Lead Aerospace Automation Engineer: Robotics & CNC

Smiths Group plc; United States; On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

STS Aerospace, a leading aerospace manufacturing and engineering company, seeks an Automation Engineer to develop, implement, and support automation initiatives in a high‑mix, precision machining environment.

The role will lead projects to increase machine utilization, reduce labor, improve quality, and support lights‑out machining. Collaboration across Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Maintenance and Quality is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical, mechatronics, automation, or related field.
• 3–5+ years of automation engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven success implementing robotic machine tending and manufacturing automation projects.
• CAD software experience (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Inventor, or similar).
• CNC machine operation and machining process knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead automation projects from concept through implementation and sustainment.
• Identify and execute automation opportunities to increase machining capacity and reduce costs.
• Develop automation roadmaps for CNC lathes, mills, secondary operations, and material handling processes.
• Create project timelines, budgets, risk assessments, and capital expenditure requests.
• Design and implement robotic machine tending systems for CNC equipment.
• Program and troubleshoot industrial robots (Fanuc, ABB, UR, KUKA).
• Develop automated loading/unloading solutions for machining cells.
• Integrate automated conveyors, part handling systems, and palletization solutions.
• Optimize cycle times and maximize spindle utilization.
• Analyze manufacturing processes to identify automation opportunities and eliminate non-value-added activities.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for automation issues.

Skills

Automation project management

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

CAD software

CNC machining knowledge

Robotics programming

Job description

STS Aerospace, a leading aerospace manufacturing and engineering company, seeks an Automation Engineer to develop, implement, and support automation initiatives in a high‑mix, precision machining environment.

The role will lead projects to increase machine utilization, reduce labor, improve quality, and support lights‑out machining. Collaboration across Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Maintenance and Quality is essential.