Automation Engineer

Actalent; Tualatin (OR); On-site; USD 100,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

401(k) match

PTO/Holidays

Bonus eligibility

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a hands-on Automation Engineer in Tualatin, OR, to lead design, development, and deployment of automated manufacturing systems. You will own projects from concept to commissioning and collaborate with robotics, controls, electrical design, and process improvement initiatives.

The role emphasizes PLC/HMI programming, robot integration (Fanuc preferred), electrical design, and on-site support for commissioning and startup.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field or equivalent practical experience.
• 8+ years in automation, controls, manufacturing engineering or related field.
• 5+ years PLC and HMI programming experience.
• Experience programming industrial robots (Fanuc preferred).
• Strong electrical design including schematics and panel design.

Responsibilities

• Lead automation projects from concept through design, build, testing and installation.
• Design automated systems and modify equipment to improve performance.
• Program PLCs and HMIs for machine controls and production equipment.
• Integrate and program industrial robots for tending, assembly, and testing.
• Develop testing fixtures and validation equipment.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, engineering and maintenance teams.

Skills

Hands-on engineering

Project ownership

Troubleshooting

Cross-functional collaboration

Robotics integration

Controls development

Equipment commissioning

Problem solving

PLC/HMI programming

Electrical design

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical field

Tools

Fanuc

CODESYS

Siemens

Beckhoff

Ethernet/IP

Job description

Job Description

We are seeking a hands‑on Automation Engineer to lead the design, development, and implementation of automated manufacturing systems. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys owning projects from concept through commissioning and wants to work closely with robotics, controls, electrical design, and process improvement initiatives. The engineer will play a key role in improving manufacturing efficiency, increasing equipment uptime, and deploying new automated solutions throughout the operation.

Job Title: Automation Engineer

Responsibilities

• Lead automation projects from concept and whiteboarding through design, build, programming, testing, installation, and operator training.
• Design and develop automated systems for manufacturing processes and modify existing equipment to improve performance and reduce manual intervention.
• Program PLCs and HMIs for machine controls and production equipment.
• Integrate and program industrial robots for machine tending, assembly, material handling, and testing applications.
• Design electrical control cabinets, create electrical schematics, and support panel wiring activities.
• Develop testing fixtures, validation equipment, and custom automation solutions.
• Improve manufacturing processes through automation, reducing cycle times and increasing throughput.
• Design machine controls, sensors, motion systems, and automated inspection solutions.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, engineering, and maintenance teams to identify automation opportunities.
• Support equipment commissioning, troubleshooting, and startup activities.
• Create bills of materials (BOMs), technical documentation, and operating procedures.
• Provide hands‑on support during equipment installation, testing, and production launches.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 8+ years of automation, controls, manufacturing engineering, or related experience.
• 5+ years of PLC and HMI programming experience.
• Experience programming industrial robots, preferably Fanuc.
• Strong electrical design experience, including electrical schematics and control panel design.
• Experience building, troubleshooting, and commissioning automated equipment.
• Knowledge of industrial communication networks and protocols.
• Experience with servo motors, stepper motors, VFDs, and motion control systems.
• Familiarity with pneumatic systems and automated machine controls.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to manage projects while remaining highly hands‑on in execution.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in machining, manufacturing, automation, or industrial production environments.
• Experience with CODESYS, Siemens, Beckhoff, or similar PLC platforms.
• Experience with Ethernet/IP, IO-Link, DeviceNet, and related industrial networking technologies.
• Familiarity with vision systems, automated inspection, and machine tending applications.
• Exposure to welding, machining, fabrication, or other skilled trades.
• Experience designing fixtures, tooling, and quality validation equipment.

Work Environment

The work environment involves a diverse set of tasks, with approximately 40-50% of the time dedicated to PLC programming, controls development, and troubleshooting. Robotics integration and machine automation projects account for about 20-30% of the workload. Additionally, 10-20% is focused on electrical design, schematics, and control cabinet work, while the remaining 10-20% involves manufacturing floor support, testing, commissioning, and collaboration with operations teams. The role offers dynamic work rotations, varying from cabinet/electrical design to on‑site PLC/robotics programming and vision system integration.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Tualatin, OR.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $100000.00 - $135000.00/yr.
Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.
Medical/Dental/Vision 401(k) match PTO/Holidays Bonus eligibility Tuition reimbursement

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Tualatin,OR.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 2, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.