Automation Engineer

Company & Position Overview:  J.B. Poindexter & Co (JBPCO) is a privately held diversified manufacturing company forecasting $2.5B in annual revenue and 8,000 team members in 2023. The nine operating subsidiaries, covering over 50 locations, are engaged in the production of commercial truck bodies, step-vans, utility trucks, funeral coaches, limousines, electric and alternative fuel vehicles, pickup truck bed enclosures, precision machining, and expandable foam plastic packaging.  For more information, visit www.jbpoindexter.com. Automation Engineer will be responsible for leading automation projects from concept to implementation. After implementation, the projects will be handed over to the plant manufacturing engineering and personnel for the start of production.  The project’s life cycle includes, but is not limited to, identifying, justifying, writing the scope of work, selecting the preferred vendor/integrator, ensuring the solution is of good quality and design, ensuring the equipment is up to JBPCO standards, and implementing the solution at the plant.  The Automation Engineer will be executing multiple projects at one time, potentially in different facilities across North America. Within the JBPCO portfolio, the automation engineer could be leading projects that vary from laying fiberglass to machine tending to assembly.  The automation projects at their core are based around safety, labor dependency, quality, workflow, and delivery improvements.   Essential Job Functions:  Leads collaborative discussions between leadership and key stakeholders to determine automation capabilities, opportunities, and goals. Assist in the Factory-of-the-Future visions and road mapping activities associated. Initiate and lead new process development projects using a collaborative team approach including driving product design changes / design for manufacturing (DFM). Leads Concept-to-Commissioning process for automation systems, working closely with internal manufacturing customer and external system integrator. Develop strategies and initiatives to quickly leverage improvements across the enterprise through the strategic design and deployment of communized, scalable equipment systems. Develop procedures to aid the successful rollout of automation in the plants. Act as a change agent to lead change and drive technical innovation within individual plants and across the enterprise. Work cross-functionally and collaboratively, at all levels in the organization, to gain buy-in and ensure successful implementation of projects, strategies, and initiatives. Confers with planning and design staff concerning product design and tooling to ensure efficient Lean production methods. Confers with management, engineering, and other staff regarding manufacturing capabilities, production schedules, and other considerations to facilitate production processes. Drives PFMEA and other Quality Risk Assessment activities. Leads design and implements automated systems for use in fabrication, assembly, and other manufacturing processes. Develop equipment specifications with vendors to meet manufacturing requirements, and arrange for purchase of equipment, materials, or parts. Evaluate equipment according to specifications and quality standards through design reviews, and gated acceptance testing. Works with Business Units on production times, staffing requirements, and related costs to provide information for stakeholder decisions. Adheres to Quality policy by exceeding customer expectations, being customer focused and supporting continuous improvement activities. Adheres to JBPCO and industry safety policies and standards 100% of the time, including but not limited to, RIA, ANSI, ISO, IEEE, and NFPA. Champion automation projects that will reduce risk, improve throughput, safety, quality, space efficiency, and cost effectiveness. Automation project task can include, but not limited to, design and evaluate process and fixtures, preparing concept layouts, drawings, various flow diagrams. Utilize project management skills to maintain an appropriate level of project control with respect to project budget, project timeline, resource allocation, document control, and issuance of purchase orders. Use mathematical modeling, testing and other tools to verify, validate or assess process capability. Create and maintain the required level of control with all JBPCO documents, included but not limited to, solid models, drawings, procedures, and work instructions. Lead training efforts across the enterprise to enable manufacturing operations to be self-sufficient at running, maintaining, and modifying automation systems. Execute or assist vendors/integrators with standardized Task-Based Risk Assessment in accordance with A3 and JBPCO (ANSI/RIA TR R15.306). Work with maintenance on policies, procedures, and spare parts. Lead and train the Business Units on automation safety standards, mechanical and electrical. Qualifications: A self-starter with strong project leadership experience. Successful implementation of automation within a traditionally manual manufacturing environment. Experience with various types of automation, automation vendors, and automation applications. Experience in a high-volume, complex manufacturing environment and/or high-mix, low volume manufacturing environment. Ability to communicate, collaborate, and build rapport with personnel at all levels in a manufacturing environment. Understanding of manufacturing design elements/tools/systems, processes, and regulatory requirements. Understanding of design principles such as Data Analysis, DOE, FMEA, DFM/DFA. Must possess excellent automation/electrical/mechanical aptitude. Ability to work collaboratively within a team as well as independently. Automation experience including manufacturing line development and robotics training. Must have a passion for safety, workplace organization, and continuous improvement with a focus on Lean Tools and Lean implementation. Knowledge of Automation and Process Integration. Proficient with computer systems and software packages such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Power-Point, and Outlook (email). Must have a valid driver’s license and passport. Preferred: Understanding of electrical standards for US, Canada, and Mexico. Optional: 3D CAD Competency (SolidWorks Preferred). Optional: Visual Basic Programming, Ladder Logic, other programming knowledge. Education: BSME, BSIE, BSEE or equivalent. Six years or more of directly related experience.  Travel Expectation: 25% anticipated.   J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.     #LI-MG1