Automation Engineer

Hodge; Waterloo (IA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

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Job summary

Hodge is seeking an Automation Engineer to own the performance, reliability, and safety of autonomous equipment at our Waterloo, IA location. You will manage the AMR fleet, troubleshoot issues on the shop floor, and drive data-driven improvements to productivity and OEE.

You will work with suppliers, maintenance, and operations, act as the technical link between autonomous technology and warehouse performance, and train staff on basic troubleshooting and recovery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics, Robotics, Automation, Electrical/Electronic, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• Experience supporting automated equipment, AMRs/AGVs, or controls in manufacturing or warehouse settings is preferred.
• Strong troubleshooting, communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Monitor AMR fleet performance and drive data-driven improvements.
• Provide first-line production support to minimize downtime and ensure material flow.
• Troubleshoot robotics issues, analyze logs, and coordinate with suppliers.
• Coordinate software upgrades and site-map changes with minimal production disruption.
• Document root causes and implement corrective actions to improve OEE.
• Coordinate maintenance and track repair history for preventive actions.
• Train shop floor staff on basic autonomous equipment troubleshooting.
• Maintain safety and compliance with applicable standards.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Problem solving

Communication

Team collaboration

Flexibility

Education

Mechatronics/Robotics/Automation/Bachelor's

Tools

Robot fleet management software

Mission planning

Site mapping

Job description

As the Automation Engineer, you will be the onsite owner of the performance, reliability, and safety of the autonomous equipment at your assigned location, starting with the Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) fleet and expanding to other autonomous and automated systems as they are deployed. You will keep the fleet running during production, troubleshoot and resolve issues on the shop floor, manage fleet KPIs, and drive root cause corrective actions that increase productivity and equipment effectiveness. Working closely with equipment suppliers, maintenance, operations, and our customer, this role is the technical link between autonomous technology and day-to-day warehouse performance.

Essential Duties

Essential Duties:Essential job duties for this position include the following items. Other duties must be performed as assigned or required.

Fleet Performance Monitoring and KPIs: Monitor daily performance of the AMR fleet and other autonomous equipment. Manage, measure, and report fleet KPIs such as availability, uptime, mission completion, error frequency, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). Use performance data to identify trends, prioritize issues, and drive data-driven improvements.

Production Support and Recovery: Serve as the first line of technical support during production. Clear and recover robot emergency stops (e-stops) and error states quickly and safely to minimize downtime and keep material flowing.

Troubleshooting and Programming: Troubleshoot autonomous equipment issues on the shop floor, including but not limited to extracting and analyzing error logs, working with equipment suppliers to resolve technical issues, remapping, changing mission planning, and general robot programming.

Software Upgrades and Site Map Management: Enable ongoing software upgrades across the robot fleet to ensure the most efficient and safest operation. Support site map updates as layouts, routes, and operational needs change. Coordinate with suppliers and operations to schedule and validate changes with minimal disruption to production.

Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Action: Document the root cause of equipment failures and implement automation corrective actions for repeat failure modes. Drive continuous improvement in fleet productivity and OEE.

Maintenance Coordination: Submit maintenance work orders for robot repairs and partner with the maintenance team to ensure timely resolution. Track repair history to inform root cause analysis and preventative maintenance needs.

Training and Knowledge Transfer: Train shop floor support personnel on basic autonomous equipment troubleshooting and recovery. Develop and maintain work instructions and troubleshooting guides to build site capability.

Safety and Compliance: Ensure a safe working environment by upholding safety protocols and promoting a safety-first culture among all employees. Work with the production team to quickly address any safety incidents involving autonomous equipment and support engineered corrective actions. Partner with the safety team to stay up to date with industry regulations, compliance requirements, and mobile robot safety standards.

Demonstrate HODGE Values: Model HODGE core values of Family, Integrity, Ambition, Respect, and Balance. Uphold, support, and promote all company policies and procedures. Demonstrate that success comes from treating people like family.

Qualifications

As the Automation Engineer, you will be the onsite owner of the performance, reliability, and safety of the autonomous equipment at your assigned location, starting with the Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) fleet and expanding to other autonomous and automated systems as they are deployed. You will keep the fleet running during production, troubleshoot and resolve issues on the shop floor, manage fleet KPIs, and drive root cause corrective actions that increase productivity and equipment effectiveness. Working closely with equipment suppliers, maintenance, operations, and our customer, this role is the technical link between autonomous technology and day-to-day warehouse performance.

Essential Duties:Essential job duties for this position include the following items. Other duties must be performed as assigned or required.

Fleet Performance Monitoring and KPIs: Monitor daily performance of the AMR fleet and other autonomous equipment. Manage, measure, and report fleet KPIs such as availability, uptime, mission completion, error frequency, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). Use performance data to identify trends, prioritize issues, and drive data-driven improvements.

Production Support and Recovery: Serve as the first line of technical support during production. Clear and recover robot emergency stops (e-stops) and error states quickly and safely to minimize downtime and keep material flowing.

Troubleshooting and Programming: Troubleshoot autonomous equipment issues on the shop floor, including but not limited to extracting and analyzing error logs, working with equipment suppliers to resolve technical issues, remapping, changing mission planning, and general robot programming.

Software Upgrades and Site Map Management: Enable ongoing software upgrades across the robot fleet to ensure the most efficient and safest operation. Support site map updates as layouts, routes, and operational needs change. Coordinate with suppliers and operations to schedule and validate changes with minimal disruption to production.

Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Action: Document the root cause of equipment failures and implement automation corrective actions for repeat failure modes. Drive continuous improvement in fleet productivity and OEE.

Maintenance Coordination: Submit maintenance work orders for robot repairs and partner with the maintenance team to ensure timely resolution. Track repair history to inform root cause analysis and preventative maintenance needs.

Training and Knowledge Transfer: Train shop floor support personnel on basic autonomous equipment troubleshooting and recovery. Develop and maintain work instructions and troubleshooting guides to build site capability.

Safety and Compliance: Ensure a safe working environment by upholding safety protocols and promoting a safety-first culture among all employees. Work with the production team to quickly address any safety incidents involving autonomous equipment and support engineered corrective actions. Partner with the safety team to stay up to date with industry regulations, compliance requirements, and mobile robot safety standards.

Demonstrate HODGE Values: Model HODGE core values of Family, Integrity, Ambition, Respect, and Balance. Uphold, support, and promote all company policies and procedures. Demonstrate that success comes from treating people like family.

Qualifying Requirements

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, the Automation Engineer must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The following requirements are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill and ability required.

Education/Experience:

Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics, Robotics, Automation, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering field required.

2+ years of experience supporting automated equipment, robotics, AMRs/AGVs, or controls in a manufacturing, warehouse, or distribution environment.

Experience with robot fleet management software, mission planning, and site mapping is a plus.

Ability to read and interpret error logs, system diagnostics, and electrical/mechanical documentation.

Basic understanding of industrial networking and wireless communications (Wi-Fi, IP addressing) as they relate to autonomous equipment.

Familiarity with mobile robot safety standards (e.g., ANSI/RIA R15.08) is a plus.

Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills with the ability to stay calm and act quickly in a live production environment.

Knowledge of OEE and root cause analysis methodologies is a plus. Basic programming or scripting experience is a plus.

Excellent communication skills, including the ability to train others and work effectively with suppliers, customers, and cross-functional teams.

Flexibility to support production outside of normal hours as needed.

Commitment to promoting a positive workplace and safety-first culture.

Position Type

Full-time