Senior Manufacturing Automation Engineer

We are hiring a Senior Manufacturing Automation Engineer to join our Manufacturing Engineering team! DISCOVER Are you driven by building safer, smarter, and more efficient manufacturing processes? In this role, you will lead key automation initiatives that enhance quality, improve operator experience, and expand our long‑term production capabilities. As a Senior Manufacturing Automation Engineer, you will design and implement automated and semi‑automated systems, develop new manufacturing processes, and partner with cross‑functional teams to introduce technological solutions that advance how our products are built. You will play a central role in optimizing complex operations, including high‑impact areas like spray-on structural reinforcement and assemblies, while guiding projects from concept to production. YOUR RIPPLE EFFECT Are you experienced in developing advanced manufacturing technologies? Define, develop, and implement automation solutions that expand capability and support strategic business goals. Lead major projects that strengthen manufacturing performance. Do you enjoy improving processes to boost efficiency and quality? Design and optimize processes for NPI, VAVE, and sustaining efforts. Identify opportunities to reduce operator burden, improve ergonomics, and elevate production consistency. Are you curious about emerging automation technologies? Research new equipment, robotics, and automation concepts. Conduct benchmarking, feasibility studies, and technology readiness evaluations to recommend the best path forward. Do you work well with vendors and partners? Collaborate with suppliers throughout the life cycle of automation projects — from concept development through installation, commissioning, and handoff into production. Can you analyze capacity, layouts, and make/buy decisions? Support evaluations related to capital planning, new layout configurations, and advanced manufacturing methods. Do you believe documentation is part of great engineering? Develop technical documentation including PFMEAs, process parameters, protocols, and training materials. Partner with production teams to drive understanding and adoption of new processes. Do you lead effectively across teams? Serve as the technical lead and primary engineering contact for assigned automation projects. Coordinate cross‑functional activities and guide the successful transition of new technologies into daily operations. WHAT YOU BRING Bachelor’s degree in engineering required 5+ years of experience in automation/robotics within production or assembly environments Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with project management tools such as Microsoft Project or Smartsheet Experience with CAD platforms (SolidWorks or comparable alternatives) PLC and robotics programming experience (any major language/platform) Strong analytical ability and project management skills Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and process documentation Excellent verbal and written communication skills; bilingual English/Spanish a plus Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification desired Willingness to relocate/travel to Vista, CA. TN Visa sponsorship will be provided by the company. Must be able to meet all legal and documentation requirements for the visa process. Eligibility requires meeting all job description requirements. WHAT YOU’LL GET At Watkins Wellness, we believe that everyone should ‘Feel good. Live well’. We offer employees the opportunity to join a dynamic, growing industry leader with an outstanding and well-deserved reputation for leadership and commitment to our employees, customers and community. Our employees are eligible to receive exceptional health and wellness benefits, paid time off, company bonus, profit sharing, 401k match, education assistance, and much more. We are proud of the people we are and the products we make — products that make a difference to the health and well-being of others. We look for candidates that exhibit The Watkins Way (always Ethical, endeavors to be Transparent, embraces Inclusion, welcomes Diverse backgrounds and perspectives, Accommodating, believes in Work-Life Balance, puts Safety First, Accountable, values Relationships, Passionate, Team Player, and Goal Driven). The employee must frequently lift and move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Company: Watkins Wellness Full time Watkins (the “Company”) is an equal opportunity employer and we strive to employ the most qualified individuals for every position . The Company makes employment decisions only based on merit. It is the Company’s policy to prohibit discrimination in any employment opportunity (including but not limited to recruitment, employment, promotion, salary increases, benefits, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment) based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, pregnancy, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, physical/mental disability, medical condition, marital/domestic partner status, military and veteran status, height, weight or any other such characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. The Company is committed to complying with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all people involved in the operations of the Company regardless of where the employee is located and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of the Company. Watkins is an E-Verify employer. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees in the United States. Please click on the following links for more information. E-Verify Participation Poster: English & Spanish E-Verify Right to Work Poster: English & Spanish