Robotics & Automation Engineer II - Modern Manufacturing

Benchmade Knife Company; Oregon City (OR); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Benchmade Knife Company in Oregon is seeking an Automation & Robotics Engineer II to define and drive our advanced automation roadmap. You will lead cross-functional teams from concept through production, developing robot applications and simulations while integrating new sensing and vision technologies.

The role requires hands-on debugging, design of fixtures, and coordination with manufacturing, controls, and quality teams to deliver safe, reliable automation that improves throughput and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Robotics, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 3+ years of experience automating manufacturing equipment & processes.
• Experience as a systems integrator preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute Benchmade’s automation roadmap.
• Lead automation projects from concept through proof of concept, execution, installation, integration, validation, and production release.
• Develop project scopes, technical requirements, schedules, budgets, acceptance criteria, and implementation plans.
• Independently develop FANUC robot applications, including program structure, motion, frames, tooling, I/O, equipment handshakes, fault recovery, and cycle optimization.
• Create robotic simulations, reach studies, interference studies, and cycle-time estimates using FANUC ROBOGUIDE or similar tools when appropriate.
• Design fixtures, nests, grippers, end-of-arm tooling, part-presentation systems, and other automation hardware using SolidWorks.
• Build and test R&D prototypes to evaluate new robotic processes, tooling, sensing technologies, and manufacturing concepts.
• Translate successful proof-of-concept projects into clear requirements for outside systems integrators.
• Manage machine builders and integrators through design reviews, builds, testing, installation, and final acceptance.
• Coordinate project execution with manufacturing engineering, controls engineering, operations, maintenance, quality, safety, vendors, and integrators.
• Provide technical ownership and engineering support for automation systems in production.
• Troubleshoot robotic, mechanical, pneumatic, sensing, controls, and process-related issues.
• Lead root-cause analysis and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Improve existing automation systems to increase safety, quality, reliability, throughput, and maintainability.
• Develop and maintain robot-programming, mechanical-design, documentation, and integration standards.
• Create technical documentation, including drawings, bills of materials, specifications, test plans, robot backups, operating instructions, and troubleshooting guides.
• Support robotic risk assessments, guarding reviews, and equipment safety validation.
• Train and mentor engineering, maintenance, and production personnel on robotic automation systems.

Skills

FANUC programming

Robotics integration

SolidWorks

Robotic simulation

Project leadership

Cross-functional teamwork

Troubleshooting

Mechanical design

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Robotics, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

FANUC ROBOGUIDE

SolidWorks

Job description

Benchmade Knife Company in Oregon is seeking an Automation & Robotics Engineer II to define and drive our advanced automation roadmap. You will lead cross-functional teams from concept through production, developing robot applications and simulations while integrating new sensing and vision technologies.

The role requires hands-on debugging, design of fixtures, and coordination with manufacturing, controls, and quality teams to deliver safe, reliable automation that improves throughput and