Automation Engineer

Saint-Gobain Ceramics - SGP; Town of Amherst (NY); On-site; USD 102,000 - 158,000; Full time

Job summary

Saint-Gobain is seeking an experienced Automation Engineer to support Industry 4.0 initiatives at our Amherst, NY facility with up to 50% domestic travel. You will design and implement MES, QMS, robotics, and automation solutions across manufacturing operations, working with plant teams and partners to deliver projects from concept through startup.

The role emphasizes hands-on design, implementation, and continuous improvement, including data analytics and AI/ML applications to reduce losses and

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level engineering degree in electrical, chemical, mechanical, industrial or control engineering.
• 5–10 years in process optimization or automation in manufacturing.
• Strong data analysis and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities.
• Ability to work independently and across cross-functional teams.
• No sponsorship will be offered for this role.

Responsibilities

• Plan, design, implement, test, and support Industry 4.0 projects including MES and digital Quality Management Systems.
• Lead automation projects through requirements definition, design, build, installation, startup, and support.
• Develop automation solutions involving PLCs, robotics, automated lines, controls, instrumentation.
• Gather requirements, analyze and translate business needs into technical solutions.
• Manage deliverables and communicate scope, schedule, risks, and progress.
• Develop AI/ML solutions to reduce losses and improve stability.
• Troubleshoot automation systems and processes.
• Collaborate with operators to identify improvement opportunities and implement solutions.
• Coordinate internal/external resources to complete projects.
• Create and maintain technical/process/training/compliance docs.
• Train plant employees on new systems and procedures.
• Support integration between manufacturing and enterprise systems.

Skills

Data analysis

Project management

Communication

Team collaboration

Automation

Robotics

PLC programming

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Control Engineering

Tools

Ignition

Python

ERP systems

Job description

What’s the job?

Saint‑Gobain is seeking an experienced Automation Engineer to support the implementation and ongoing advancement of automation, systems integration, and data acquisition solutions across our Specialty Grains and Powders manufacturing operations. This role will be based out of our Amherst, NY manufacturing facility with domestic travel up to 50%.

In this role, you will design and implement Industry 4.0 solutions that improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and overall manufacturing performance. You will work with plant teams, process experts, and technical partners to deliver projects involving Manufacturing Execution Systems, quality management systems, robotics, controls, instrumentation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

This is a hands‑on role for an engineer who enjoys solving complex manufacturing challenges, working directly with plant teams, and taking projects from initial concept through installation and startup. The position reports to the Digital Transformation Manager and supports multiple manufacturing locations.

What You Will Do:

• Plan, design, implement, test, and support Industry 4.0 projects, including Manufacturing Execution Systems and digital Quality Management Systems.


• Lead automation projects through requirements definition, design and build, installation, startup, and ongoing support.


• Develop and implement automation solutions involving PLCs, robotics, collaborative robots, automated production lines, controls, and instrumentation.


• Perform requirements gathering, technical analysis, and gap assessments to translate business needs into effective technical solutions.


• Manage technical deliverables and communicate project scope, schedules, risks, issues, and progress.


• Develop modeling, artificial intelligence, and machine-learning solutions focused on reducing operational losses and improving process and product stability.


• Troubleshoot newly installed and existing automation systems, controls, and manufacturing processes.


• Work directly with operators and manufacturing teams to identify improvement opportunities and implement practical solutions.


• Coordinate internal and external resources, including automation integrators, to complete projects.


• Create and maintain technical, process, training, and compliance documentation.


• Train plant employees and local system champions on new equipment, systems, processes, and procedures.


• Support integration between manufacturing systems, enterprise systems, production operations, supply chain, and quality processes.


• Ensure projects comply with applicable company standards, plant requirements, IT controls, and governmental regulations.


• Collaborate with the broader Industry 4.0 and Operational Excellence teams to develop and share technical knowledge across the organization.


• Balance long-term project responsibilities with unplanned operational and troubleshooting priorities.

What do you bring?

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Chemical, Mechanical, Industrial, Control Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.


• Five to ten years of experience in process optimization, automation, manufacturing engineering, or a related technical field.


• Strong data analysis and problem-solving capabilities.


• Strong organizational and project-management skills.


• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.


• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across technical, operational, and business teams.


• Self-motivated approach with the ability to gather and coordinate the resources needed to complete projects.


• No sponsorship will offered for this role

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience executing Manufacturing Execution System projects, including requirements analysis, solution design, software development, and implementation.


• Experience with Ignition or a comparable industrial application platform.


• Experience with Python or other programming languages.


• Experience implementing process-automation solutions in a manufacturing environment.


• Experience integrating manufacturing systems with ERP platforms.


• Experience with robotics, collaborative robots, PLCs, automated equipment, industrial controls, or production‑line instrumentation.


• Exposure to artificial intelligence, machine learning, or manufacturing data-modeling applications.

Pay Transparency:

Certain locations require pay information be provided in job postings. Saint‑Gobain aims to deliver a comprehensive Total Rewards package to support our employees’ wellbeing and help improve daily life for themselves and their families. We believe in the importance of pay transparency in what we offer potential candidates. Provided is the national pay range for this position, which is $102,000 to $158,000 per year. However, the base pay offered may vary depending on geographic region, internal equity, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.

In addition to base salary, this position is eligible for an annual bonus. The targeted bonus amount is 13% of base salary based on company and individual performance measures. The Total Target Cash range (base pay and annual bonus) for this position is $115,200 to $178,500. Bonus payments are part of variable compensation and by nature can vary based on company and individual performance and is not a guarantee.