Robotics Engineer - CNC Machining

ruger; Prescott (AZ); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Ruger in Prescott, AZ is seeking a Robotics Engineer to maintain, troubleshoot, and continuously improve robotic machine-tending systems supporting CNC machining operations. The role emphasizes quick recovery from downtime, reduction of recurring faults, and strong hands-on troubleshooting across robots, CNC interfaces, PLCs, safety systems, sensors, and end‑of‑arm tooling.

The engineer will also contribute to development work, including robot programming changes, tooling improvements, new-part

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in robotics, electrical engineering, mechatronics, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, or related field preferred; associate degree or equivalent hands-on automation experience considered.
• Hands-on experience maintaining, troubleshooting, programming, and recovering industrial robots in a production environment.
• Ability to troubleshoot robot-to-CNC and robot-to-PLC interfaces, discrete and networked I/O, safety systems, sensors, pneumatics, and end-of-arm tooling.
• Knowledge of CNC machining, machine-tool operation, workholding, part presentation, cutting-tool considerations, and automated loading/unloading.
• Ability to read and interpret robot programs, electrical schematics, pneumatic diagrams, and mechanical drawings.
• Experience using structured root-cause analysis and downtime data to eliminate recurring equipment failures.
• Ability to work on the manufacturing floor, manage urgent downtime priorities, and communicate with operators, technicians, engineers, suppliers, and leadership.
• Willingness to support off-shift troubleshooting, planned shutdown work, installations, runoffs, and occasional travel as business needs require.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on daily support for robotic CNC machine-tending cells; respond to downtime events and restore safe production quickly.
• Troubleshoot robot programs, CNC handshakes, PLC logic interfaces, HMIs, industrial networks, safety circuits, sensors, grippers, hydraulic/pneumatic devices, conveyors, vision systems, and other peripherals.
• Diagnose intermittent and recurring failures using alarms, logs, trends, I/O states, and structured root-cause analysis; implement corrective actions.
• Create, improve, and execute preventive and predictive maintenance plans for robots, tooling, safety equipment, cables, sensors, and peripherals.
• Maintain robot programs, backups, and change records; manage spare-parts lists and electrical documentation.
• Develop standard work for startup, shutdown, fault recovery, changeover, calibration, and safe manual operation.
• Train maintenance technicians, operators, and engineers to recognize failure modes and recover equipment safely.
• Track downtime and failure data, identify chronic losses, and prioritize uptime improvements and MTBF.
• Support production changeovers, new-part introductions, fixture changes, robot path adjustments, and process validation.
• Modify and optimize robotic cells to improve reliability, maintainability, safety, and mixed-model performance.
• Support development projects with concepts, reach/payload studies, robot programming, and supplier runoffs.
• Ensure compliance with machinery, electrical, lockout/tagout, and robotic safety standards.

Skills

Robotics troubleshooting

Robot programming

Root-cause analysis

Downtime analysis

Maintenance planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in robotics or related field

Associate degree or equivalent experience

Tools

FANUC

ABB

Yaskawa Motoman

KUKA

Universal Robots

CNC controls knowledge

PLC interfaces

HMIs

Job description

Job Description

Position Summary: The Robotics Engineer will primarily maintain, troubleshoot, and continuously improve robotic machine-tending systems supporting CNC machining operations. The role is responsible for restoring equipment quickly, eliminating recurring faults, improving preventive maintenance, and helping production and maintenance teams safely recover automated cells. The engineer will also support a smaller portfolio of development work, including robot programming changes, tooling improvements, new-part introductions, equipment upgrades, and selected new automation projects. Success requires strong hands-on troubleshooting across robots, CNC machines, PLC interfaces, safety systems, sensors, end-of-arm tooling, and cell peripherals.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on daily support for robotic CNC machine-tending cells, responding to downtime events and restoring safe production as quickly as practical.
• Troubleshoot robot programs, CNC handshakes, PLC logic interfaces, HMIs, industrial networks, safety circuits, sensors, grippers, pneumatic devices, conveyors, vision systems, gaging equipment, and other cell peripherals.
• Diagnose intermittent and recurring failures using alarms, logs, trends, I/O states, sequence logic, and structured root-cause analysis; implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Create, improve, and execute preventive and predictive maintenance plans for robots, end-of-arm tooling, safety equipment, dress packs, cables, sensors, and automation peripherals.
• Maintain robot programs, mastering data, backups, recovery procedures, spare-parts lists, electrical and pneumatic documentation, and change records.
• Develop clear standard work for startup, shutdown, fault recovery, changeover, calibration, and safe manual operation.
• Train maintenance technicians, operators, and engineers to recognize common failure modes, recover equipment safely, and elevate issues effectively.
• Track downtime and failure data, identify chronic losses, and prioritize improvements that increase uptime, mean time between failures, cycle-time stability, quality, and overall equipment effectiveness.
• Support production changeovers, new-part introductions, fixture and gripper changes, robot path adjustments, and process validation.
• Modify and optimize existing robotic cells to improve reliability, maintainability, safety, part presentation, gripping, error recovery, and mixed-model performance.
• Support selected development projects by assisting with concepts, reach and payload studies, robot programming, supplier reviews, runoffs, installation, commissioning, and production launch.
• Ensure all work complies with company requirements and applicable machinery, electrical, lockout/tagout, and robotic safety standards.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in robotics, electrical engineering, mechatronics, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field preferred; an associate degree or equivalent technical experience will be considered for candidates with strong hands-on automation experience.
• Hands‑on experience maintaining, troubleshooting, programming, and recovering industrial robots in a production environment.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot robot‑to‑CNC and robot‑to‑PLC interfaces, discrete and networked I/O, safety systems, sensors, pneumatics, and end‑of‑arm tooling.
• Working knowledge of CNC machining, machine‑tool operation, workholding, part presentation, cutting‑tool considerations, and automated loading and unloading.
• Ability to read and interpret robot programs, sequence‑of‑operations documents, electrical schematics, pneumatic diagrams, mechanical drawings, and equipment manuals.
• Experience using structured root‑cause analysis and downtime data to eliminate recurring equipment failures.
• Ability to work effectively on the manufacturing floor, manage urgent downtime priorities, and communicate clearly with operators, technicians, engineers, suppliers, and leadership.
• Ability to support off‑shift troubleshooting, planned shutdown work, installations, runoffs, and occasional travel as business needs require.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting FANUC, ABB, Yaskawa Motoman, KUKA, Universal Robots, or other industrial robot platforms.
• Experience with CNC controls and machine tools from manufacturers such as FANUC, Siemens, Okuma, Mazak, DMG MORI, or similar.
• Experience troubleshooting PLCs, HMIs, safety PLCs, industrial Ethernet networks, servo systems, vision systems, and automated gaging.
• Knowledge of robot preventive maintenance, calibration, mastering, backup and restore procedures, battery replacement, grease service, dress‑pack inspection, and spare‑parts planning.
• Experience with machine tending, bin picking, automatic tool changing, force sensing, part cleaning, marking, inspection, and error‑proofing.
• Experience with offline simulation, CAD, basic PLC programming, and devel