Sr. Automation Engineer

Westlake; Salisbury (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Westlake is seeking a Senior Automation Engineer to drive automation strategy across our building products manufacturing operations. You will lead projects from concept through commissioning, improving plant safety and performance and partnering with engineering, operations, IT, and manufacturing teams to implement practical, high-impact solutions.

This hands-on role requires 10+ years in manufacturing engineering, strong PLC/HMI and robotics experience, and excellent communication.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Automation or Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
• 5+ years in automation, capital project management, engineering design, and equipment integration.
• Hands-on PLC/HMI programming and ladder logic experience.
• Experience with industrial robotics (FANUC, ABB, or KUKA).
• Strong project leadership and communication skills.
• Experience with project planning, scheduling, budgeting, risk assessment, and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead automation projects from concept and design through installation, commissioning, and startup.
• Develop solutions that improve safety, reliability, productivity, and operational efficiency.
• Partner with engineering, manufacturing, IT, and project teams to identify automation and AI opportunities.
• Manage scope, schedule, budget, risk, and stakeholder communication.
• Perform feasibility studies and technical assessments to support sound engineering decisions.
• Troubleshoot complex issues and provide post-implementation support.
• Provide technical guidance and training to plant teams.

Skills

PLC/HMI programming

Robotics

Project leadership

Troubleshooting

Communication

AutoCAD

Education

Bachelor's degree in Automation or Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Job description

We are seeking a Senior Automation Engineer to help drive automation strategy and execution across our building products manufacturing operations. In this role, you will lead automation projects from concept through commissioning, improve plant safety and performance, and partner cross-functionally with engineering, operations, IT, and manufacturing teams to implement practical, high-impact solutions. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced engineer who thrives in a hands-on manufacturing environment and wants to make a meaningful impact across multiple sites.

What You’ll Do

• Lead automation projects from concept and design through installation, commissioning, and startup.
• Develop solutions that improve safety, reliability, productivity, and operational efficiency.
• Partner with engineering, manufacturing, IT, and project teams to identify automation and AI opportunities.
• Manage scope, schedule, budget, risk, and stakeholder communication.
• Perform feasibility studies and technical assessments to support sound engineering decisions.
• Troubleshoot complex issues and provide post-implementation support.
• Provide technical guidance and training to plant teams.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Automation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
• 5+ years of experience in automation, capital project management, engineering design, and equipment integration.
• Hands‑on knowledge of PLC/HMI programming, ladder logic, and industrial robotics such as FANUC, ABB, or KUKA.
• Strong project leadership, troubleshooting, and communication skills.
• Experience with project planning, scheduling, budgeting, risk assessment, and technical documentation.
• AutoCAD experience is a plus.

Why Join Us

This is an opportunity to take on visible, high-impact work in a hands‑on manufacturing environment. You’ll partner with cross-functional teams, help shape automation strategy across multiple sites, and play a key role in driving meaningful operational improvement.

This role includes both office and plant‑floor work. Travel is expected approximately 30–40%, and candidates should be comfortable working in an industrial environment and using required PPE.