Engineer – Automation Applications/Surgical Robotics

Johnson & Johnson RAD (Robotics and Digital) is seeking for a Engineer, Automation Applications - OTTAVA, for our Santa Clara, Location.

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com 

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit. 

About MedTech Surgery 

Fueled by innovation at the intersection of biology and technology, we’re developing the next generation of smarter, less invasive, more personalized treatments. 

Are you passionate about improving and expanding the possibilities of surgery? Ready to join a team that’s reimagining how we heal? Our Surgery team will give you the chance to deliver surgical technologies and solutions to surgeons and healthcare professionals around the world. Your contributions will help effectively treat some of the world’s most prevalent conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Patients are waiting. 

Your unique talents will help patients on their journey to wellness. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/medtech 

Purpose

The Engineer, Automation Applications will build, develop, and deploy scalable, next-generation automation across manufacturing operations. In this role, you will deliver end-to-end automation solutions—including robotic cells, semi-reconfigurable automated assembly, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), smart workstations, and IoT-enabled workflows—ensuring robust system design, compliance, and seamless integration from the shop floor through OT/IT interfaces to enterprise digital platforms. 

You will drive modular, cost-effective automation that improves throughput and cycle time, elevates quality and reliability, and increases production flexibility. The successful candidate will be mentored and supported by senior colleagues and learn to develop deep hands-on engineering capability, strong troubleshooting instincts, and the ability to make technical decisions across cross-functional teams and external partners. 

Key Responsibilities

• Drive automation solutions from design through commissioning and handover (FAT/SAT, IQ/OQ where applicable, run-at-rate). 

• Support senior engineers in implementing semi-automated to fully automated solutions, including X-Y Cartesian systems, robotic cells, EOAT, vision-guided assembly, smart workstations, and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). 

• Support development of functional specifications (URS/FRS), test plans, acceptance criteria, and commissioning/validation documentation. 

• Participate in system design reviews and help provide technical direction to internal teams and integrators to ensure modular, scalable, and maintainable designs. 

• Specify, integrate, and validate automation hardware and software (robots, PLCs, HMIs, safety controllers, vision systems, sensors, actuators, and industrial networks). 

• Support machine safety and risk assessments (guarding, interlocks, collaborative robot safety) and maintain EHS compliance documentation. 

• Follow functional safety and standards compliance for robot cells and AMR operations (e.g., ISO 10218/TS 15066, ISO 13849/IEC 62061, ISO 12100). 

• Implement OT/IIoT connectivity, edge devices, and monitoring (equipment status, alarms, cycle time, OEE drivers); collaborate on dashboards and analytics. 

• Support and maintain automation standards, reusable libraries, and digital engineering artifacts (robot simulation, offline programming, digital twin where applicable). 

• Partner with manufacturing, operations, quality, IT, and cybersecurity to deliver automation solutions. 

• Work with suppliers and system integrators, including RFQ/SOW development, technical delivery support, schedule tracking, and basic budget management for automation projects. 

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Robotics, Computer, or Manufacturing Engineering. 

• Less than 3 years of experience in industrial automation/robotics  

Required 

• Hands-on interest in various form of automation including industrial robotics; willingness to learn robot cell layout, EOAT fundamentals, machine safety basics, and cycle-time optimization. 

• Basic scripting/programming for automation or data tasks (e.g., Python, C#, or PLC Structured Text). 

• Strong engineering fundamentals, including root-cause analysis across mechanical, electrical, controls, and software interfaces; basic debugging; and mechanical design fundamentals. 

• Familiarity with industrial networking/OT concepts (e.g., EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, OPC UA, MQTT) and willingness to learn basic network troubleshooting. 

• Safety-first mindset and willingness to learn safe design practices (risk assessments, guarding, interlocks). 

• Interest in Lean/Continuous Improvement and using data to improve OEE, throughput, quality, and yield. 

• New graduates with strong technical skills are welcome to apply. 

Preferred 

• Internship/co-op or project experience in manufacturing/automation (robotics, controls, test, equipment engineering, or process engineering). 

• Exposure to PLCs/controls (e.g., Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, Beckhoff, Siemens) through coursework, labs, internships, or projects; ability to troubleshoot I/O, motion, and basic safety concepts is a plus. 

• Exposure to robotics, vision, or motion systems (e.g., ABB, KUKA, Universal Robots; Cognex/Keyence; servo systems) through labs, internships, or personal projects. 

• Basic data/quality tools (e.g., SPC concepts, capability analysis, Pareto, 5-Why) and comfort working with production data in Excel or similar tools. 

• Familiarity with regulated product environments (medical device/pharma), including documentation rigor, change control, and validation concepts (IQ/OQ/PQ). 

• Exposure to Industry 4.0 / IIoT integration (e.g., OPC UA, MQTT, REST APIs) and/or basic SQL, log review, and troubleshooting of data pipelines. 

• Experience collaborating with vendors/system integrators (e.g., contributing to RFQs/SOWs, reviewing designs, supporting FAT/SAT action items). 

Other 

• May require up to 5% domestic and/or international travel. 

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. 

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, external applicants please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers , internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.