Job Overview

Based in Plymouth, MN at the LSA site supporting TE’s Medical business unit - the Sr. AI & Automation Engineer is a key member of the NPD Engineering team. This role combines technical expertise, leadership, and project management to develop and lead strategic automation initiatives that drive new product development and continuous process improvement. As part of the Global Automation & AI team, the engineer will be responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing advanced automation systems to enhance efficiency, quality, and scalability across operations. While based in Plymouth, MN some projects will require international travel.

Responsibilities include

· Develop and implement Automaton projects for complex automation sequences, including motion control, robotics, and vision systems, specific to medical device manufacturing processes

· Design, develop, and implement automation and AI solutions for complex manufacturing processes, including motion control, robotics, and machine vision systems, within medical device production environments.

· Lead the prototyping and de-risking of critical design elements of more complex projects.

· Develop fixture & tooling for new products. Lead technical problem-solving efforts, including equipment and product-related challenges, interpretation of customer specifications, and execution of engineering experiments to reduce manual verification processes.

· Serve as a key liaison across site teams, fostering collaboration to successfully execute high-impact improvement initiatives and scalable technology platforms.

· Analyze and validate data from continuous improvement initiatives, ensuring accurate root cause identification and optimal solution development.

· Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and implement data-driven solutions, leveraging internal automation teams and external vendors as needed.

· Develop and communicate comprehensive project plans, including scope, benefits, costs, timelines, risks, and constraints.

· Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices; lead benchmarking initiatives aligned with external advancements and internal Centers of Excellence (CoE).

· Analyze reliability metrics (MTTR, MTTF, MTBF) and develop AI-driven or automated workflows to enable predictive maintenance and minimize downtime.

· Develop and maintain AI/BI dashboards to monitor KPIs, track deliverables, and measure ROI, ensuring both direct and indirect cost savings are realized using standardized metrics.

· Create standard operating procedures (SOPs), training materials, and hands-on training programs to support adoption of automation and AI solutions across sites.

What your background should look like

· Bachelor’s degree (minimum) in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Automation Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field.

· 5+ years of experience in automation within a manufacturing engineering environment; medical device industry experience preferred.

· Experience working in regulated environments such as ISO 13485/GMP, or similar industries (e.g., aerospace, automotive).

· Proven expertise in equipment engineering, process development, and project management· Understanding of frameworks for developing and executing automation and AI strategies.

· Hands-on experience with PLC programming, SCADA systems, HMI interfaces, OEE platforms, and machine vision systems.

· Strong knowledge of process development methodologies, including DOE, SPC, FMEA, GMP, QSR, and validation (IQ/OQ/PQ).

· Experience with industrial robotics is preferred (Nice to have).

· Proficiency in Python and experience with machine learning techniques, including supervised learning, prompt engineering, and working with LLMs, ANI’s or other AI models.

· Experience with MES systems and industrial IoT platforms.· Familiarity with APIs, data pipelines, and edge computing architectures.

· Experience in change management and technical documentation is preferred.· Willingness to travel domestically and internationally about 25% - 50%. 

Competencies