Machine Design Engineer-Automation

Company Engineering Overview: 

Come be DISRUPTIVE with us! - At Milwaukee Tool, we firmly believe that our People and our Culture are the secrets to our success. Our Engineering teams are key contributors to continuous innovation, delivering disruptive technologies through direct engagement with end users and cross-functional collaboration. We create best-in-class products by leveraging advanced analysis tools, extensive testing regimes, state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, and a commitment to continuous improvement. 

Dept Engineering Overview: 

Create test solutions for Tomorrow’s Tools. At Milwaukee Tool, disruptive innovation extends beyond the products we bring to market. As a member of the Test Automation Group (TAG), you will develop innovative automated test systems that support new product development across North America and our global laboratories. You will work cross-functionally with New Product Development, Reliability, Quality, and Laboratory teams to define requirements, develop solutions, and drive automation projects from concept through deployment. 

The Machine Design Engineer-Automation is a capable technical contributor who develops automated test solutions with growing ownership and independence. This individual applies knowledge of TAG, Lab, and NPD processes to make sound design decisions, recognizes project schedule and design risks early, and proactively communicates obstacles with potential solutions. They collaborate effectively with cross-functional and global partners, receive design feedback constructively, begin providing relevant design guidance to others, and continue building technical depth, project execution capability, and productive team relationships. 

Be DISRUPTIVE through these duties and responsibilities:    

Overall: 

• Develop automated test systems to support new product development, with growing ownership of project scope, requirements, design, build, integration, and deployment activities. 

• Integrate and troubleshoot physical hardware, sensors, measurement devices, safety systems, and motion devices across domestic and global test labs. 

• Support project scope discussions and system requirements development in collaboration with New Product Development, Test Lab, Reliability Engineering, and cross-functional stakeholders. 

• Interpret project charters and leverage project objectives to support engineering decisions.  

• Create and maintain system documentation including BOMs, operating instructions, risk assessments, validation documentation, and design review materials. 

• Partner with vendors for system procurement, technical collaboration, costing, and schedule management. 

• Analyze project risks and communicate concerns related to cost, schedule, procurement, design maturity, quality, and safety.  

• Proactively escalate project obstacles and roadblocks while bringing potential solutions and mitigation options to stakeholders. 

• Prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining quality, communication, and execution discipline. 

• Apply structured problem-solving and root cause analysis methods to troubleshoot issues and evaluate alternative solutions. 

• Demonstrate ownership of project success through proactive communication, risk awareness, follow-through, and data-supported recommendations. 

• Enhance technical competency and skills by seeking growth opportunities that improve individual efficiency and project execution. 

Mechanical (Ideal candidate has a blend of electrical and mechanical skills) 

• Create and maintain CAD models and drawings for system assemblies, components, fixtures, and products. 

• Perform engineering calculations and analysis for mechanical components and assemblies, including static, force, torque, inertial, energy, and basic FEA evaluations. 

• Specify materials, surface finishes, heat treatments, and coatings based on application needs, stresses, wear, and tolerances, with support as needed for higher-complexity decisions. 

• Integrate mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical subsystems into automated test platforms. 

• Work collaboratively with designers, technicians, machinists, vendors, and cross-functional teams throughout design, fabrication, integration, and deployment. 

Electrical (Ideal candidate has a blend of electrical and mechanical skills) 

• Create and maintain electrical schematics for system power, safety circuits, measurement systems, controls, and physical panel layouts. 

• Evaluate measurement devices to ensure optimized measurement uncertainty.  

• Collaborate with calibration service providers to validate system measurement performance. 

• Perform calculations involving power distribution, filtering, signal conditioning, current capacity, power conversion, grounding, and electrical safety.  

• Support PLC, HMI, motion control, data acquisition, and industrial communication system development, troubleshooting, and validation.  

• Support electrical design reviews and provide constructive technical feedback related to measurement systems, industrial controls, and electrical architecture. 

Technical Collaboration and Project Ownership 

• Serve as a dependable technical contributor on medium-complexity automation projects.  

• Drive assigned project work with minimal guidance while maintaining alignment with project scope, schedule, quality, and safety requirements.  

• Provide constructive design feedback and technical guidance to peers during design reviews and project discussions.  

• Collaborate with teams internally and cross-functionally to solve problems.  

• Communicate project status, technical risks, design tradeoffs, and recommended next steps clearly to stakeholders.  

• Use TAG, laboratory, and NPD processes to support project execution, design maturity, and validation planning.  

• Contribute to engineering best practices, design standards, documentation templates, and automation methodologies.  

• Support a culture of continuous learning, accountability, innovation, and technical excellence. 

What SUCCESS looks like: 

A successful Machine Design Engineer-Automation: 

• Independently drives automation projects from concept through deployment while balancing scope, quality, schedule, and cost.  

• Proactively identifies risks, communicates roadblocks early, and brings data-supported solutions to stakeholders.  

• Builds strong relationships across Product Engineering, Reliability, Laboratory, Vendor, and Global teams to achieve project objectives.  

• Applies sound engineering judgment and structured problem-solving to deliver robust, innovative test solutions.  

• Continuously improves technical capabilities, engineering processes, and team effectiveness while growing as a technical leader.