Automation Engineer in Santa Maria, California at Alco Harvesting LLC

Job description: The Harvest Engineer will report directly to the Director of Engineering and will manage the automation technicians and automated equipment fleet used in harvest activities. The Harvest Engineer will work closely with Operations, Harvest Supervisors, and Mechanics to plan equipment needs, monitor machine performance, coordinate repairs and preventive maintenance, and control equipment-related costs.

Key Duties:

• Support the design and implementation of new automation equipment
• Evaluate emerging ag-tech solutions and support pilot implementations
• Create and/or modify designs to help improve existing equipment’s functionality
• Maintain integrity and safety of pieces of equipment monitored
• Troubleshoot and proactively maintain automation equipment
• Supply support to technicians for proper repairs and maintenance to equipment
• Determine root cause of failures and promote a solution to prevent recurring downtime
• Create and implement preventative maintenance plans for the automation systems
• Create and maintain documentation for all automation equipment, such as reports, maintenance, training, and costs & efficiencies
• Ensure proper inventory of automation parts and all association equipment
• Communicate with equipment vendors on issues and potential upgrades to machines

Preferred Experience:

• Electrical and sensors
• Basic hydraulics
• Mechanical systems
• Pneumatic control systems
• Fabrication experience
• Experience with programmable logic controllers
• Degree in Agricultural Engineering or similar engineering field
• Management experience

Harvest Engineer Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalents experience from an accredited university or college in applicable engineering field.
• Fluent in Spanish
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Familiar with 2D and 3D modelling software
• Ability to translate Ag and IT requirements into non-technical, lay terms.
• High-level written and verbal communication skills.