Kwik Lok Hiring for Automation Engineer at Yakima, Washington Full Time

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Kwik Lok has been producing a product that most of us have depended on our entire lives – the clip that closes your produce and loaves of bread to keep it fresh! Kwik Lok is an innovation and engineering organization focused on sustainability. We are in the business of “hacking the package” – innovating clever advantages in packaging to get food to the table faster, fresher, and safer while reducing waste. Kwik Lok is a 3rd generation, family-owned company headquartered in Yakima, WA with 8 offices and 6 plants worldwide. We are a mid-size company delivering our product to almost 100 countries. We know that people are looking for jobs that are a better fit in their lives right now. Here are a few pieces of information that might help you decide whether Kwik Lok is a good fit for you:

• Inclusive culture: Kwik Lok is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion to increase the success of our employees and customers. We want every person to feel part of the team! Our team members come from a variety of backgrounds, and we see value in learning from each other’s different perspectives.

• Innovation: Our goal is to create an environment where employees can be curious and express ideas to identify new and better solutions. We want every employee to be engaged in improving our workplace and work processes. Innovation isn’t just for engineers!

• Meaningful work: We know that every job has things you’ll love doing and things you’ll love less. Our goal is to engage our employees in our vision for the company and provide them with meaningful work where they can learn, grow, and be part of solutions that improve the lives of our customers and their communities while protecting the health of our planet. No matter what your job entails, we want you to know that what you do makes a difference.

• Impacting the community and environment: Kwik Lok takes corporate social responsibility seriously, and we appreciate that our position in the industry gives us the ability to help do good in so many areas. We are committed to providing educational and economic opportunity, improving well-being, fostering innovation, and protecting the planet. You can read our most recent Sustainability Report (https://www.kwiklok.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/KL_626-3_2020-CSR-Report_Nov19pm-compressed-1.pdf) on our website.

• Work-life balance: At Kwik Lok, we know that in order for you to be your best at work, you need time to recharge as well. Whenever possible, we offer flexibility in start/stop times and even opportunities for remote work. We want you to be energized at work, and when the day is done we want you to go home and enjoy your personal life!

AUTOMATION ENGINEER – ROLE OVERVIEW

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Automation Engineer to join our dynamic team. As an Automation Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and implementing automated systems and processes to streamline and optimize our operations and equipment. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in mechanical engineering principles, product development, programming knowledge, hands-on experience with automation technologies, and project management. Your role will involve collaborating with cross-functional teams to identify automation opportunities, designing efficient solutions, and overseeing the successful implementation of automation projects. Your expertise will be crucial in driving innovation, ensuring design integrity, optimizing the performance and reliability of our products, and help shape the future of our organization. This position reports directly to our Engineering Manager, and upholds the Kwik Lok Corporation philosophies with dedication to continuous improvement in food safety, quality, and integrity.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of automation solutions, mechanical systems, and components from concept to final production. You will play a key role in generating innovative solutions and enhancing operational efficiency, productivity, and quality.

• Conduct thorough analysis of existing processes, workflows, and systems to identify opportunities for automation, and provide recommendations for continuous improvement and innovation.

• Develop detailed project plans, including system requirements, specifications, and timelines for automation projects.

• Select, configure, and integrate appropriate automation technologies, such as robotic systems, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and industrial control systems (ICS).

• Create and maintain technical documentation, including system design, specifications, and operating procedures.

• Collaborate with teams to program, test, and troubleshoot automation systems to ensure optimal performance and reliability.

• Collaborate with vendors, suppliers, and contractors to source and integrate automation components.

• Train and support operations teams in the proper use and maintenance of automated systems.

• Stay up-to-date with the latest automation technologies, industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including electrical engineers, industrial designers, and manufacturing professionals, to ensure seamless integration of mechanical components into overall product design.

• Utilize computer-aided design (CAD) software to create 3D models, simulations, and prototypes for testing and validation.

• Oversee and participate in the creation of detailed engineering drawings, bill of materials (BOM), and technical documentation in accordance with industry standards and best practices.

• Lead design reviews, ensuring compliance with project goals, schedule, and budget.

• Support the manufacturing and production teams by providing technical expertise, resolving design-related issues, and optimizing manufacturing processes for efficiency and quality.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.

• Experience: 4 years minimum experience as an Automation Engineer or similar role with a successful track record of delivering complex mechanical systems and products.

• Strong knowledge of automation technologies, including robotics, PLCs, ICS, HMIs, and SCADA systems.

• Extensive experience in designing and developing mechanical systems and components, including proficiency in structural design, mechanism design, and materials selection.

• Proficiency in CAD software, SolidWorks preferred

• Thorough understanding of programming languages such as ST, RLL, C/C++, C#, MATLAB, Java, Python or MicroPython. Direct programming experience preferred.

• Familiarity with industrial control systems, including PLC, DCS, SCADA, and HMI systems (e.g., RSLogix, CompactLogix, FactoryTalk View, Step7, WinCC, PLCnext).

• Solid understanding of manufacturing processes, assembly techniques, and design for manufacturability (DFM) principles.

• Understanding of electrical design and control systems interactions with mechanical processes

• Experience with Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, or other process improvement methodologies preferred.

• Familiarity with regulatory and safety standards in industrial automation (e.g., ISO 9001, OSHA) preferred.

KEY SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

• Detail oriented and highly organized

• Approaches work with an innovative spirit, constantly focused on continual improvement

• Extreme curiosity and interest in how things work paired with strong creativity

• Ability to effectively problem solve, think analytically, and make data-driven decisions

• Strong project management and organizational skills to support both internal and external customers (e.g., timeline, resources, task prioritization and completion)

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and present technical information to stakeholders at various levels. Comfortable working in a team with frequent collaboration and interaction with others

• Must be able to pass pre-employment drug and background screenings

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship

ALL THE DETAILS…

• Pay commensurate with experience: 82,526-120,839 per year

• Insurance Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription, Life and Disability Insurance plans (60 day waiting period)

• Retirement Benefits: 401K Plan with company match (90 day waiting period – restrictions apply)

• Paid Time Off: (90 day waiting period, prorated for first year)

• Vacation: 120 hours a year, with increases based on years of service

• Holidays: 70 hours a year (8.5 days): 1 Floating Holiday, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the Friday following, half day on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day

• Sick Leave: 40 hours a year, accrued at 1 hour per 40 hours worked for hourly employees, salary employees prorated for first year

• Other Compensation: Employees may be eligible for annual performance bonuses

• Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, or 7:00am to 3:30pm

• Location: Yakima, Washington, in office.

• Work environment: Occasionally bends, squats, reaches, kneels, and may lift up to 40 lbs. on occasion. Constantly seeing, hearing, talking. Noise level in office environment 10dB, 85-95 dB in production environment.

To learn more about Kwik Lok, visit www.kwiklok.com (http://www.kwiklok.com).

Kwik Lok is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. We strongly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply. We value a diverse workforce and provide equal opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, genetic information, or status as a veteran. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job, or participate in the application and interview process.

To view labor compliance information, click here (https://kwiklok.canto.com/b/I15MH).