Mechanical & Automation Engineer: Elevate Plant Reliability

Swm-International; Town of Ancram (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Employee assistance program

Flexible spending account

Health insurance

Health savings account

Life insurance

Paid time off

Parental leave

Vision insurance

Job summary

SWM International is seeking a Mechanical & Automation Engineer to support reliability, maintenance, and automation of manufacturing equipment and facility systems. This role collaborates with the Maintenance Manager, Millwrights, Electricians, and Operations to ensure the safe, efficient operation of plant equipment.

The position blends mechanical engineering with controls and automation to improve performance, reduce downtime, and drive continuous improvement across the facility.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience in maintenance, engineering, automation, or a related manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical systems, industrial machinery, and manufacturing processes.
• Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, and technical documentation.
• Experience supporting equipment installations, upgrades, and capital projects.
• Excellent communication, organization, and project management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented manufacturing environment.
• Strong commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Maintenance team to support daily maintenance operations and equipment reliability initiatives.
• Work closely with Millwrights and Electricians to troubleshoot, repair, and improve mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and automated systems.
• Partner with the Operations team to coordinate maintenance activities, minimize production disruptions, and support operational goals.
• Develop, implement, and maintain preventive and predictive maintenance programs to improve equipment reliability and reduce downtime.
• Troubleshoot and resolve automation, controls, instrumentation, and process-related issues.
• Support and maintain PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, sensors, instrumentation, and other automated control systems.
• Perform root cause analysis of equipment and process failures and implement long-term corrective actions.
• Design, recommend, and implement equipment modifications and process improvements that enhance safety, quality, productivity, and reliability.
• Assist with engineering and capital improvement projects, including equipment installations, upgrades, start-ups, and commissioning activities.
• Maintain and update electrical schematics, control drawings, technical documentation, and maintenance procedures.
• Analyze equipment performance data and identify opportunities for increased efficiency and cost reduction.
• Ensure compliance with company safety policies, environmental requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives and support Lean Manufacturing and reliability-centered maintenance practices.
• Provide technical training and support for maintenance and operations personnel.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Maintenance experience

Engineering background

Automation

Troubleshooting

Root cause analysis

Reading schematics

Project management

Teamwork

Safety focus

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLC

Siemens PLC

SCADA

HMI

VFDs

Electrical schematics

Job description

SWM International is seeking a Mechanical & Automation Engineer to support reliability, maintenance, and automation of manufacturing equipment and facility systems. This role collaborates with the Maintenance Manager, Millwrights, Electricians, and Operations to ensure the safe, efficient operation of plant equipment.

The position blends mechanical engineering with controls and automation to improve performance, reduce downtime, and drive continuous improvement across the facility.