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Universal Logistics is a leading provider of customized transportation and logistics solutions, offering a comprehensive suite of services including transportation, value-added, intermodal, and specialized services utilized throughout entire supply chains.
Universal has immediate career opportunities in your area. Apply today to become part of the Universal team!
Position Description
The Industrial Robotics Engineer will be based in Warren, MI and will develop, engineer, and launch industrial and collaborative robotic automation across Universal Logistics operations and customer facilities.
This role focuses on robotic applications including material handling, sequencing, kitting, palletizing, depalletizing, machine tending, packaging, and other automation solutions designed to improve safety, quality, productivity, ergonomics, and process consistency.
The Industrial Robotics Engineer will serve as a hands-on manufacturing and automation engineer and project owner. This position will work with robotic cells, end-of-arm tooling, machine vision, controls, safety systems, equipment suppliers, customers, and cross-functional teams to take projects from concept and process development through build, commissioning, production ramp-up, and final handoff to operations.
Responsibilities
- Develop industrial and collaborative robotic concepts and manufacturing processes.
- Conduct feasibility, cycle-time, capacity, layout, ergonomic, process-flow, and technical trade-off studies to determine the appropriate automation solution.
- Define technical requirements, RFQs, and Statements of Work (SOWs) for robotic cells, including: Robot selection End-of-arm tooling Fixtures Machine vision Sensors Guarding and safety devices Controls Conveyance Equipment interfaces
- Manage automation projects with system integrators and equipment suppliers from concept and design through build, FAT, installation, SAT, commissioning, and production ramp-up.
- Manage project timing, cost, scope, risks, and technical deliverables.
- Serve as the engineering interface between customers and cross-functional teams, including Operations, Controls, IT, Safety, Quality, Maintenance, and Facilities.
- Lead design reviews, process reviews, FMEA activities, risk assessments, and site-readiness planning.
- Support robot and cobot programming, PLC/HMI integration, machine vision, sensors, and end-of-arm tooling.
- Troubleshoot and debug equipment while validating safety, quality, cycle time, throughput, uptime, process capability, and production readiness.
- Develop acceptance criteria, operating standards, training, spare-parts requirements, preventive-maintenance requirements, and lessons learned.
- Complete formal project handoffs to Operations and help standardize successful automation designs for future applications.
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechatronics, Robotics Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related technical field.
- 2+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, automation engineering, robotics integration, controls, or equipment launch within a manufacturing, warehousing, or logistics environment.
- Working knowledge of industrial and/or collaborative robots, end-of-arm tooling, PLC/controls, machine vision, sensors, safety systems, and integrated robotic cells.
- Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, layouts, and technical specifications.
- Experience with cycle-time analysis, troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and project coordination.
- Ability to manage suppliers, schedules, technical deliverables, and launch-related issues.
- Willingness to travel and support non-standard hours during critical installation, commissioning, and production launch periods.
Preferred Qualifications
- Strong self-starter with a manufacturing engineering mindset and the ability to independently own projects, work directly with customers, coordinate cross-functional teams, and drive technical issues to resolution.
- Hands-on experience with industrial robot or cobot platforms such as FANUC, ABB, KUKA, Yaskawa, Universal Robots, or similar systems, including programming, simulation, or commissioning.
- Experience with Allen-Bradley/Rockwell PLCs and HMIs, safety PLCs, industrial networking, servo systems, and robotic equipment integration.
- Experience with machine vision, force/torque sensing, grippers, vacuum tooling, fixtures, quick-change tooling, and other end-of-arm tooling technologies.
- Understanding of industrial and collaborative robot safety requirements, machine guarding, risk assessments, lockout/tagout, and applicable ANSI/RIA and ISO standards.
- Experience with AutoCAD, SolidWorks, robot simulation, virtual commissioning, FAT/SAT, run-at-rate validation, Lean/Six Sigma, automotive manufacturing, or other high-volume production environments.
