,400 to $105,600. Salary will be based on prior experience related to the skills required for this position.

Newell Brands (NASDAQ: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Rubbermaid, Sharpie, Graco, Coleman, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Yankee Candle, Paper Mate, FoodSaver, Dymo, EXPO, Elmer’s, Oster, NUK, Spontex and Campingaz. We are focused on delighting consumers by lighting up everyday moments. Newell Brands and its subsidiaries are Equal Opportunity Employers and comply with applicable employment laws. EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled are encouraged to apply.