Senior Automation Engineer

REEcycle, Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental and vision benefits

Other benefits

Job summary

A technology firm in Houston is seeking a Senior Automation Engineer to lead engineering efforts on innovative machinery for rare earth element recycling. This role involves managing a team, optimizing proprietary systems, and transitioning prototypes to commercial products. Candidates should have a Bachelor's in engineering, extensive experience in project management, and a proven track record in engineering leadership. Excellent communication and strong proficiency in CAD are essential for this position, which offers career advancement opportunities.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in engineering, product development or manufacturing environments.
• 2+ years of engineering leadership experience managing teams and driving project execution.
• Proven ability to lead end-to-end equipment manufacturing projects.
• Proven ability to lead end-to-end equipment manufacturing projects, including planning, budgeting, scheduling, and vendor coordination
• Strong proficiency in CAD platforms, specifically SolidWorks
• In-depth knowledge of manufacturing processes, industrial materials, design for manufacturability, and supply chain logistics
• Track record of successfully managing small, cross-functional teams toward technical milestones and deliverables

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering team on scaling a Mechatronic System.
• Manage project across all aspects from R&D to commercial implementations.
• Lead efforts to evolve the current prototype into a commercially robust system.
• Serve as the primary internal engineering point of contact, being a thought leader and systems-level problem-solver across all technical aspects of the process and system
• Understand how mechanical and electrical sub-systems interact; coordinate troubleshooting and root-cause analysis
• Oversee external technical partners and ensure deliverables meet requirements and timelines
• Provide clear technical direction and evaluate engineering trade-offs for the product roadmap
• Guide commercialization and production readiness toward a robust, scalable system
• Ensure design meets manufacturing, field servicing, and certification requirements (UL, CE)
• Support deployments and capture field feedback for design improvements

Skills

CAD platforms (SolidWorks)

Project management

Engineering leadership

Manufacturing processes

Strong communication skills

Systems engineering

CAD

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

PLC systems

Hydraulics

Pneumatic systems

Job description

Overview

REEcycle is a Houston-based pioneer in the recycling of rare earth elements (REEs) from end-of-life permanent magnets. Our patented technology is the U.S’ answer to China’s dominance in the rare earth supply chain. REEcycle is backed by institutional investors and supported by a Department of Defense grant, underscoring the importance and urgency of our mission.

As we scale toward commercial deployment, we are seeking a Senior Automation Engineer to lead the team and optimize our proprietary systems. A key focus will be on the deployment, testing, and further build out of our Drive Disassembly Machine (DDM), a critical component to REEcycle’s future success. This system efficiently extracts magnets from hard disk drives, creating economically viable feedstocks for our processes.

We are looking for an energetic self-starter who thrives in dynamic environments, brings inventive and solutions-oriented thinking, and is ready to play a key role in building the future of U.S. rare earth independence.

If you\'re excited by the opportunity to lead engineering efforts at a high-impact company with significant room for career advancement, we’d love to speak with you about our Senior Engineer position.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering team on scaling a Mechatronic System
• Lead and manage project and team across all aspects from R&D to commercial scale implementation
• Develop deep working knowledge of the company’s proprietary machinery, which integrates hydraulics, pneumatics, mechanical assemblies, and PLC-based control systems
• Serve as the primary internal engineering point of contact, being a thought leader and systems-level problem-solver across all technical aspects of the process and system
• Systems Integration and Troubleshooting: Understand how the various mechanical and electrical sub-systems interact, including solenoid valves, pneumatic actuators, linear guides, hydraulic pumps and cylinders, sensors, and control logic
• When issues arise (e.g. unexpected machine behavior), lead root-cause analysis and coordinate troubleshooting, drawing from hands-on diagnostics, system logs, or vendor input as required
• Oversee and Coordinate External Technical Partners: Manage the work of outside automation and systems integration firms, ensuring their deliverables align with system requirements, certification goals, and project timelines
• Provide clear technical direction, evaluate engineering trade-offs, and ensure that outsourced work aligns with the company’s product roadmap and constraints
• Guide Commercialization and Production Readiness: Lead efforts to evolve the current prototype into a commercially robust, scalable, and compliant system
• Ensure the design meets manufacturing, field servicing, and certification requirements (e.g. UL, CE), including documentation, BOM finalization, and design-for-assembly
• Deployment and Field Learning: Support and monitor deployments, ensuring field performance aligns with expectations
• Capture real-world feedback to inform design improvements and de-risk future production runs
• Early Manufacturing Strategy and Vendor Engagement: Collaborate with operations and supply chain teams to plan for small-batch production, including component sourcing, assembly workflows, and QA/QC processes
• Help qualify external manufacturers and assess production feasibility and cost-efficiency
• Operate as a Technical Leader in a Lean Organization: Navigate ambiguity and operate autonomously as the primary in-house engineer, supported by technical advisors and outside collaborators
• Balance strategic systems thinking with a willingness to roll up your sleeves when needed, bridging business goals and technical execution

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Mechatronics, Robotics, or Manufacturing disciplines)
• 8+ years of progressive experience in engineering, product development, or manufacturing environments
• 2+ years of engineering leadership experience, managing teams and driving project execution
• Proven ability to lead end-to-end equipment manufacturing projects, including planning, budgeting, scheduling, and vendor coordination
• Strong proficiency in CAD platforms, specifically SolidWorks
• In-depth knowledge of manufacturing processes, industrial materials, design for manufacturability, and supply chain logistics
• Track record of successfully managing small, cross-functional teams toward technical milestones and deliverables

Desired/Preferred Experience

• Proven project management experience delivering complex engineering initiatives on time and within budget while coordinating multidisciplinary teams and external partners
• Experience taking custom/prototype industrial machinery from concept to commercialization
• Familiarity with relevant compliance standards and certification pathways (e.g. UL, CE marking, electrical/mechanical safety standards)
• Comfort working in agile or fast-moving hardware development environments
• Strong communication and organizational skills with the ability to bridge technical and business functions
• Ability to grow and lead the procurement and development teams, with experience reporting directly to senior management and the C-Suite

Locations and Employment Details

• Location: Houston, Texas (In office)
• Position Type: Full-time
• Salary: Compensation will be based on experience
• Benefits: Health insurance, dental and vision as well as other benefits

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