New

Automation Engineer

TEKsystems
$50.00 - $70.00 / hr
life insurance, sick time, 401(k), retirement plan
United States, Texas, Austin
Apr 23, 2026
Description Saronic Technologies is looking to bring in an Automation Engineer to join their team. Saronic Technologies is a defense technology company headquartered in Austin, TX, building autonomous surface vessels for the U.S. Navy and allied forces. The company entered production in February 2025 and is actively investing in automation to increase throughput, repeatability, and scalability across its currently manual production environment. This role sits within the Manufacturing Engineering team under the Production umbrella. Saronic is seeking a highly skilled Automation Engineer to design, develop, and implement automation solutions from the ground up in a medium to low volume production environment. This is a greenfield role - there is no existing automation infrastructure to inherit. This person will be the subject matter expert and will own automation initiatives from concept through implementation and ongoing support, working closely with both the production and design engineering teams. Key Responsibilities: * Identify manual manufacturing processes on the production floor and conceptualize automation solutions from scratch * Design, integrate, and commission robotic systems and other automated equipment into production processes * Develop and program PLCs to control automated processes and custom machinery * Collaborate closely with the product design team to influence product design for optimal automation compatibility and manufacturability * Lead initiatives to improve process repeatability, speed, and efficiency through automation * Act as the subject matter expert in automation - providing guidance and leadership in developing new automated systems with limited external direction * Stay current on new automation technologies and apply them to solve manufacturing challenges * Support ongoing operation and continuous improvement of implemented automation systems * Near-term priorities include automating harness manufacturing processes such as wire cutting, stripping, and crimping Required Qualifications: * Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, mechatronics, automation, or industrial engineering strongly preferred; equivalent experience considered * Proven experience designing and implementing automation processes from scratch - not just sustaining existing systems * Strong PLC programming proficiency - platform agnostic, but must be able to program from scratch, not just configure * Hands-on robot integration and programming experience - platform agnostic * Demonstrated ability to identify manual processes, assess automation feasibility, and independently develop solutions * Strong communication and collaboration skills, particularly with design and manufacturing teams * 3 to 10 years of relevant automation engineering experience * US Person status required * Austin, TX on-site required Preferred Qualifications: * Experience in automotive manufacturing at an earlier-stage company where automation was being built rather than sustained * Familiarity with automation vendors such as Fanuc, KUKA, ABB, or Universal Robots * Experience with automatic wire stripping, cutting, or crimping automation * CAD familiarity (NX or SolidWorks) for design for automation collaboration Skills robotic automation, PLC, robot and automated equipment integration, PLC programming, design, process analysis, process improvement, Nx, teamcenter, solidworks, six sigma, lean six sigma, fanuc robots, kuka Top Skills Details robotic automation,PLC,robot and automated equipment integration,PLC programming,design,process analysis,process improvement Additional Skills & Qualifications Candidates who have exclusively sustained existing automation or made incremental improvements to established automated lines are not the right fit. The greenfield requirement is firm - this person needs to have built automation where none existed before and be comfortable doing it again with limited direction. Self-sufficiency and subject matter expertise are essential. Tesla and SpaceX backgrounds can be strong but require careful screening - many candidates from those companies have supported mature automated processes rather than built them from scratch. Experience Level Intermediate Level Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Austin, TX. Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $50.00 - $70.00/hr. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: * Medical, dental & vision * Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital * 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available * Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) * Short and long-term disability * Health Spending Account (HSA) * Transportation benefits * Employee Assistance Program * Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace TypeThis is a fully onsite position in Austin,TX. Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Apr 27, 2026. h4>About TEKsystems: We're partners in transformation. We help clients activate ideas and solutions to take advantage of a new world of opportunity. We are a team of 80,000 strong, working with over 6,000 clients, including 80% of the Fortune 500, across North America, Europe and Asia. As an industry leader in Full-Stack Technology Services, Talent Services, and real-world application, we work with progressive leaders to drive change. That's the power of true partnership. TEKsystems is an Allegis Group company. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. About TEKsystems and TEKsystems Global Services We're a leading provider of business and technology services. We accelerate business transformation for our customers. Our expertise in strategy, design, execution and operations unlocks business value through a range of solutions. We're a team of 80,000 strong, working with over 6,000 customers, including 80% of the Fortune 500 across North America, Europe and Asia, who partner with us for our scale, full-stack capabilities and speed. We're strategic thinkers, hands-on collaborators, helping customers capitalize on change and master the momentum of technology. We're building tomorrow by delivering business outcomes and making positive impacts in our global communities. TEKsystems and TEKsystems Global Services are Allegis Group companies. Learn more at TEKsystems.com. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.