Product Development Automation Engineer

Deka Research & Development - Manchester, NH

Full-time

Manchester, NH

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

As a member of the DEKA team, the Product Development Automation Engineer will work as part of DEKA's innovative product design teams to specify, engineer, integrate, validate, and support automated manufacturing equipment for the mass production of DEKA's innovations. This role involves specifying, designing, and managing control and data acquisition systems, which include electrical, pneumatic, communication, and data storage functions for both new and existing production equipment. The engineer will interact daily with large automation equipment integrators to ensure progress tracking and to resolve technical and program issues promptly. The engineer will also be responsible for developing robust, cutting-edge manufacturing techniques suitable for high-volume use. This includes generating and maintaining validation lifecycle documentation, effectively identifying root causes of observed issues or control systems risks, and implementing robust corrective actions. Utilizing machine data and database elements, the engineer will develop visible process performance tools for daily process monitoring in engineering and operations. Maintaining frequent and regular contact with operations, engineering, and quality departments is essential to understand and address any observed or perceived issues with equipment, systems, and reporting. To be successful in this role, the engineer will need a strong foundation in electrical and controls engineering, along with practical experience in a highly regulated medical manufacturing environment. The position requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.

Responsibilities

• Specify, design, and manage control and data acquisition systems for production equipment.
• Interact daily with automation equipment integrators to track progress and resolve technical issues.
• Develop robust manufacturing techniques for high-volume production.
• Generate and maintain validation lifecycle documentation.
• Identify root causes of issues and implement corrective actions.
• Utilize machine data to develop process performance tools for monitoring.
• Maintain communication with operations, engineering, and quality departments to address equipment and system issues.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 5 years of experience with PLC programming, vision systems, and controls troubleshooting in a regulated medical manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of RS232, Ethernet/IP, and remote I/O communications protocols.
• Proficiency with Keyence, Cognex, Teledyne, or similar vision systems.
• Understanding of JAVA, Python, SQL, and/or Visual Basic.
• Ability to use Excel, Word, Access, and related software for machine design and programming.
• Experience with various sensor technologies including 0-20ma, 4-20ma, 0-5VDC, and 0-10VDC analog signals.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities daily.