Automation Engineer (Mandarin / Chinese Preferred)

THE COMPANY

Our client is a U.S.-headquartered global leader in industrial interconnect solutions, with manufacturing, sales, and marketing operations worldwide. They are part of a company with over $15 billion USD in revenue and multiple divisions.  The company specializes in high-reliability power and signal connectors, as well as complete interconnection systems engineered for demanding industrial applications. Its solutions support a wide range of sectors, including alternative energy, power generation and storage, rail and mass transit, process control, automotive manufacturing, heavy equipment, wireless infrastructure, and petrochemical industries.

The organization’s product portfolio includes advanced power interconnects featuring RADSOK® technology, ruggedized commercial cylindrical connectors such as AC Threaded (SAE AS50151), PT (MIL-DTL-26482), and GT reverse bayonet styles, as well as custom assemblies, cable harnesses, and other industry-standard interconnect solutions.

This group is backed by a team of more than 900 skilled professionals and industry-leading certifications including ISO 9001 and IATF 16949, the company consistently delivers products that meet the highest standards of quality, performance, and reliability across global industrial markets.

THE POSITION

Job Description Summary:

The Automation Engineer will design, deploy, and sustain automated assembly and test solutions for high-volume, high-mix electrical connector manufacturing (contacts, terminals, housings, over-molded / insert?molded components, subassemblies). You’ll collaborate with manufacturing, quality, maintenance, tooling, and supply chain to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost across Company Industrial production lines.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Solution Development

• Own concept to ramp for automated assembly and test equipment: requirements (URS), vendor selection, RFQs, design reviews, FAT/SAT, installation, validation, and handover.
• Architect PLC/HMI, motion, robotics, and vision systems for processes such as pin/terminal forming and insertion, crimping, press fit, heat staking, ultrasonic/laser welding, adhesive/potting, screwdriving, soldering, laser marking, and 100% in line inspection.
• Specify and integrate feeders (vibratory/flexible), servo/pneumatic actuators, tooling, sensors, conveyors, fixtures, and poka-yoke.

Controls, Software, and Data

• Program PLCs, HMIs, motion, and safety PLCs.
• Deploy and program robots/cobots and machine vision for guidance and inspection.
• Connect equipment to MES/SCADA for traceability, barcode/2D data matrix/RFID, OEE, and real time analytics. Use SPC/DOE/MSA for process capability.

Industrialization and Compliance

• Lead PFMEA, control plans, process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), PPAP/FAIR as applicable (IATF 16949, ISO 9001).
• Ensure electrical and machine safety compliance, ESD, and LOTO. Partner with EHS on guarding and ergonomics.

Operations Support and CI

• Troubleshoot chronic downtime, reduce MTTR/MTBF issues, and drive root cause/corrective actions.
• Lead kaizen, SMED, standard work, and 5S to improve throughput, yield, and changeover.
• Create documentation (SOPs, schematics, PLC/HMI backups, BOMs), train technicians and operators, and mentor junior engineers.
• Manage spares strategy and CMMS inputs with Maintenance.
• Identify opportunity to improve efficiency, machine up time, cycle time reduction by improving program or stronger the machine learning.

THE CANDIDATE

Qualification and Experience Required:

• BS in Mechatronics, Robotics, Electrical, Mechanical, or Manufacturing Engineering (or equivalent experience).
• 3+ years in automation for precision assembly; small parts or connector manufacturing strongly preferred.
• Hands on PLC/HMI programming, servo/motion tuning, and electrical panel troubleshooting.
• Experience with robotics/cobots, machine vision, pneumatics, and fixture/tooling design.
• Proficiency with PFMEA/CP/PPAP or IQ/OQ/PQ, SPC, MSA/GR&R, root cause (8D/A3).
• Read and create electrical/mechanical drawings (schematics, GD&T); familiarity with CAD and EPLAN/AutoCAD Electrical.
• Connector/process experience: crimping, pin insertion, press fit, over molding/insert molding, ultrasonic/laser welding, heat staking, potting/adhesives, continuity/hipot testing.
• Exposure to IATF 16949 (automotive), AS9100 (aerospace), or ISO 13485 (medical).
• Safety and electrical standards: NFPA 79, UL 508A, CE marking; machine risk assessment.
• Data/IIoT: OPC UA, SQL, Ignition, FactoryTalk, basic Python or structured text.
• Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt, PMP, or equivalent project leadership credentials.
• Vendor management experience and capital project delivery ($100k–$2M+).

Core Competencies

• Systems thinking and structured problem solving.
• Project management: scope, schedule, budget, and stakeholder alignment.
• Clear technical communication, change management, and shop floor presence.
• Bias for action, ownership, and continuous improvement mindset.

Language

• Ability to converse and understand Mandarin is highly PREFERRED. Our team relies on our sister plants and vendors in China to troubleshoot existing equipment and scope out new equipment.

Physical/Environmental Requirements:
The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, sit, stand; walk; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. Must be able to sit and/or stand for long periods of time. Ability to work in labs, at customer sites, and with hands-on equipment. Occasional lifting of samples/equipment (up to 50 lbs.). Regular domestic travel and occasional international travel.