Sr. Automation Engineer

Fresenius Medical Care; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Fresenius Medical Care in Knoxville, TN seeks an experienced Automation Engineer to lead PLC/automation development across manufacturing lines, from design through production. You will evaluate supplier capabilities, validate processes, and mentor junior staff while coordinating with planning, maintenance and tooling to optimize throughput and quality in a regulated medical-device environment.

Experience with Siemens PLC, Profibus, robotic systems (ABB/Fanuc/EPSON), and Lean/Six Sigma is highly

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required; advanced degree a plus.
• Minimum 5 years’ related experience.
• Medical device industry experience or regulatory industry preferred.
• Able to work independently or with a team to complete projects on time and within budget.
• Strong problem solving, scheduling and prioritizing skills.
• Progressively thinking outside the box and ability to lead/motivate teams.
• Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies, tools, and principles.
• Experience with automated equipment.
• Experience with Siemens PLC.
• Experience with Profibus Network.
• Experience with PLC Analyzer.
• Hands-on experience with SEW Drives (MOVI DRIVES).
• Hands-on experience with EPSON and/or Fanuc robots and ABB robots.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Proficient with PCs and Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Develops PLC/automation and troubleshooting support for all plant departments.
• Creates acceptance criteria and conducts tests.
• Assesses existing and new supplier capabilities.
• Prepares process validation protocols, executes and documents results.
• Manages vendors for parts or equipment.
• Supports maintenance and set up of new equipment.
• Investigates manufacturing deviations and anomalies related to automation and software.
• Interacts with planning, tooling and maintenance to optimize production.
• May mentor junior staff and assist with complex tasks.
• Complies with Code of Business Conduct and company policies.
• Assists with various projects as assigned by supervisor.

Skills

PLC programming

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Project management

Communication skills

Problem solving

Team leadership

Documentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree

Tools

Siemens PLC

Profibus Network

PLC Analyzer

SEW Drives

MOVI DRIVES (SEW)

EPSON robots

Fanuc robots

ABB robots

Job description

Purpose and scope

Provides plant automation and process engineering support. Provides engineering efforts from inception through production in new and existing product design and manufacturing systems development.

Principal duties and responsibilities

• Conducts Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)/automation development and troubling shooting supporting all plant departments. Understands manufacturing, mechanical, electrical, computer, etc. engineering principles with experience in software engineering.
• Creates acceptance criteria and conduct acceptance tests.
• Conducts assessment of existing and new supplier capabilities.
• Prepares process validation protocols, execute, and document results.
• Interacts and manages vendors concerning parts or equipment they supply or propose to supply.
• Experienced Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) manufacturing programmer.
• Processes, develops tests, analyzes data, and makes recommendations.
• Manages multiple projects in a manufacturing environment from maintenance of existing machines to specifying, purchasing, and set up of new equipment.
• Performs investigations relating to manufacturing deviations and anomalies associated with automation and software.
• Interface with planning, tooling, and maintenance departments to optimize and ensure efficient production.
• Confer with vendors to determine product specifications and arrange for purchase of equipment, materials or parts, and evaluate products according to specifications and quality standards.v
• Maintain general housekeeping of working area and plant.
• May provide assistance to junior level staff with more complex tasks that require a higher level of understanding of functions.
• May elevate issues to supervisor/manager for resolution, as deemed necessary.
• Mentor other staff as applicable.
• Review and comply with the Code of Business Conduct and all applicable company policies and procedures, local, state and federal laws and regulations.
• Assist with various projects as assigned by a direct supervisor.
• Other duties as assigned.

Physical demands and working conditions

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception and corrected 20/20 vision.
• Regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually loud. Personal protective equipment for hearing is required.

Additional responsibilities may include focus on one or more departments or locations. See applicable addendum for department or location specific functions.

Experience and required skills

• Bachelor’s Degree required, advanced degree a plus.
• Minimum 5 years’ related experience
• Medical device industry experience or other regulatory industry preferred.
• Able to work independently or with a team to complete projects on time and within budget.
• Strong problem solving, scheduling and prioritizing skills, self-motivated and directed.
• Progressively thinking outside the box is pivotal to this position. With proven ability to lead and motivate from both a development team as well as users and operators.
• Experience with Lean manufacturing and six sigma methodologies, philosophies, tools, and methods.
• Experience working with automated equipment.
• Experience on SIEMENS PLC
• Experience on Profibus Network
• Experience on PLC Analyzer
• Experience on SEW Drives (MOVIDRIVE)
• Hands on experience on EPSON and/or Fanuc robots
• Hands on experience on ABB Robots
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Proficient with PCs and Microsoft Office applications.

Fresenius Medical Care maintains a drug-free workplace in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.