Senior Manufacturing Automation and Robotics Engineer

Critical Materials Group; Ballinger (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Critical Materials Group is expanding its advanced automated manufacturing capability for energetic materials and munitions components.

The Senior Manufacturing Automation & Robotics Engineer leads automation, robotics integration, material handling, and digital manufacturing efforts for the AIME/LAP program, translating concepts into scalable production systems with robotics, machine vision, controls, and data systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Robotics, Manufacturing, or Chemical Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in industrial automation, robotics, manufacturing systems integration, or advanced manufacturing.
• Experience implementing automated production systems in industrial environments.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical projects.
• Experience supporting equipment installation, startup, and commissioning activities.
• Experience working directly with robotics vendors, automation suppliers, and system integrators.

Responsibilities

• Program Execution: serve as engineering lead for the AIME/LAP Program; execute activities to meet cost, schedule and performance objectives.
• Robotics & Automation Integration: lead robotic work cells, material handling, machine vision, and automated workflows.
• Manufacturing Systems Engineering: develop automated workflows; optimize layouts for safety, throughput, quality.
• Digital Manufacturing & Data Integration: establish MES concepts, digital work instructions, reports.
• Controls & Systems Integration: coordinate PLC architectures, HMIs, safety systems, interlocks.

Skills

Industrial robotics

Automated manufacturing systems

Machine vision

PLC and HMI integration

Industrial networking

Production systems engineering

Manufacturing automation

Factory commissioning & startup

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Robotics, Manufacturing, or Chemical Engineering, or related technical discipline

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Senior Manufacturing Automation & Robotics Engineer

Department

Programs — Automated Industrial Manufacturing of Energetics (AIME) / Load, Assemble, and Pack (LAP)

Reports To

Deputy Head of Programs

Location

Primarily on-site, with travel as required

FLSA Status

Exempt

Employment Type

Full-Time, Exempt

Direct Reports

Directs assigned technicians supporting AIME/LAP implementation; coordinates matrixed support from Automation & Digital Systems, Production, Operations, Safety & Compliance, Quality Assurance, and contractors/vendors

Position Summary

CMG is developing an advanced automated manufacturing capability for formulation, loading, assembly, packaging, and quality assurance of energetic materials and munitions components. The Senior Manufacturing Automation & Robotics Engineer serves as the technical execution lead for automation, robotics integration, material handling systems, digital manufacturing technologies, and commissioning activities associated with the AIME/LAP program — translating advanced manufacturing concepts into operational production systems through the integration of robotics, machine vision, industrial controls, automated material handling, digital work instructions, process monitoring, and manufacturing data systems. This role works closely with Production, Operations, and external equipment suppliers to establish scalable manufacturing capabilities that can be replicated across future CMG facilities. Energetics experience is desirable but not required — expertise in industrial automation, robotics, manufacturing systems integration, and production startup is the primary qualification.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Execution: serve as engineering lead for the AIME/LAP Program; execute technical activities supporting cost, schedule, and performance objectives; develop implementation plans; identify and mitigate technical/schedule/integration risks; support sponsor reviews and milestone events.
• Robotics & Automation Integration: lead integration of industrial robotics into manufacturing operations; define robotic work cells, material handling approaches, and automated workflows (robotic handling, automated assembly, machine vision, automated inspection, automated packaging, collaborative robotics); support scalable architectures replicable across future CMG facilities.
• Manufacturing Systems Engineering: develop automated production workflows; optimize factory layouts for safety, throughput, quality, and maintainability; support material handling/conveyance/workstation automation and automated QA/production monitoring; evaluate emerging automation technologies.
• Digital Manufacturing & Data Integration: establish enterprise manufacturing data architectures; support MES concepts, digital work instructions, electronic batch records, process monitoring, production dashboards, and automated reporting.
• Controls & Systems Integration: coordinate with Controls Engineers and integrators on PLC architectures, HMI interfaces, machine safety systems, interlocks, sensor networks, and industrial communications.
• Vendor & Contractor Management: serve as primary engineering interface for automation/robotics vendors; review proposals and specs; participate in design reviews, FAT, SAT, and installation reviews.
• Commissioning & Startup: lead commissioning/startup of automated systems; develop startup plans, acceptance criteria, and readiness checklists; troubleshoot integration issues; support transition to operational production.
• Production Readiness: coordinate with Production for manufacturability; develop operating procedures and training materials; support technician qualification and production readiness reviews; establish maintenance/sustainment requirements.
• Technical Documentation: support Technical Data Packages (TDPs); maintain configuration-controlled equipment specs, control narratives, robotics programming docs, and operating/maintenance/acceptance-test procedures.
• Safety & Compliance: ensure robotic/automated systems comply with safety requirements; support machine safety assessments and hazard analyses; coordinate machine guarding, LOTO, and safety interlocks; promote a strong safety culture.
• Leadership: direct assigned technicians supporting AIME/LAP implementation; coordinate matrixed support across Automation & Digital Systems, Production, Operations, Safety & Compliance, QA, and vendors; support enterprise automation standards and serve as a technical resource to other CMG programs.

Success Measures (12–18 Months)

• Successfully integrated automated manufacturing and robotics systems into the AIME/LAP production environment.
• Established standardized automation architectures replicable across future CMG facilities.
• Implemented robust manufacturing data collection and reporting capabilities.
• Developed complete automation-related Technical Data Packages and operating procedures.
• Successfully commissioned and validated automated production systems.
• Enabled safe, repeatable, and scalable manufacturing operations, serving as a force multiplier across CMG’s broader manufacturing portfolio.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Robotics, Manufacturing, or Chemical Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in industrial automation, robotics, manufacturing systems integration, or advanced manufacturing.
• Experience implementing automated production systems in industrial environments.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical projects.
• Experience supporting equipment installation, startup, and commissioning activities.
• Experience working directly with robotics vendors, automation suppliers, and system integrators.
• Technical skills: industrial robotics; automated manufacturing systems; machine vision systems; PLC and HMI integration; industrial networking; production systems engineering; manufacturing automation; factory commissioning and startup.

Preferred

• Experience supporting energetics, munitions, aerospace, defense, pharmaceutical, chemical, or highly regulated manufacturing operations.
• Experience implementing automated quality inspection systems.
• Experience with digital manufacturing and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).
• Experience with autonomous material handling systems.
• Familiarity with process safety and hazardous manufacturing environments.
• Experience supporting government-funded manufacturing modernization programs.
• Active Secret Clearance or ability to obtain one.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

Based primarily on-site at CMG’s manufacturing campus, with travel to vendor, equipment, and system integrator sites as required to support design, integration, commissioning, and startup activities.

Clearance & Compensation

• Clearance: Not required at hire; Active Secret Clearance or ability to obtain one is preferred.

This job description reflects the general nature and level of work performed and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Critical Materials Group reserves the right to amend this description at any time.