Automation Engineer

Position Summary

Mural Group is partnering with a precision CNC machining shop in Hamilton, Ohio to find an Automation Engineer who wants to do meaningful work at the intersection of robotics, advanced machining, and manufacturing engineering.

This shop serves aerospace, defense, energy, and turbomachinery customers with close-tolerance components machined from difficult materials. Automation is not an afterthought here; it is a core part of how they compete and grow. They run robotic work cells, lights-out machining programs, and Matsuura 5-axis platforms integrated with automation systems, and they are looking for an engineer who can own, expand, and improve that infrastructure.

What You Will Own

• Design, program, integrate, and commission automated manufacturing work cells, including robotic loading and unloading systems, pallet automation, and lights-out machining configurations

• Develop and maintain robot programs (FANUC, Makino, or comparable platforms) and integrate them with CNC machine controls

• Partner with machinists, programmers, and shop leadership to identify automation opportunities that improve throughput, reduce labor dependency, and increase capacity utilization

• Troubleshoot and resolve automation system issues on live production equipment; minimize downtime and maintain uptime across automated work cells

• Support CAM and toolpath development in collaboration with CNC programmers, with an eye toward automation-friendly machining strategies

• Evaluate new automation technologies, fixtures, tooling, and equipment; develop business cases and implementation plans

• Create and maintain documentation for automated systems: work instructions, electrical schematics, PLC ladder logic, and maintenance procedures

• Train operators and machinists on automated system operation and basic troubleshooting

• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives targeting cycle time reduction, yield improvement, and capacity expansion

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechatronics, or equivalent hands-on experience

• 3 or more years of automation engineering experience in a manufacturing environment, with direct responsibility for robotic work cell design, integration, or programming

• Experience programming and commissioning industrial robots (FANUC preferred; Yaskawa, ABB, or KUKA also considered)

• Familiarity with CNC machine integration, including M-code and macro programming for automation handshaking

• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, pneumatic diagrams, and mechanical drawings

• Strong troubleshooting instincts on live automation systems under production pressure

• Comfortable working independently and taking ownership of a system end-to-end

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Matsuura or similar high-end 5-axis machining centers and their automation interfaces

• Background in lights-out or unattended machining environments

• Familiarity with CAM software (Mastercam, HyperMill, CampleteTruePath, or similar) and how toolpath strategy affects automation feasibility

• Aerospace, defense, or high-precision manufacturing experience

• PLC programming experience (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or equivalent)

• Experience with vision systems, probing, and in-process gauging integrated into automated work cells