Staff Factory Automation Engineer

VulcanForms Inc. • Devens, MA

1d • $131,000 - $170,000

About The Position

As the Staff Factory Automation Engineer, you will be the primary architect of the advanced automation cells and "lights-out" manufacturing strategies that power VulcanForms’ production scale. You will drive the development and deployment of production-ready engineering solutions to improve factory efficiency, throughput, and 24/7 scalability. Your goal is to simplify, standardize, and automate labor-intensive operations, providing high-performance technical leadership while fostering a culture of engineering excellence and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, factory automation, or industrial systems development within a high-stakes production environment.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Robotics Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Proven track record of leading the design, build, and deployment of complex automation cells from concept to 24/7 production.
• Strong hands-on expertise in industrial robotics, PLC-based control systems, vision systems, and automated material handling.
• Expert-level ability to interpret operational needs and translate them into functional, technical, and safety requirements.
• Deep understanding of manufacturability, reliability, and maintainability (DfM/DfR/DfM) within a high-precision manufacturing setting.
• Proven ability to collaborate across engineering disciplines (Mechanical, Electrical, Software) to drive technical alignment and project execution.

Nice To Haves

• Experience driving highly automated or "lights-out" manufacturing initiatives in an industrial/factory setting.
• Hands-on familiarity with metal Additive Manufacturing (AM) and the unique automation challenges of powder-bed fusion or post-processing.
• Experience with SCADA systems, industrial IoT (IIoT), and integrating hardware results into centralized "digital threads."

Responsibilities

• Identify and lead the development of engineered solutions for high-cost labor areas and low-throughput processes to increase capacity and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Act as the primary technical authority for the automation roadmap, identifying operational constraints and translating them into clear, actionable system requirements.
• Own the end-to-end development of automation solutions, from initial concept and prototyping through commissioning and stable production release.
• Lead the transition of successful prototypes into production-ready systems, ensuring designs are robust, repeatable, scalable, and safe.
• Establish and maintain engineering standards, design guidelines, and validation protocols (IQ/OQ/PQ) to ensure systems meet factory uptime and quality expectations.
• Partner closely with Operations and Engineering teams to ensure automation cells align with real-world factory workflows and integrate seamlessly with enterprise platforms (MES, PLM, ERP).
• Provide technical mentorship and design reviews for the broader engineering team, driving the reuse and standardization of automation platforms across multiple sites.

Benefits

• VulcanForms offers a competitive salary and equity package.
• Actual compensation is based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience.
• In addition, VulcanForms provides comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; generous paid time off; and a 401(k) plan with company match.
• The annual base salary range for this position is $131,000 to $170,000.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level