Robotics Paint Engineer

Eakas Corporation; Peru (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Eakas Corporation in Peru, IL is seeking a Paint Robotics Engineer to develop, program, optimize, and support robotic paint systems for plastic automotive components. You will ensure consistent appearance, coverage, and quality across launches and production.

You will lead robot teaching, calibrations, and process documentation while collaborating with production, maintenance, quality, and launch teams to improve yield and uptime.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent hands‑on experience in a technical field.
• 3+ years experience supporting robotic paint systems in automotive/plastics/industrial finishing.
• Experience programming and troubleshooting 6‑axis paint robots (FANUC, ABB, Dürr, Kawasaki, Yaskawa).
• Knowledge of painting processes, atomization, transfer efficiency, curing, and defect analysis.

Responsibilities

• Develop, modify, and optimize robotic paint paths for plastic automotive parts.
• Support automated paint booth operations and related controls.
• Troubleshoot paint defects such as coverage, runs, orange peel, adhesion issues.
• Perform robot teaching, program backups, calibration, TCP verification, and process documentation.
• Lead trials for new parts, process changes, and continuous improvement projects.
• Analyze process data and downtime trends to identify improvements.

Skills

Six-axis robotic paint robots

Robotics programming

Troubleshooting

Root cause analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

FANUC

ABB

Dürr

Kawasaki

Yaskawa

Job description

Job Description

The Paint Robotics Engineer is responsible for developing, programming, optimizing, and supporting robotic paint systems used in the production of plastic automotive components. This role ensures that automated paint processes deliver consistent appearance, coverage, film build, adhesion, quality, uptime, safety, and cost performance across new launches and ongoing production.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, modify, and optimize robotic paint paths for plastic automotive parts, including trigger points, gun distance, speed, angle, overlap, fan pattern, flow rate, atomization, and electrostatic settings.
• Support automated paint booth operations, including robots, applicators, fluid delivery systems, conveyors, fixtures, part presentation, flash zones, ovens, and related controls.
• Troubleshoot paint defects such as light coverage, heavy build, runs, sags, orange peel, dry spray, dirt, contamination, adhesion issues, color variation, and appearance concerns.
• Perform robot teaching, program backups, calibration, TCP verification, applicator setup, and process parameter documentation.
• Partner with production, maintenance, quality, process engineering, tooling, and launch teams to improve first-pass yield, reduce scrap, improve uptime, and stabilize production.
• Lead robotic paint trials for new parts, process changes, color changes, engineering changes, equipment upgrades, and continuous improvement projects.
• Analyze process data, quality results, downtime trends, paint usage, transfer efficiency, and defect Pareto information to identify improvement opportunities.
• Support PLC, conveyor, robot controller, safety interlock, networking, and communication troubleshooting in coordination with controls and maintenance teams.
• Create and maintain robot programs, setup sheets, standard work, process control plans, troubleshooting guides, and launch documentation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Robotics, Automation, or a related technical field; equivalent hands‑on experience may be considered.
• Three or more years of experience supporting robotic paint systems in automotive, plastics, industrial finishing, or a related manufacturing environment.
• Hands‑on experience programming and troubleshooting 6‑axis paint robots, such as FANUC, ABB, Dürr, Kawasaki, Yaskawa, or similar systems.
• Strong understanding of plastic part painting, surface preparation, paint application methods, atomization, transfer efficiency, curing, masking, fixturing, and coating defect analysis.
• Ability to read and interpret robot programs, electrical prints, mechanical drawings, process sheets, control plans, and customer specifications.
• Working knowledge of automated paint booth equipment, spray guns or bells, fluid delivery systems, pumps, regulators, color change systems, conveyors, ovens, and booth environmental controls.
• Strong troubleshooting, root cause analysis, communication, organization, and project follow‑up skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools and the ability to document process settings, trials, improvements, and corrective actions.

Company Description

For more than 35 years, we have proudly manufactured automotive parts in Peru, Illinois, building a strong reputation for quality and reliability. Due to continued growth and increasing demand, we are expanding our facility for the third time, reinforcing our commitment to innovation, local investment, and future success.