Automation Controls Engineer II, Air Manufacturing Innovation

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

Nike Air Manufacturing Innovation operates in a fast-paced, highly integrated production environment. This role is part of the Production Equipment Engineering team within Manufacturing Operations, driving equipment reliability and enabling scalable automation deployment. The team serves as the final line of technical support in the escalation process, providing solutions and structured action plans for complex equipment issues. You will partner with Production, Maintenance, Facilities, Planning, EHS, Manufacturing Engineering, IT, and external vendors to support performance, continuous improvement, and pilot-to-scale execution.

Shift:

Office Monday – Friday (8hrs/day).

This role may require working outside of regular business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, to address urgent equipment needs.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are seeking an Automation Controls Engineer II who can safely and independently troubleshoot, solve problems, and own small-to-medium workstreams across equipment reliability, continuous improvement, and automation integration.

The ideal candidate is comfortable working in a production environment, applying structured problem solving, and collaborating cross-functionally to improve system performance. This role requires a balance of hands-on troubleshooting, controls understanding, and project ownership, with the ability to support both existing equipment improvements and emerging automation solutions.

You should demonstrate strong ownership, technical curiosity, and a bias for action, with the ability to translate issues into sustainable solutions that improve uptime, performance, and scalability.

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Automation, Controls, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, or related Engineering field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in manufacturing, automation, or controls engineering in a high-volume production environment.
• Hands-on experience troubleshooting industrial equipment, control and electrical systems (< 50VDC, <440VAC).
• Familiarity with communication protocols, electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, and controls system documentation.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced production environment.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Hands-on experience with PLC and VFD systems (Allen-Bradley, Siemens preferred), HMI interfaces, and basic automation architectures.
• Knowledge of sheet extrusion, thermoforming, Radio-Frequency welding, and part trimming of thermoplastics is preferred
• Experience supporting continuous improvement or retrofit projects in manufacturing environments.
• Basic experience with robotics systems (ABB, Denso) and vision systems (Keyence, Cognex).
• Basic knowledge of AutoCAD electrical or equivalent controls design tools.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or reliability-centered maintenance principles.
• Experience working with external vendors for equipment retrofits, troubleshooting or technical support.
• Exposure to automation lifecycle (pilot support, integration, or deployment).

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

At Nike Air Manufacturing Innovation, you will support the reliability and performance of advanced manufacturing equipment across extrusion, thermoforming, RF and automation systems. You will play a key role in improving uptime, supporting equipment continuous improvement initiatives, and enabling the transition of automation solutions into production environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Independently troubleshoot and resolve equipment issues to improve reliability and uptime.
• Lead small continuous improvement and retrofit initiatives to enhance system performance.
• Support controls updates, documentation, and system design improvements.
• Apply structured problem solving to identify root causes and implement sustainable solutions.
• Collaborate with vendors for technical troubleshooting, repairs, and upgrades.
• Support pilot activities and assist in transitioning new automation solutions into production.
• Contribute to improving equipment performance metrics including uptime, OEE, and process stability.
• Work cross-functionally with Production, Maintenance, and Engineering teams to ensure efficient execution and communication.