Senior Engineer, Automation Controls, Air Manufacturing Innovation

Nike Inc; Beaverton, Northern (OR, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Nike Air Manufacturing Innovation in Beaverton, OR, seeks a Senior Automation Controls Engineer to lead system-level performance and drive measurable reliability improvements across extrusion, thermoforming, RF, and automation platforms.

You will own complex technical problems, guide retrofit initiatives, and ensure automation solutions are ready for scalable deployment in production environments. Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Automation, Controls, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in manufacturing, automation, or controls in high-volume environments.
• Advanced troubleshooting of complex industrial equipment and control systems (<50VDC, <440VAC).
• Hands-on experience with PLC and VFD systems (AB, Siemens), HMI, and integrated automation architectures.
• Experience with communication protocols and integration of electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems.
• Proven experience leading equipment continuous improvement or retrofit projects.
• Strong structured problem-solving ability and cross-functional collaboration.
• Ability to read and interpret complex electrical, mechanical, and controls documentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead resolution of critical equipment escalations and drive root-cause elimination.
• Own and execute complex continuous improvement and retrofit projects to improve uptime and cost efficiency.
• Drive improvements in uptime, OEE, and equipment stability.
• Lead vendor engagement across scope definition and execution of technical solutions.
• Support pilot automation solutions and validate readiness for production deployment.

Skills

Automation controls

PLC and VFD systems

HMI & automation architectures

Cross-functional collaboration

Structured problem solving

Leadership

Technical reading

Vendor engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Automation/Controls/Electrical/Mechanical/Mechatronics

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLC

Siemens PLC

AutoCAD Electrical

Job description

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

Nike Air Manufacturing Innovation operates in a fast-paced, highly integrated production environment. This role is part of the Production Equipment Engineering team within Manufacturing Operations, driving equipment reliability and enabling scalable automation deployment. The team serves as the final line of technical support in the escalation process, providing solutions and structured action plans for complex equipment issues. You will partner with Production, Maintenance, Facilities, Planning, EHS, Manufacturing Engineering, IT, and external vendors to support performance, continuous improvement, and pilot-to-scale execution.

Shift:

Office Monday – Friday (8hrs/day).

This role may require working outside of regular business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, to address urgent equipment needs.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are seeking a Senior Automation Controls Engineer who can safely lead complex technical initiatives, own system-level performance, and drive measurable improvements in equipment reliability, automation integration, and manufacturing efficiency.

This role requires a deep understanding of industrial controls systems, automation architecture, and manufacturing process. The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise with leadership capability, able to independently lead critical problem resolution, execute complex retrofit and automation projects, and influence cross-functional teams.

You will play a critical role in stabilizing operations, driving equipment continuous improvement, and ensuring that new and existing systems are production-ready, scalable, and sustainable. The role requires a strong bias for action, strategic thinking, and the ability to translate ambiguous problems into structured solutions that improve uptime, performance, and cost.

This role offers the option to be hired in either Beaverton, OR or Saint Charles, MO.

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Automation, Controls, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, or related Engineering field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in manufacturing, automation, or controls engineering in high-volume production environments.
• Advanced experience troubleshooting complex industrial equipment and control systems (< 50VDC, <440VAC).
• Hands-on experience with PLC and VFD systems (Allen-Bradley, Siemens), HMI, and integrated automation architectures.
• Experience with communication protocols and integration of electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems.
• Proven experience leading equipment continuous improvement or retrofit projects.
• Strong experience applying structured problem solving.
• Ability to read and interpret complex electrical, mechanical, and controls system documentation
• Demonstrated experience working cross-functionally in production environments.
• Strong leadership, communication, and technical decision-making skills.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience with plastics processing equipment (extrusion, thermoforming, RF welding, trimming)
• Experience with robotics (ABB, Denso) and vision systems (Keyence, Cognex) integration
• Proficiency in AutoCAD Electrical or equivalent controls design tools.
• Experience leading vendor-supported projects (scope definition, execution, validation).
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or reliability-centered maintenance principles.
• Experience supporting pilot-to-production transitions of automation solutions.

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

At Nike Air Manufacturing Innovation, you will lead the reliability and performance of advanced manufacturing systems across extrusion, thermoforming, RF, and automation platforms. You will own complex technical problems, drive equipment continuous improvement initiatives, and ensure automation solutions are ready for scalable deployment across production environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead resolution of critical equipment escalations, driving root cause elimination and long-term reliability improvements.
• Own and execute complex continuous improvement and retrofit projects that improve uptime, performance, and cost efficiency.
• Drive improvements in key performance metrics including uptime, OEE, and equipment stability.
• Lead vendor engagement, defining scope, managing execution, and ensuring delivery of technical solutions
• Support and validate pilot automation solutions, ensuring readiness for production deployment and scale.
• Define and implement technical standards, system improvements, lessons learned and best practices.
• Ensure systems are production-ready, maintainable, and sustainable after implementation.
• Mentor and support junior engineers and maintenances technicians, providing technical guidance and problem-solving leadership.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Manufacturing Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering teams to drive execution and alignment.