Factory Automation Engineer
John Deere
Software Engineering
Greeneville, TN, USA
There are over 7 billion people on this planet. And by 2050, there will be 2 billion more... many moving into urban centers at an unprecedented rate. Making sure there is enough food, fiber and infrastructure for our rapidly growing world is what we're all about at John Deere. And it's why we're investing in our people and our technology like never before! Here the world's brightest minds are tackling the world's biggest challenges. If you believe one person can make the world a better place, we'll put you to work. RIGHT NOW.
John Deere is an equal opportunity employer, including disabled & veterans.
Primary Location: United States (US) - Tennessee - Greeneville
Function: Factory Engineering (CA)
Title: Factory Automation Engineer - 119126
Onsite/Remote:Onsite Position
Your Responsibilities
As a Factory Automation Engineer for JD Power Products located in Greeneville, TN, you will provide hands‑on industrial automation, robotics, and controls engineering support. This role supports automated assembly lines, robotic welding cells, and paint systems and is accountable for the design, programming, integration, commissioning, troubleshooting, and long‑term reliability of production control systems. Work is performed in a team‑based manufacturing environment with regular shop‑floor presence to sustain high equipment uptime across assembly, weld, and paint operations. Projects are moderate in scope and executed within established factory automation standards. The role may coordinate work performed by technicians, contractors, and system integrators. Additionally you will:
- Engineer, modify, and sustain Allen‑Bradley PLC control systems supporting automated assembly equipment, robotic weld cells, AGVs, pallet transfer lines, and paint systems
- Develop and maintain Ignition SCADA applications for real‑time equipment monitoring, alarms, diagnostics, downtime tracking, and production visibility
- Program, integrate, and commission FANUC industrial robots for welding and assembly applications, including motion, tooling I/O, safety coordination, and PLC communications
- Support robotic welding systems, including weld controllers, fixtures, part detection, quality interlocks, and process verification
- Design, integrate, and troubleshoot material handling systems, including AGVs, pallet transfer lines, accumulation logic, and part tracking
- Support controls and automation for paint operations, including conveyor control, zone logic, interlocks, jam detection, and fault handling
- Integrate and maintain Keyence scanners and vision systems for part detection, identification, and quality verification
- Lead equipment commissioning and production start‑ups, including I/O checkout, safety validation, dry runs, cycle‑time analysis, and production readiness
- Troubleshoot PLC, robot, vision, scanner, electrical, and network issues impacting production uptime
- Apply and enforce plant automation standards, including PLC structure, HMI/SCADA conventions, robot programming practices, safety concepts, and documentation
- Interface with OEMs, automation vendors, and system integrators to review designs, software, and startup performance
- Maintain control system documentation, backups, version control, and recovery procedures
- Identify reliability gaps and implement engineering solutions that improve safety, quality, throughput, and uptime
- Ensure all automation work complies with applicable safety standards, electrical codes, and internal engineering requirements
VISA Sponsorship is NOT available for this position
What Skills You Need
- 2 or more years of experience in industrial automation, robotics, or controls engineering
- Hands‑on experience with PLC‑based control systems and automated production equipment
- Experience supporting or troubleshooting automated manufacturing systems
- Ability to work effectively in a team‑based, shop‑floor environment
What Makes You Standout
- Experience with Allen‑Bradley PLCs, Ignition SCADA, and FANUC robots
- Experience supporting automated assembly, welding, or paint systems
- Working knowledge of industrial safety systems, vision/scanner systems, and automated material handling
- Experience commissioning automated equipment and supporting production start‑ups
- Strong troubleshooting skills and a focus on equipment reliability and uptime
Education
Ideally you will have a degree or equivalent related work experience in the following:
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline
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- Master’s degree or PhD is preferred
What You'll Get
At John Deere, you are empowered to create a career that will take you to where you want to go while working in an inclusive team environment. Here, you'll enjoy the freedom to explore new projects, the support to think outside the box and the advanced tools and technology that foster innovation and achievement. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive reward package to help you get started on your new career path, including:
- Flexible work arrangements
- Highly competitive base pay
- Savings & Retirement benefits (401K and Defined Contribution)
- Healthcare benefits with a generous company contribution in the Health Savings Account
- Adoption assistance
- Employee Assistance Programs
- Tuition assistance
- Fitness subsidies and on-site gyms at specific Deere locations
- Charitable contribution match
- Employee Purchase Plan & numerous discount programs for personal use
- Vacation and Holiday Pay
$86,892.00 - $130,332.00 + Benefits
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Must be 18 years of age or older to apply
The information contained herein is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of individuals performing the job. The qualifications detailed in this job description are not considered the minimum requirements necessary to perform the job, but rather as guidelines.
The terms of the applicable benefit plans, and all company actions administering or interpreting these plans, continue to control. Deere & Company reserves the right to suspend, amend, modify, or terminate the Plan(s) in any manner at any time, including the right to modify or eliminate any cost-sharing between the company and participants. Changes, which can be made at any time, are made by action of the company's board of directors, or to the extent authorized by resolution of its board of directors, or by the Deere & Company Compensation Committee. In the event of a conflict between the language of the official Plan Documents and this document, the language of the official Plan Documents will control.
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The John Deere Health Benefit Plans for Salaried Employees and The John Deere Benefit Plan for Wage Employees comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability.
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