Automation Engineer

About the company

Ichor Holdings

Semiconductors · 1,001 to 5,000 employees

What you'll do

• Design, develop, implement, and support automation solutions for manufacturing processes and equipment.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual or repetitive processes and improve safety, quality, cost, capacity, and throughput.
• Develop and troubleshoot PLC, HMI, motion control, robotic, and other industrial control systems.
• Support the integration of automated equipment, sensors, controls, and manufacturing systems.
• Partner with Manufacturing and Engineering teams to define automation requirements and develop practical technical solutions.
• Lead or support automation projects from concept and design through installation, validation, and production release.
• Troubleshoot equipment, controls, and process issues and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Develop equipment specifications, technical documentation, work instructions, and standard operating procedures.
• Support equipment commissioning, qualification, and validation activities.
• Analyze equipment and production data to identify performance trends and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Work with equipment manufacturers, integrators, and other external suppliers to develop and implement automation solutions.
• Ensure automation projects comply with applicable safety, quality, and engineering standards.
• Provide technical support and training to manufacturing and maintenance teams.
• Support standardization and replication of successful automation solutions across manufacturing operations.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, Controls Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 3+ years of experience in automation, controls, equipment engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a related technical role.
• Hands-on experience with industrial automation and manufacturing equipment.
• Experience programming, configuring, or troubleshooting PLC and HMI systems.
• Working knowledge of sensors, actuators, motors, motion control, and industrial control systems.
• Hands-on experience with EtherCAT-based automation architectures, with CODESYS and/or TwinCAT preferred; candidates with strong IEC 61131-3 Structured Text experience on other platforms (e.g., B&R) are also encouraged to apply.
• Troubleshooting experience with complex electromechanical devices and systems.
• Comfortable working across both software and hardware, applying modern, structured programming approaches (not solely relay/ladder logic); experience with version control (Git) is expected.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, P&IDs (Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams), technical specifications, and equipment documentation.
• Strong troubleshooting and root-cause problem-solving skills.
• Experience supporting equipment installation, commissioning, or production implementation.
• Ability to manage technical projects and priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate across technical and operational teams.
• Experience with robotics, machine vision, servo systems, or advanced motion control.
• Experience programming or integrating industrial robots such as FANUC, ABB, Yaskawa, or similar systems.
• Familiarity with EtherCAT (Ethernet for Control Automation Technology), OPC UA (Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture), or other industrial communication protocols, and manufacturing system integration.
• Experience with mechanical (ME) or electrical (EE) CAD, electrical panel design/build, or other automation design software.
• Programming or scripting experience using Python, C#, Ignition, or similar languages/platforms.
• Experience with automated data collection, equipment connectivity, or manufacturing execution systems (MES).
• Experience working with machine builders, automation integrators, or equipment suppliers.
• Experience in semiconductor, precision manufacturing, cleanroom, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• A hands-on approach to engineering and problem solving.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to translate manufacturing challenges into practical automation solutions.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work across Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Manufacturing teams.
• Ability to balance immediate production needs with longer-term automation and process improvement goals.
• Curiosity and a willingness to learn new automation technologies, equipment, and processes.

What you need

• Experience with industrial automation, PLCs, controls, robotics, or manufacturing equipment

Key skills

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