Automation Engineer/Sr

Excelitas Technologies Corp.; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401K

Holiday pay

Paid maternity/paternity leave

Tuition reimbursement

Disability (long-term and short-term)

Job summary

Excelitas Technologies seeks an Automation Engineer/Sr to support and improve manufacturing automation systems, boosting production efficiency and reliability. You will work with engineering, maintenance and operations to troubleshoot and optimize automated equipment.

Based in Boulder, CO or Pittsburgh, PA, this role offers hands-on development, system validation and documentation to ensure safety and regulatory compliance. Collaboration across teams is essential for success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Automation Engineering.
• 5+ years in industrial automation; Sr level requires 8+ years.
• Experience with PLC programming, robotics, or automated manufacturing equipment.
• Experience supporting automated production lines or equipment integration.

Responsibilities

• Automation Systems Support: maintain and support PLCs, robotics, and control systems in manufacturing.
• Process Improvement & Optimization: identify opportunities to improve equipment performance and efficiency via automation.
• Equipment Integration & Development: design, test, and implement new automation systems and upgrades.
• Troubleshooting & Technical Support: provide rapid technical support and analyze performance data.
• Documentation & Compliance: maintain documentation and ensure safety/regulatory compliance.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI systems

Robotics

Sensors

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Automation Engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs

Siemens PLCs

Job description

ENABLE your future through light.

Excelitas is a global technology leader with more than 7,500 employees, focused on delivering market-driven solutions to fulfill the illumination, optical, detection and imaging needs of OEMs and end-users across the biomedical, semiconductor, industrial, consumer products, scientific, security, defense and aerospace sectors.

ENGAGE with us today and make your contribution to the future! Join the team that leading technology companies turn to for cutting-edge photonic innovation. At Excelitas Technologies you are how we EXCEL.

The Opportunity

We are currently seeking an Automation Engineer/Sr who will be responsible for supporting and improving manufacturing automation systems to enhance production efficiency, reliability, and process consistency. This role works closely with engineering, maintenance, and operations teams to maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize automated equipment and control systems.

This position can work out of our Boulder, CO or Pittsburgh, PA locations.

Key responsibilities:

• Automation Systems Support
  • Maintain and support automation systems, PLCs, robotics, and control systems used in manufacturing operations.
  • Diagnose and resolve automation-related issues to ensure equipment uptime and production continuity.
  • Perform system upgrades, modifications, and preventive maintenance on automated equipment.
• Process Improvement & Optimization
  • Identify opportunities to improve equipment performance, cycle time, and process efficiency through automation enhancements.
  • Support continuous improvement initiatives aimed at improving productivity, reliability, and process consistency.
  • Work with engineering teams to implement improvements in process control and manufacturing automation.
• Equipment Integration & Development
  • Support the design, testing, and implementation of new automation systems and equipment upgrades.
  • Participate in equipment commissioning, system validation, and startup activities.
  • Ensure automation systems are properly documented and integrated with plant systems.
• Troubleshooting & Technical Support
  • Provide technical support to production and maintenance teams on automation-related issues.
  • Analyze equipment performance data to identify root causes of operational problems.
  • Support rapid resolution of automation failures that impact production.
• Documentation & Compliance
  • Maintain documentation for automation programs, system configurations, and equipment specifications.
  • Ensure automation systems comply with safety standards, regulatory requirements, and internal procedures.
  • Support development of standard operating procedures and training materials related to automation systems.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• Technical certifications in PLC programming or industrial automation preferred.
• At least 5 years of experience working with industrial automation systems in manufacturing environments. At least 8 years of experience is needed for the Sr level.
• Experience with PLC programming, robotics, or automated manufacturing equipment
• Experience supporting automated production lines or equipment integration

Key Skills

• Strong knowledge of PLC programming (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar platforms)
• Experience with HMI systems, robotics, sensors, and industrial control systems
• Ability to troubleshoot complex electrical and automation issues
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work effectively with engineering, maintenance, and production teams.

Anticipated hiring range for an Automation Engineer is $120,000 - $140,000 per year, depending on experience. The anticipated hiring range for a Sr Automation Engineer is $140,000 - $170,000 per year, depending on experience.

Benefits start day 1: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Holiday Pay, PAID Maternity/Paternity leave, Tuition Reimbursement, Long-term and Short-term disability.

Please Note

• This position requires the use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
• Visa sponsorship is not available for any position at Excelitas
• Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

Minorities/Females/Disability/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation