Senior Industrial Automation Engineer

Arxlight; Michigan; On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Arxlight Pictures seeks a hands-on Senior Industrial Automation Engineer to automate drone manufacturing from the ground up. You will design and build automated cells, robotics, fixtures, and the data layer behind the line to enable traceability and rapid iteration.

You will work cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Hardware, Test and Supply Chain to identify bottlenecks, reduce costs, and raise throughput while maintaining quality.

Qualifications

• Extensive hands-on automation engineering experience for complex hardware.
• Proven track record designing and commissioning automated stations or lines.
• Strong PLC, controls, safety circuits and HMI development experience.
• Robotics programming and integration with vision, sensors and tools.
• Python and data collection for MES and hardware communication.
• CAD design of fixtures and tooling with safety risk assessment.
• Willingness to work hands-on on the production floor and adapt quickly.

Responsibilities

• Map drone build process and own an automation roadmap.
• Develop PLC, motion control, robot and HMI programs and integrate systems.
• Build data layer behind the line for traceability and analysis.
• Automate calibration, end-of-line test, firmware flashing and packaging.
• Collaborate with Hardware and Manufacturing for design-for-automation changes.
• Own stations from concept through validation, including tooling design.
• Analyze stoppages and defects, implement fixes with lasting impact.

Skills

Automation engineering

PLC and controls

Robot programming

HMI development

Python programming

Systems integration

CAD design

Tools

Siemens PLC

Rockwell/Allen-Bradley

Beckhoff

FANUC robots

KUKA robots

Universal Robots

Vision systems

Job description

Senior Industrial Automation Engineer

About the job

We’re looking for a hands‑on Senior Industrial Automation Engineer to automate as much of Arxlight’s drone manufacturing process from the ground up.

You’ll design and build the automated cells, robotics, fixtures to create a repeatable, high‑yield production line. That spans component prep, subassembly, final assembly, calibration, end‑of‑line test and packaging. There’s no existing automated line or set of standards to inherit. You’ll decide what gets automated first and build it, often while the product design is still changing.

You’ll work closely with Manufacturing, Hardware, Test and Supply Chain to find the steps that limit throughput, quality or cost, and replace them with automation that actually holds up on the floor. When a station is down or a new design needs to be production‑ready, you’ll be the one who gets it running, without waiting for a ticket. This role suits someone who likes building machines, writing the code that runs them, and measuring whether they made the line better, and who wants manufacturing to keep pace with a team that moves fast.

What you'll do

• Map the end‑to‑end drone build process, identify the steps that limit throughput, quality, cost or safety, and own a prioritized roadmap for automating them.

• Develop PLC, motion control, robot and HMI programs, and integrate vision systems, sensors, torque tools and test equipment into reliable, maintainable stations.

• Build the software and data layer behind the line, connecting stations to MES, traceability and data collection so every unit's build history, process parameters and results are recorded and easy to analyze.

• Automate calibration, end‑of‑line test, firmware flashing and packaging steps, working with Test Engineering to make production test fast and repeatable.

• Work directly with Hardware and Manufacturing to drive design‑for‑automation and design‑for‑manufacturing changes, so new drone designs can be built on the line without rework.

• Own stations from concept through validation and ramp, including fixture and tooling design, process capability, cycle time, OEE, preventive maintenance, operator training and documentation.

• Investigate line stoppages, defects and yield losses, find root causes, and make fixes that stick.

Required qualifications

• 7+ years of hands‑on experience in industrial automation, controls, robotics, or manufacturing engineering for complex hardware products.

• Proven track record designing, building, and commissioning automated assembly stations or production lines, from concept through stable production.

• Strong PLC and controls experience (e.g. Siemens, Rockwell/Allen‑Bradley, Beckhoff or similar), including ladder logic or structured text, motion control, safety circuits, and HMI development.

• Hands‑on experience programming and integrating industrial or collaborative robots (e.g. FANUC, ABB, KUKA, Universal Robots), along with machine vision, sensors, pneumatics, and end‑of‑arm tooling.

• Strong programming skills in Python or similar languages for station software, data collection, and integration with MES, databases, and hardware communication protocols such as EtherNet/IP, Modbus, OPC UA, serial, or CAN.

• Experience designing fixtures and tooling in CAD (SolidWorks, Onshape or similar), and applying machine safety standards and risk assessment to equipment design.

• Comfortable working hands‑on on the production floor, building and debugging your own equipment, and moving quickly when the product or volumes are changing.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience automating the manufacture of drones, robotics, aerospace hardware, consumer electronics, or other complex electromechanical products.

• Experience automating electronics and electromechanical processes such as PCBA handling, wire harness and connector assembly, motor and propeller assembly, battery pack assembly, potting, or conformal coating.

• Experience with automated calibration and end‑of‑line test for sensors, IMUs, cameras, motors, ESCs, radios, or GPS/GNSS.

• Experience with MES, traceability, and manufacturing data systems, and using production data to improve yield, cycle time, and OEE.

• Experience with lean manufacturing, line balancing, process capability (Cp/Cpk), PFMEA, and scaling a product from low‑volume builds to high‑rate production.

• Experience in a startup or fast‑moving hardware company where you’re expected to build the automation from scratch, not just maintain an established line.