Senior Controls/Automation Engineer

Itron, Inc.; West Union (SC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Financial benefits

Social programs

Health & wellbeing programs

Paid vacation

401k matching

Employee stock purchase program

Job summary

Itron, Inc. in West Union, SC is seeking a Senior Controls/Automation Engineer to lead the design, development, and optimization of manufacturing equipment and automated systems for electricity meters, gas meters, and related products.

You will apply mechanical engineering fundamentals and industrial automation expertise to improve equipment performance, reduce total manufacturing cost, and mentor junior engineers while collaborating with R&D, Quality, and Operations. Travel is 1‑10%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in high‑volume environments.
• Strong CAD design skills using Creo or SolidWorks; solid understanding of machine design.
• Experience with industrial automation including robots, PLCs, vision systems, and safety systems.
• Ability to analyze complex problems, improve OEE, reduce cycle time, and lower costs.
• Strong communication, leadership, and mentoring abilities.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, install and sustain manufacturing equipment and automated systems for meters and related products.
• Lead mechanical design efforts including CAD modeling, DFMEA/PFMEA/MFMEA support, fabrication and qualification.
• Develop and support automation solutions with robots, PLCs, vision systems, and safety systems.
• Own equipment lifecycle from specifications through FAT/SAT, installation, validation, and handoff to operations.
• Improve OEE, FPY, and reduce Scrap/Rework through data analysis and corrective actions.
• Mentor junior engineers and technicians, and provide cross‑functional collaboration.

Skills

CAD design

Industrial automation

Robotics

PLCs

Problem solving

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

PTC Creo

SolidWorks

Cognex vision systems

FANUC/ Staubli robots

Allen-Bradley PLCs

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.

As a Senior Controls/Automation Engineer working for the Manufacturing Engineering team at Itron in West Union, SC, you will lead the design, development, deployment, and optimization of manufacturing equipment and automated assembly systems to enable the profitable manufacturing of electricity meters, gas meters, network products, and battery-powered devices. You will apply mechanical engineering fundamentals and industrial automation expertise to design robust manufacturing solutions, improve equipment performance, and reduce total manufacturing cost (TMC). You will also provide technical leadership through hands‑on troubleshooting, cross‑functional collaboration, and mentorship of junior engineers and co‑ops, ensuring sustainable long‑term manufacturing capability.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Design, develop, install, qualify, and sustain manufacturing equipment and automated assembly systems to support the profitable manufacturing of electricity meters, gas meters, network products, and battery-powered devices (BPD).
• Lead mechanical design efforts including concept development, CAD modeling and analysis, DFMEA/PFMEA/MFMEA support, fabrication, assembly, installation, and qualification of manufacturing equipment and tooling.
• Develop, integrate, and support industrial automation solutions utilizing industrial robots (FANUC, Staubli, etc.), PLCs (Allen Bradley, Beckhoff, etc.), vision systems (Cognex, FANUC iRVision), safety systems, and material handling equipment.
• Own the full equipment lifecycle including specifications, supplier engagement, FAT/SAT, installation, commissioning, validation, and handoff to Operations.
• Improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), improve First Pass Yield (FPY), and reduce Scrap and Rework to reduce Total Manufacturing Cost (TMC) through analysis of equipment performance, downtime, cycle time, and failure modes, implementing sustainable corrective actions.
• Provide onsite and remote technical support to troubleshoot equipment, automation systems, and mechanical issues, minimizing downtime and ensuring stable production.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing documentation including equipment specifications, drawings, schematics, risk assessments, work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs), preventative maintenance schedules, and control plans.
• Mentor junior manufacturing engineers and technicians, providing guidance on mechanical design, automation best practices, troubleshooting, and structured problem‑solving.
• Utilize manufacturing data (including MS‑SQL databases, Power BI dashboards) to generate reports, identify issues, and drive data‑driven continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with R&D, Quality, Operations, and Supply Chain to support New Product Introduction (NPI), representing Manufacturing Engineering throughout the Product Lifecycle (PLC).
• Deploy Lean manufacturing principles and tools to drive daily accountability on critical KPIs - Safety, Quality, Delivery, Inventory, and Productivity (SQDIP).

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.
• 5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in high‑volume production environments, with handson involvement in equipment design, industrial automation, and system integration.
• Strong mechanical engineering background, including CAD design (PTC Creo, SolidWorks), machine design principles, equipment build/debug, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Proven experience with industrial automation systems including robots (FANUC, Staubli), PLCs (AllenBradley), vision systems (Cognex), safety systems, and integration of sensors, actuators, and tooling.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex manufacturing problems, identify root causes, and implement solutions that improve OEE, reduce cycle time, and lower manufacturing costs.
• Strong communication, leadership, and mentorship skills, with experience coaching and developing lessexperienced engineers.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles, continuous improvement tools, and structured problemsolving methodologies (e.g., A3, 8D).
• Project management experience.
• Experience working with external equipment suppliers, system integrators, and crossfunctional teams.
• Experience working with manufacturing data systems, performance dashboards, or analytical tools used to monitor equipment and operational KPIs.

Travel

1 - 10%

Benefits Info

• financial
• social
• health and wellbeing programs
• paid vacation
• 401k matching
• employee stock purchase program
• and more!

#LI-MD1

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.

If you require an accommodation to apply, please contact a recruiting representative at 1-800-635-5461 or email [e-mail].

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