Automation Engineer: PLCs, Robotics & MES Innovation

Howmet Aerospace; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401k matching

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

Howmet Aerospace in Tucson, AZ is seeking an Automation Engineer to design, program, troubleshoot, and maintain industrial automation systems including PLCs, HMIs, robotics, and motion control; you will support installation, commissioning, startup, validation of new equipment, and lead automation projects.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s in Electrical/Mechanical/Mechatronics/Automation Engineering and 3–8+ years in manufacturing automation; experience with Allen-Bradley/Siemens PLCs, HMIs,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 3–8+ years of experience in manufacturing automation or industrial controls.
• Experience programming and troubleshooting industrial PLCs (e.g., Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar platforms).
• Experience with HMIs, SCADA systems, robotics, servo systems, sensors, vision systems, and industrial networking.
• Knowledge of electrical controls, instrumentation, variable frequency drives (VFDs), and machine safety systems.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and mechanical drawings.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and root cause analysis skills.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, troubleshoot, and maintain industrial automation systems, including PLCs, HMIs, robotics, and motion control systems.
• Support the installation, commissioning, startup, and validation of new manufacturing equipment and production lines.
• Identify and implement automation solutions to improve productivity, quality, safety, and operational efficiency.
• Diagnose equipment failures and develop long-term corrective actions to minimize downtime
• Develop, modify, and maintain PLC, HMI, and SCADA programs.
• Partner with Maintenance to resolve electrical, controls, and automation issues.
• Lead automation projects from concept through implementation, including planning, budgeting, scheduling, and vendor coordination.
• Evaluate and implement new automation technologies and equipment upgrades.
• Develop and maintain electrical drawings, control documentation, equipment specifications, and standard operating procedures.
• Analyze production and equipment performance data to improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), cycle time, throughput, and scrap reduction.
• Ensure compliance with applicable safety, quality, and regulatory requirements. Support preventive and predictive maintenance programs for automated equipment.
• Train maintenance personnel and production employees on new automation systems and equipment.
• Participate in the enterprise automation network led by the Director of Automation, sharing standards feedback, repeatable solutions, and lessons learned across sites.

Skills

PLC programming

Robotics

SCADA systems

HMI development

Lean Manufacturing

Root cause analysis

Electrical schematics

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Mechatronics/Automation Engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs

Siemens PLCs

SCADA tooling

Robotics control

Job description

Howmet Aerospace in Tucson, AZ is seeking an Automation Engineer to design, program, troubleshoot, and maintain industrial automation systems including PLCs, HMIs, robotics, and motion control; you will support installation, commissioning, startup, validation of new equipment, and lead automation projects.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s in Electrical/Mechanical/Mechatronics/Automation Engineering and 3–8+ years in manufacturing automation; experience with Allen-Bradley/Siemens PLCs, HMIs,