Automation Engineer

CBRE Group, Inc.; Concord (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

CBRE Group, Inc. is seeking an Automation Engineer to support advanced automation systems for a major online retailer. The role emphasizes protecting uptime, safety, and operational excellence through hands-on problem solving with PLCs, SCADA, and conveyance technologies.

You will improve preventive maintenance strategies, diagnose complex issues, and collaborate with site teams to implement improvements across mission critical facilities.

Qualifications

• Experience with material handling control systems and PLC software.
• Strong troubleshooting and on-site support abilities.
• Ability to work with various automation hardware and software platforms.

Responsibilities

• Promote safety and compliance across system operations.
• Troubleshoot and modify software for material handling control systems (PLC/PC controllers).
• Serve as first-level escalation for on-site and remote troubleshooting.
• Inspect systems to ensure operation within design specs and client requirements.
• Oversee development scope, scheduling, and inspection with external contractors.
• Engineer process solutions and reliability improvements from concept to implementation.
• Monitor industrial networks such as Ethernet, ControlNet, DeviceNet, and Profibus.

Skills

PLC programming

SCADA systems

Controls engineering

Troubleshooting

Tools

RSLogix 5000

Allen Bradley Controllogix/CompactLogix

Ethernet/Fieldbus networks

Job description

Automation Engineer

Role Type: Full-time

FLSA Status: Exempt (Salaried)

CBRE is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity

At CBRE Global Workplace Solutions (GWS), safety is our top priority. We foster a safety-first culture where employees are empowered to perform at their best and return home safely every day. We’re looking for a skilled and motivated Automation Engineer to join our growing team, supporting advanced automation systems for one of the world’s largest online retailers.

Read on to learn more!

About the Role

If you thrive in fast paced environments, enjoy hands-on problem solving, and want to make a measurable impact while working with modern automation and control systems, this role offers the challenge, autonomy, and growth opportunities to take your engineering career to the next level.

In this role, you won’t just maintain systems—you’ll continuously improve them. You’ll apply your controls and automation knowledge to optimize preventive maintenance strategies, diagnose sophisticated issues, and enhance the performance of industry leading technologies such as conveyors, sortation systems, PLCs, scanners, vision systems, print‑and‑apply equipment, and SCADA platforms. Your work will directly influence uptime, safety, and operational excellence across mission critical facilities.

What You’ll Do

• Promote a safe working environment by complying with all applicable codes, regulations, governmental agencies, and company directives related to system operations and work safety.
• Troubleshoot and modify software programs for material handling control systems, including PLC/PC controllers, Allen Bradley Controllogix/Compactlogix PLC platform and RSLogix 5000 software package.
• Act as first level escalation in troubleshooting support, both on-site and remotely, as well as during and after business hours, to repair all MHE controls software systems. Respond quickly to emergency situations, summoning assistance as needed.
• Inspect systems to ensure the operation of equipment is within design capabilities and achieve operational conditions prescribed by the client.
• Oversee scope of development, work request initiation, scheduling, and inspection of work performed by outside contractors, which includes proprietary work, licensed installations, upgrades, and maintenance and inspection of specialized systems.
• Engineer process solutions and reliability improvement from concept to network implementation.
• Monitor Industrial networks such as Ethernet, ControlNet, DeviceNet, Profibus, AS-I, motor control systems, servo drives, frequency drives, and electrical distribution systems.
• Monitor material handling equipment metrics and partner with site team to resolve equipment electrical problems that create performance deficiencies.
• Proactively and effectively communicate with multiple stakeholders including, but not limited to, leadership, operations and the maintenance team on technical issues and project timelines and production impacts.
• Facilitate analysis and reviews of failures and processes to provide recommendations to implement improvements or retraining to avoid future incidents.
• Perform controls systems assessments to maintain and improve equipment reliability.
• Clearly communicate technical issues, project timelines, and product impacts with site leadership, operations and maintenance teams.

• Cultivate positive working relationships with our Client and the Operations Maintenance team members.

• Perform other job-related duties as needed or assigned.