Job Description
We are seeking a hands-on Manufacturing Automation Engineer to support machining, robotics, and automated manufacturing operations. This role will develop, program, commission, and improve automation systems to strengthen safety, quality, equipment uptime, and production efficiency.
Location: Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
Salary: $72,000–$98,000
Hire Type: Direct Hire
Benefits: A comprehensive benefits package is offered, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, paid holidays, a 401(k) retirement plan, life insurance, , and additional employee perks.
Key Responsibilities:
- Program, debug, and commission industrial robotic systems, with a focus on CNC machine tending.
- Develop manufacturing processes using CNC and manual machining methods.
- Design, build, modify, and maintain fixtures that support safe, repeatable production.
- Lead automation projects from concept through production launch.
- Develop functional and technical specifications for automation equipment and systems.
- Improve cycle times, equipment reliability, uptime, and error recovery.
- Integrate manufacturing equipment with data collection and monitoring systems.
- Troubleshoot automation and manufacturing issues during new product launches and ongoing production.
- Train operators and maintenance personnel on automated manufacturing systems.
- Research, justify, and recommend capital equipment investments that improve safety, productivity, and manufacturing costs.
- Support continuous improvement efforts across manufacturing operations.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related field.
- 5–8 years of hands-on experience programming industrial robots and automation systems.
- Experience with CNC machining, machining tool selection, and process optimization.
- Strong experience with robot programming, PLC programming, and HMI development.
- Experience using Creo and/or SolidWorks, including CAM processors.
- Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
Numbers & Facts
| Location | Buffalo Grove, IL |
| Industry | Staffing/Employment Agencies |
| Salary | $72,000–$98,000 Per Year |
| Company Size | 500 to 999 employees |
| Year Founded | 1969 |
| Website | http://www.sterling-engineering.com |
About Company
Sterling Engineering has been a trusted partner for engineering, project management, and staffing solutions for over five decades. We provide exceptional engineering/technical recruitment and engineering project services to clients nationwide:
- Engineering & Technical Recruitment - With our focus on engineering, technical, and IT, Sterling has the in-depth knowledge, industry expertise, and robust employee pipeline it takes to rapidly find talent for even the most difficult to fill positions. Sterling’s extensive recruitment methodology allows us to engage the most talented employees in the marketplace. We offer exciting work and career-building opportunities for our candidates, along with expert support at every step of the process.
- Engineering Project Services – Our experienced, multi-disciplined team of project managers, engineers, and designers, led by licensed Professional Engineers (PE), provide project management, engineering, design, and Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation (CQV) to manufacturing, OEM, and R&D customers. We work on complex, highly technical projects across a number of industry sectors, and our ability to scale and seamlessly integrate at multiple levels of your organization is what differentiates us.
Sterling offers a unique combination of engineering solutions and Best of Staffing level service to help our clients and talent achieve their goals.
Skills
- Automationunmatched
- Automation Engineeringunmatched
- Automation Systemsunmatched
- CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing)unmatched
- CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) Systemsunmatched
- Capital Equipmentunmatched
- Communication Skillsunmatched
- Continuous Improvementunmatched
- Data Collectionunmatched
- Debugging Skillsunmatched
- Electrical Engineeringunmatched
- Equipment Specificationunmatched
- Error Recoveryunmatched
- Human Machine Interface (HMI)unmatched
- Identify Issuesunmatched
- Investment Capitalunmatched
- Machine Toolunmatched
- Machiningunmatched
- Manufacturingunmatched
- Manufacturing Automationunmatched
- Manufacturing Costunmatched
- Manufacturing Equipmentunmatched
- Manufacturing Operationsunmatched
- Manufacturing Systemsunmatched
- Manufacturing/Industrial Processesunmatched
- PTC Creounmatched
- Problem Solving Skillsunmatched
- Process Developmentunmatched
- Process Improvementunmatched
- Product/Service Launchunmatched
- Productivity Managementunmatched
- Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)unmatched
- Requirements Managementunmatched
- Roboticsunmatched
- Safety/Work Safetyunmatched
- SolidWorksunmatched
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