Manufacturing Automation Engineer

Company: Insight Global

Title: Automation Engineer (Manufacturing / Life Sciences)

Location: Oceanside, CA 92054

Duration: Permanent

Pay: $150,000

Job Description

Insight Global is seeking an experienced Automation Engineer on behalf of a leading life sciences manufacturing organization. This individual will be responsible for identifying, developing, and implementing automation and semi-automation solutions that improve manufacturing performance across quality, delivery, capacity, and cost objectives.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience in manufacturing automation, plastics manufacturing, and capital equipment implementation. This role will work directly with engineering teams, manufacturing leaders, quality stakeholders, and external automation partners to deliver innovative solutions that optimize production processes across injection molding, inspection, assembly, and packaging operations.

Responsibilities

• Identify manufacturing processes suitable for automation and semi-automation improvements.
• Partner with automation integrators and equipment suppliers to develop innovative manufacturing solutions.
• Lead automation projects from concept through validation and production stabilization.
• Drive automation initiatives supporting injection molding, injection blow molding, assembly, inspection, and packaging operations.
• Support new product development efforts by evaluating automation opportunities during early-stage design.
• Manage project scopes, timelines, budgets, design reviews, FAT/SAT activities, installation, and start-up activities.
• Develop KPI-driven project plans with measurable improvements in productivity, quality, throughput, and cost.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure robust, compliant, and sustainable manufacturing solutions.
• Utilize structured A3 problem-solving methodologies to address operational challenges and drive continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field).
• 7+ years of experience in manufacturing automation.
• Experience partnering with automation integrators and capital equipment vendors.
• Experience within plastics manufacturing environments.
• Injection molding and/or injection blow molding experience preferred.
• Strong project management skills.
• Experience with A3 problem-solving methodologies.
• Hands-on manufacturing and process improvement mentality.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Background

• Medical device, life sciences, pharmaceutical, or regulated manufacturing experience.
• Experience delivering automation projects that improve quality, throughput, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Proven track record of implementing scalable automation solutions in production environments.