Senior Automation Engineer

Kai USA Ltd. - Kershaw Knives, Zero Tolerance Knives, Shun Cutlery, and Kai Housewares; Tualatin (OR); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Kai USA Ltd. is hiring a Senior Automation Engineer in Tualatin, Oregon.

This hands-on role leads automation projects from concept through commissioning—designing, building, programming, installing, and troubleshooting systems that improve productivity, quality, ergonomics, and uptime. You’ll program PLCs, FANUC robots, and servo systems, design work cells and control panels, and collaborate with internal teams and vendors to solve challenging manufacturing problems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years related experience in automation.
• Hands-on electrical design and control-panel building.
• Experience with PLCs and FANUC robots.

Responsibilities

• Lead automation projects from concept, design, fabrication through programming, installation, and commissioning.
• Develop autonomous systems and modernize existing manufacturing equipment.
• Program PLCs, HMIs, FANUC robots, servo systems, and industrial controls.
• Design work cells, fixtures, tooling, control panels, schematics, and bills of materials.
• Partner with internal teams, vendors, and technical specialists to solve manufacturing challenges.

Skills

PLC programming

FANUC robotics

Electrical design

Motion control

Industrial wiring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

Control panels

Job description

Build automation that moves manufacturing forward.

Kai USA Ltd. is hiring a Senior Automation Engineer in Tualatin, Oregon. This is a hands-on opportunity to take automation projects from concept through commissioning—designing, building, programming, installing, and troubleshooting systems that improve productivity, quality, ergonomics, and uptime.

What you’ll do:

• Lead automation projects from concept, design, and fabrication through programming, installation, and commissioning.
• Develop autonomous systems and modernize existing manufacturing equipment.
• Program PLCs, HMIs, FANUC robots, servo systems, and industrial controls.
• Design work cells, fixtures, tooling, control panels, schematics, and bills of materials.
• Partner with internal teams, vendors, and technical specialists to solve complex manufacturing challenges.

What you bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering and at least eight years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong hands-on experience in electrical design, control-panel building, industrial wiring, PLC programming, motion systems, and motor controls.
• Advanced proficiency in ladder logic, structured text, and continuous function charts.
• Experience programming FANUC industrial robots and working with industrial communication protocols.
• A practical, collaborative approach and the drive to turn ideas into reliable production solutions.

If you’re energized by hands-on engineering and want to build automation that makes a measurable impact, we’d like to hear from you.