OT Automation Engineer

Challenge Mfg. Company LLC; Holland (MI); On-site; USD 92,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401k match

ESOP shares

Paid time off

Job summary

Challenge Manufacturing seeks an OT Automation Engineer to lead automation initiatives across our multi-plant operations. You will deploy Rockwell PLCs, HMIs, and robotics, ensure reliability, security, and compliance with automotive standards while driving Industry 4.0 projects across facilities.

You will standardize controls practices, integrate with MES/SCADA/IIoT, and apply AI/ML for predictive maintenance.

Qualifications

• Associates degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, or Robotics Engineering.
• 5+ years of industrial automation experience in multi-plant automotive manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with Rockwell PLCs, HMIs, and robotics systems (Fanuc, ABB, Kawasaki).
• Experience standardizing automation practices across multiple plants.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills, with multi-site issue resolution.
• Multi-plant project management and new vehicle launch experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, deployment, and optimization of multi-plant automation systems, including Rockwell PLCs, HMIs, and robotics.
• Develop and standardize automation and controls practices across all plants to ensure consistency, reliability, and compliance with automotive standards (IATF 16949, ISO 10218).
• Oversee integration of automation systems with MES, SCADA, IIoT, and analytics platforms for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance.
• Implement Industry 4.0 initiatives, including AI/ML for predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, and quality monitoring.
• Collaborate with Production, Engineering, OT, and IT teams to optimize throughput, line efficiency, uptime, and quality KPIs.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex automation and robotics issues across multiple sites, ensuring rapid recovery and minimal production impact.
• Support new vehicle program launches and plant expansions with robust automation integration, testing, and commissioning.
• Evaluate, recommend, and deploy emerging automation technologies, including collaborative robots (cobots), AMRs, AGVs, and digital twin solutions.
• Establish automation KPIs, monitor performance across plants, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Mentor and develop Controls & Robotics Engineers and technicians across sites.
• Ensure OT cybersecurity and secure connectivity for automation and robotics systems, in collaboration with IT/OT teams.
• Maintain detailed SOPs, technical documentation, system manuals, and disaster recovery plans for multi-plant operations.
• Participate in lean manufacturing initiatives and automation optimization projects.

Skills

Automation engineering

Rockwell PLCs

HMI systems

Robotics integration

Cross-plant coordination

Education

Associates degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Mechatronics/Robotics Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Rockwell Automation hardware

Robotics systems (Fanuc, ABB, Kawasaki)

MES/SCADA/IIoT integration

AI/ML for predictive maintenance

Job description

**Who We Are:** Challenge Manufacturing’s mission is to manufacture with operational excellence by empowering our employee-owners. As a leading tier 1 supplier of complex metal assemblies for the global automotive industry, we drive innovative solutions for future mobility. We believe the best ideas come from individual unique perspectives. These ideas combined with the teamwork of industry leaders allow us to accomplish any challenge. Our team members take pride in the work we do and embody our core values of safety, ownership, and teamwork every day; they are the true driving force in our operations. Challenge is proud to be one of the largest employee-owned automotive companies in North America. One of the many benefits of joining the Challenge team is the ESOP program. This program allows Challenge to give shares of the Company to all employee-owners annually. These shares are an additional retirement benefit that will continue to grow during your time at Challenge. Being part of an ESOP means our employee-owners share in Challenge’s success! Challenge is *#QualityDriven and #PeoplePowered!* **Who We Want:**We are seeking an OT Automation Engineer to lead automation initiatives across multiple automotive plants. This role ensures high-performance, secure, and reliable OT/automation systems, including Rockwell PLCs, HMIs, and robotics systems are deployed and optimized to support high-volume production, Industry 4.0 initiatives, and new vehicle program launches.The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in automation and robotics with multi-plant operational experience, driving efficiency, uptime, quality, and cross-functional collaboration.**What You Will Do:*** Lead design, deployment, and optimization of multi-plant automation systems, including Rockwell PLCs, HMIs, and robotics.* Develop and standardize automation and controls practices across all plants to ensure consistency, reliability, and compliance with automotive standards (IATF 16949, ISO 10218).* Oversee integration of automation systems with MES, SCADA, IIoT, and analytics platforms for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance.* Implement Industry 4.0 initiatives, including AI/ML for predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, and quality monitoring.* Collaborate with Production, Engineering, OT, and IT teams to optimize throughput, line efficiency, uptime, and quality KPIs.* Troubleshoot and resolve complex automation and robotics issues across multiple sites, ensuring rapid recovery and minimal production impact.* Support new vehicle program launches and plant expansions with robust automation integration, testing, and commissioning.* Evaluate, recommend, and deploy emerging automation technologies, including collaborative robots (cobots), AMRs, AGVs, and digital twin solutions.* Establish automation KPIs, monitor performance across plants, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.* Mentor and develop Controls & Robotics Engineers and technicians across sites.* Ensure OT cybersecurity and secure connectivity for automation and robotics systems, in collaboration with IT/OT teams.* Maintain detailed SOPs, technical documentation, system manuals, and disaster recovery plans for multi-plant operations.* Participate in lean manufacturing initiatives and automation optimization projects.**Required Qualifications:*** Associates degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, or Robotics Engineering.* 5+ years of industrial automation experience in multi-plant automotive manufacturing.* Hands-on experience with Rockwell PLCs, HMIs, and robotics systems (Fanuc, ABB, Kawasaki).* Proven ability to standardize automation practices across multiple plants.* Experience integrating automation systems with MES, SCADA, IIoT, and analytics platforms.* Strong problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills, with a track record of multi-site issue resolution.* Multi-plant project management and new vehicle launch experience.**Preferred Qualifications:*** Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Technology Management, or Industrial Automation.* 10+ years of multi-plant industrial automation and robotics experience.* Robotics vendor certifications (Fanuc, ABB, Kawasaki).* Experience with cobots, AMRs, AGVs, and AI/ML integration.* Familiarity with Industry 4.0, digital twin, and predictive maintenance solutions.* Automotive launch/change management experience in high-volume manufacturing.* Leadership experience managing cross-functional OT and automation teams.### Who We AreChallenge Manufacturing’s mission is to manufacture with operational excellence by empowering our employee-owners. As a leading tier 1 supplier of complex metal assemblies for the global automotive industry, we drive innovative solutions for future mobility. We believe the best ideas come from individual unique perspectives. These ideas combined with the teamwork of industry leaders allow us to accomplish any challenge. Our team members take pride in the work we do and embody our core values of safety, ownership, and teamwork every day; they are the true driving force in our operations.Challenge is proud to be one of the largest employee-owned automotive companies in North America. One of the many benefits of joining the Challenge team is the ESOP program. This program allows Challenge to give shares of the Company to all employee-owners annually. These shares are an additional retirement benefit that will continue to grow during your time at Challenge. Being part of an ESOP means our employee-owners share in Challenge’s success!Challenge is ***#QualityDriven** and **#PeoplePowered!***### What We OfferWe’re excited to offer a range of awesome benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions, Flexible Spending Accounts, company-paid Short-Term Disability and Basic Life Insurance, Voluntary Life and Long-Term Disability options, an Employer 401k Match, ESOP shares, tuition reimbursement, a Referral Bonus Program, Challenge Incentive Program, and paid time off.Please note, while these benefits are part of what we offer, they may not all apply to this specific role. The details shared in this job description are intended to give you a general idea, but duties and responsibilities may evolve over time, with or without notice. And of course, we’re happy to provide reasonable accommodations to help individuals with disabilities succeed in their role.