Senior Controls/Automation Engineer

Itron; South Carolina; On-site; USD 85,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k matching

Employee stock purchase program

Job summary

Itron’s West Union, SC facility is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to lead development, optimization, and industrialization of manufacturing processes and automation for safety‑critical Utilities & Energy products. You will partner with design, quality, and operations teams to manage projects, drive improvements, and enhance safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.

You will specify equipment, craft process documentation, and pursue data‑driven improvements to boost OEE and

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on manufacturing engineering in a regulated/tech-driven environment.
• Proven project management experience with timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
• Structured problem-solving skills to resolve manufacturing and quality challenges.
• Strong collaboration and communication across engineering, operations, quality, and supply chain.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering or related technical field.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and industrialize manufacturing processes and automation.
• Collaborate with Design Engineering to ensure manufacturability and scalability.
• Lead manufacturing engineering projects with scope, schedule, and budget accountability.
• Estimate costs and establish time standards for tooling, equipment, and processes.
• Support automation solutions (PLCs, robotics, vision systems) and drive continuous improvement.
• Maintain documentation and process flow diagrams; PFMEA/MFMEA and control plans.

Skills

Manufacturing engineering

Project management

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering

Tools

CAD (SolidWorks/Creo)

PLCs & robotics

Job description

Itron is innovating new ways for utilities and cities to manage energy and water. We create a more resourceful world to protect essential resources for today and tomorrow. Join us.

The Senior Manufacturing Engineer at our West Union, SC manufacturing facility leads the development, optimization, and industrialization of manufacturing processes and automation to support new and existing products in a safety‑critical Utilities & Energy environment. This role partners closely with design, quality, and operations teams to manage projects, resolve complex manufacturing challenges, and drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance. The position is accountable for equipment selection, process documentation, and data‑driven improvements that increase OEE and overall operational excellence.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve manufacturing methods, process flows, and operation sequences for parts, components, sub‑assemblies, and final assemblies in a safety‑critical, technology‑driven environment.
• Partner collaboratively with Design Engineering to support the release and industrialization of new products, ensuring designs are manufacturable, scalable, and customer‑centric.
• Lead and manage manufacturing engineering projects with accountability for scope, schedule, budget, and program deliverables across new and existing product lines.
• Estimate manufacturing costs, establish time standards, and make data‑driven recommendations for tooling, equipment, automation, and process requirements.
• Support and integrate new and existing automation solutions (PLCs, robotics, vision systems) while driving continuous improvement initiatives that enhance safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Analyze and recognize the downstream impact of process or design changes on related components, systems, and stakeholders.
• Resolve complex manufacturing and quality issues through root cause analysis and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Prepare and maintain manufacturing engineering plans, schedules, budgets, and accurate project timelines to support agile execution.
• Specify, justify, and support procurement of new equipment to enable new products and production capacity.
• Develop, maintain, and standardize work instructions, procedures, and manufacturing documentation.
• Create and maintain process flow diagrams and support PFMEA, MFMEA, and control plan development.
• Recommend and implement process and product changes that improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Maintain accurate records and reporting systems to ensure alignment, transparency, and coordination across manufacturing operations.

Required Skills & Experience:

• 5+ years of hands‑on manufacturing engineering experience in a regulated or technology‑driven manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated project management experience with accountability for timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
• Proven ability to resolve in‑depth manufacturing and quality challenges using structured problem‑solving methods.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work authentically across engineering, operations, quality, and supply chain teams.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering or a related technical field.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience supporting automation and advanced manufacturing technologies, including PLCs, robotics, and vision systems.
• CAD experience (SolidWorks, Pro‑E/Creo, or similar).
• Background in continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma) with a track record of improving OEE and KPIs.
• Experience in the Utilities & Energy sector or other safety‑critical, infrastructure‑focused industries.
• Demonstrated ability to innovate and adapt in a fast‑paced, evolving manufacturing environment.

Benefits Info

• This position also includes a competitive benefit package including; financial, social, health and wellbeing programs, paid vacation, 401k matching, employee stock purchase program, and more!

Travel: 0-10%

Itron is committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce and providing an authentic workplace experience for all employees.

If you are excited about this role but your past experiences don't perfectly align with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. In the end, you may be just who we are looking for!

The successful candidate's starting wage will be determined based on permissible, non-discriminatory factors such as skills and experience.

Itron is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Itron is transforming how the world manages energy, water and city services. Our trusted intelligent infrastructure solutions help utilities and cities improve efficiency, build resilience and deliver safe, reliable and affordable service. With edge intelligence, we connect people, data insights and devices so communities can better manage the essential resources they rely on to live. Join us as we create a more resourceful world: www.itron.com