Manufacturing Automation & Controls Engineer
At Alcon, we're passionate about enhancing sight and helping people see brilliantly. With more than 25,000 associates, we innovate fearlessly, champion progress, and act swiftly to impact global eye health. We foster an inclusive culture, recognizing your contributions and offering opportunities to grow your career like never before. Together, we make a difference in the lives of our patients and customers. Are you ready to join us?
This role is part of Alcon's Engineering function in Fort Worth, TX, a team focused on improving quality, processes, products, packaging and materials across our business to help deliver brilliant outcomes. The Associate - General Engineering (Professional Path) is primarily responsible for handling complex tasks and contributing to advanced projects by analyzing technology trends, designing processes, and resolving engineering issues. You will develop test procedures, manage budgets, and supervise contractors to support efficient operations and team performance.
Purpose:
To support manufacturing performance through continuous improvement, automation optimization, reliability initiatives, and project execution. This role identifies opportunities to improve equipment uptime, quality, safety, and productivity through automation enhancements, root cause analysis, process optimization, and implementation of engineering solutions. The position serves as a technical resource between operations, maintenance, and engineering teams while providing support for automated manufacturing systems and capital improvement projects.
JOB DIMENSIONS
Impact on Organization
High business impact through execution of continuous improvement projects, automation optimization, equipment reliability initiatives, and manufacturing support. This role contributes directly to reducing downtime, improving Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), increasing production capacity, and supporting quality and compliance objectives.
Continuous Improvement & Reliability
- Lead and support Continuous Improvement (CIP) initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing principles.
- Analyze equipment performance data and identify opportunities to improve uptime, throughput, and product quality.
- Conduct root cause investigations into recurring equipment failures and production losses.
- Develop and implement corrective and preventive actions that improve reliability and reduce downtime.
- Monitor production metrics including OEE, downtime losses, cycle time, and reliability trends.
- Support value stream improvements and waste reduction initiatives.
- Drive standardization of equipment, controls, operating practices, and maintenance strategies.
Automation & Controls Support
- Troubleshoot PLC, HMI, VFD, vision, and industrial networking systems.
- Support Allen-Bradley controls systems and plant automation infrastructure.
- Assist with programming modifications, testing, validation, and startup activities.
- Support upgrades and modernization projects for existing manufacturing equipment.
- Partner with plant engineering and manufacturing teams to optimize machine performance.
- Maintain control system documentation and backups.
- Assist in development and implementation of automation standards.
- Participate in capital improvement projects from concept through implementation.
- Assist with equipment design reviews, installations, commissioning, and startup activities.
- Develop technical documentation, project plans, and engineering reports.
- Assist with vendor coordination and contractor management.
- Support FAT, SAT, IQ/OQ/PQ, and validation activities where required.
- Execute small to medium-sized automation and process improvement projects.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
- OEE Improvement
- Unplanned Downtime Reduction
- Continuous Improvement Project Completion
- Equipment Reliability Metrics
- MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures)
- Preventive Maintenance Compliance
- CAPA Completion Effectiveness
- Safety Performance
- Cost Savings from Improvement Projects
- Production Throughput Improvements
- Internal and External Audit Results
WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO ALCON:
- Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent years of directly related experience (or high school +8 yrs; Assoc.+4 yrs)
- The ability to fluently read, write, understand and communicate in English
- Schedule: 10:00am - 6:00pm Monday - Friday
- The schedule above is designed to provide overlap with both day-shift operations and afternoon/evening production teams to maximize manufacturing support, project execution, and continuous improvement activities.
- On-call support may be required for critical manufacturing systems on a rotating basis.
- Travel : Minimal
- Work Location: Onsite - Fort Worth, TX (North Manufacturing)
- Relocation Assistance: None
- Sponsorship Assistance: None
PREFERRED SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE:
- Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field
- Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills.
- Basic understanding of electrical and mechanical systems.
- Ability to read electrical schematics and technical drawings.
- Understanding of manufacturing processes and equipment.
- Strong communication and teamwork skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a production environment.
- Root cause problem-solving capability.
- Allen-Bradley PLC platform experience.
- VFD and servo motion systems experience.
- Robotics experience (FANUC preferred).
- Vision system experience (Cognex preferred).
HOW YOU CAN THRIVE AT ALCON:
- See your career like never before with focused growth and development opportunities!
- Discover your career in a fresh way through specific growth and development possibilities!
- Join Alcon’s mission to provide outstanding, innovative products and solutions to improve sight, improve lives, and grow your career!
- Alcon provides robust benefits package including health, life, retirement, flexible time off, and much more!
ALCON CAREERS
See your impact at alcon.com/careers
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ALCON IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND PARTICIPATES IN E-VERIFY
Alcon takes pride in maintaining an inclusive environment that values different perspectives and our policies are non-discriminatory in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Alcon is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an email to [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.