Automation Engineer

Description Grow boldly with Pretium and be a robotics and automation innovator! About Us: Pretium Packaging, founded in 1992, is a leading supplier of injection-blow molded plastic containers, known for delivering superior quality, value, and customer service. With 17 manufacturing locations across North America, we provide innovative, high-performance packaging solutions to a diverse portfolio of brand owners in the U.S. and Canada. What You’ll Be Responsible For: As an Automation Engineer, you’ll serve as a critical liaison between our manufacturing plants and corporate engineering, leading initiatives that optimize performance, elevate safety standards, and create consistency across our network while designing and supporting innovative automated systems . This is a remote role that will require up to 75% travel. In this role your expertise will shine in the areas of: Continuous Improvement : Champion efficiency, safety, and performance across all sites, leading 5S implementations to foster a culture of visual organization and workplace discipline. Process Standardization : Partner with local plant teams to standardize tooling, equipment, and operational processes, including building, maintaining, and controlling standardized SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures). Automation Design and Support : Design, program, install, and support automated systems across various industrial applications, including PLCs, HMIs, sensors, VFDs, motor controls, safety systems, and communication networks (Ethernet/IP, Profinet, Modbus, etc.). Root Cause Analysis and Troubleshooting : Serve as the go-to resource for root cause analysis (RCA), providing hands-on support to plant maintenance teams and delivering solutions for complex technical issues under time-sensitive conditions. Operational Enhancements : Guide plants through labor optimization, changeover improvements, and scrap reduction, while developing and championing SMED (Single-Minute Exchange of Dies) programs to reduce downtime and improve flexibility. Project Leadership : Lead new product projects from initial design through final production validation, owning the process every step of the way. Business Development : Support business growth by identifying opportunities, scoping work, assisting with estimates, and recommending value-added solutions to customers. Vendor and Customer Relationships : Build and nurture relationships with vendors and contractors to ensure exacting standards and consistent service, while collaborating with customers to translate complex technical concepts effectively. Mentorship and Leadership : Mentor and support junior engineers and technicians as departments grow, setting an example that aligns with our core values. Compliance and Safety : Ensure all engineering and automation practices meet safety and regulatory compliance standards. Continuous Learning : Stay ahead of industry trends by adapting to modern technologies and reverse-engineering solutions for legacy or third-party systems. What You’ll Bring: Education : Bachelor’s degree in engineering (required). Experience : 3+ years in a manufacturing environment, with 10+ years of hands-on industrial automation experience across manufacturing, material handling, processing, logistics, or related industries. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and projects. Deep expertise in automation and controls, including PLC and HMI programming, sensors, VFDs, motor controls, safety systems, integration, and communication networks. Prior exposure to the plastics industry is a strong advantage (EBM/IBM). Technical Skills : Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word). Experience with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES). Experience with AutoCAD (required); SolidWorks is a plus. Experience with Machine Vision. Ability to read and interpret electrical and mechanical drawings; design experience is a plus. Strong mechanical aptitude to complement electrical and automation skills. Key Competencies : Inspiring and engaging teams to achieve ambitious goals. Operational problem-solving and delivering sustainable results. Deep understanding of asset care and reliability engineering. Ability to set strategic direction and execute tactical improvements. High attention to detail, organizational skills, and solid business acumen. Entrepreneurial mindset, always seeking ways to add value, drive growth, and improve operations. Excellent communication skills, able to translate complex technical concepts for both engineers and non-technical customers. Natural leadership, aligned with core values of servant leadership and excellence in quality. Why Join Pretium? At Pretium Packaging, we manufacture rigid plastic containers for some of the most recognized brands in the marketplace. Our plants operate with a strong emphasis on safety, performance, and continuous improvement. Travel Required Yes . 75% Travel