Automation Engineer

Socket.dev; Dayton (TN); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) eligible after one month

401(k) matching 100% on first 6%

Short-term incentive plan

Employee assistance program

Onsite fitness facility

Wellness benefits

Career advancement opportunities

Job summary

Nokian Tyres in Dayton, TN seeks an experienced Automation Engineer to support and improve automated manufacturing systems across controls, PLCs, HMIs, drives, and robotics. You will troubleshoot, analyze downtime, and drive improvements.

You will collaborate with maintenance, operations, engineering, safety, and IT/OT teams, review supplier designs, and mentor staff on safe, efficient electrical and automation practices. A Bachelor’s in a relevant field and 3+ years in automation are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical field with 3+ years in automation/controls
• Experience with equipment controls, PLCs, HMIs, drives, robotic systems, and automated equipment
• Knowledge of production processes, preventive maintenance, and continuous improvement
• Prior experience in highly automated manufacturing; tire or rubber preferred

Responsibilities

• Provide automation and controls support to improve safety, reliability, quality, throughput
• Troubleshoot and repair automated equipment including PLCs, HMIs, drives, robotics
• Analyze downtime and support root cause analysis
• Coordinate with Maintenance, Production, Quality, Engineering, Safety, IT/OT and suppliers
• Maintain automation standards, backup, change control, and standard work
• Support improvements and capital projects through installation and turnover
• Review supplier proposals and system designs for feasibility and safety
• Support preventive and predictive maintenance for automation, electrical systems
• Train employees on troubleshooting and safe practices
• Report metrics and project status to plant leadership
• Follow safety and regulatory requirements; uphold Nokian values
• Other duties as required

Skills

PLC programming

HMI systems

Robotics

Industrial networks

Electrical safety

Root cause analysis

Troubleshooting

Safety systems

Downtime reduction

Project support

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or other relevant technical field

Tools

Rockwell

Siemens

WinCC

TIA Portal

Fanuc robotics

KUKA robotics

Job description

Responsibilities

• Provide automation and controls support to improve safety, reliability, quality, throughput, and equipment effectiveness.
• Troubleshoot, repair, and improve automated equipment, including PLCs, HMIs, drives, robotics, sensors, actuators, and safety systems.
• Analyze automation downtime and recurring failures; support root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Coordinate with Maintenance, Production, Quality, Engineering, Safety, IT/OT, vendors, and suppliers to resolve equipment issues.
• Maintain automation standards, control documentation, backups, change control, procedures, checklists, and standard work.
• Support automation improvements and capital projects through installation, commissioning, training, documentation, and turnover.
• Review supplier proposals, technical specifications, drawings, manuals, controls, and system designs for feasibility, safety, cost, and standards alignment.
• Support preventive and predictive maintenance strategies for automation, controls, electrical, and software-related systems.
• Recommend critical spare parts for automation and controls components.
• Train and support employees on automation troubleshooting, safe work practices, equipment operation, and procedures.
• Report automation metrics, project status, failures, causes, and countermeasures to maintenance and plant leadership.
• Follow company safety, environmental, lockout/tagout, and regulatory requirements; reinforce safe work practices.
• Uphold Nokian mission and values in day-to-day actions.
• Other duties as required.

Skills/Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of automation systems, PLCs, HMIs, drives, robotics, sensors, safety circuits, and industrial networks.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex automation and controls issues in high-speed manufacturing.
• Knowledge of automation standards, electrical schematics, controls documentation, backups, version control, and change management.
• Ability to support root cause analysis, downtime reduction, equipment optimization, and continuous improvement activities.
• Working knowledge of Rockwell, Siemens, WinCC, TIA Portal, HMIs, drives, Fanuc/KUKA robotics, and material alignment systems preferred.
• Strong project support skills for installation, commissioning, validation, documentation, training, and turnover.
• Ability to communicate effectively with operations, maintenance, engineering, leadership, suppliers, and global stakeholders.
• Knowledge of OSHA, electrical safety, lockout/tagout, machine guarding, confined space, and safe troubleshooting practices.
• Demonstrates sound judgment, urgency, organization, integrity, teamwork, and effectiveness in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institute of higher learning in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or other relevant technical field, plus 3 years of practical experience in automation, controls, engineering, or industrial maintenance within a manufacturing environment. Equivalent technical experience may be considered.
• Demonstrated experience with equipment controls, PLC programming, HMI systems, drives, robotic systems, and automated manufacturing equipment.
• Knowledge of production processes, quality control concepts, preventive maintenance, equipment reliability, and continuous improvement methods.
• Prior experience in a highly automated manufacturing environment required; tire or rubber manufacturing experience preferred.
• Must be available to work overtime, weekends, shutdowns, and respond to urgent equipment or automation issues when needed.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position will not offer visa sponsorship.

Physical Requirements and Demands

• The physical demands and work environment described below represent those required to perform the essential functions of this position. These requirements are job-related and consistent with business necessity. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.
• When present in designated production areas, employees are required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), which may include safety-toe shoes, safety glasses with side shields, hearing protection, and other PPE as defined by risk assessments or site policy.
• Ability to move throughout office and manufacturing environments, including walking, standing, and occasionally ascending and descending stairs or work platforms.
• Ability to occasionally traverse varied walking surfaces, including concrete floors, grated platforms, and industrial stairways.
• Ability to sit for extended periods while working at a computer or attending meetings.
• Ability to use hands and fingers for computer keyboarding, writing, handling documents, and operating standard office equipment.
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move items such as files, laptops, or materials up to 20 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to inspect equipment, processes, and work areas to identify hazards, non-conformances, or deviations, and to recognize safety signals, alarms, and changing conditions in the work environment, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to effectively receive, understand, and communicate work instructions, technical information, and safety-related information through appropriate means, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Work Environment

• This position is primarily office-based within a manufacturing facility and requires routine presence in production areas.
• While in production areas, employees may be exposed to noise, moving machinery, industrial vehicles (e.g., forklifts), and other typical manufacturing hazards.
• Temperatures in production areas may vary seasonally and may range from approximately 65–100°F.
• Raw materials used in the manufacturing process may include oils, rubber compounds, carbon black, and other industrial materials. Employees may encounter industrial odors or airborne particulates typical of a manufacturing environment.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance day one
• 401(k) eligible after one month
• 401(k) matching 100% on first 6%
• Short-term incentive plan
• Employee assistance program

Benefits

• Employee discounts
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Paid time off
• Paid parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement
• Onsite fitness facility
• Wellness benefits
• Career advancement opportunities

This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Nokian Tyres is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other status protected by law.