POSITION SUMMARY

The Automation R&D Engineer - Smart Machines leads the research, development, testing, and implementation of intelligent automation and smart machine capabilities across the Reading Bakery Systems equipment portfolio. This role is focused on advancing machine-level controls, diagnostics, data collection, automation architecture, and AI-enabled technologies for pretzel, cookie, cracker, and baking systems.

This position is grounded in strong electrical controls knowledge, hands-on machine troubleshooting, and practical problem solving. The ideal candidate understands how industrial equipment operates in real-world production environments and can translate machine behavior, field issues, customer needs, and process requirements into smarter, more reliable equipment solutions.

A key focus of this position is the development and integration of smart machine technologies, including machine diagnostics, condition monitoring, predictive maintenance concepts, operator guidance, machine vision, data analytics, and AI-enabled tools that enhance equipment performance, uptime, product quality, serviceability, and customer value.

Working closely with Sales, Engineering, Technical Services, Customer Care, Applications, and the Science & Innovation Center, this role helps bridge innovation with practical, customer-focused machine solutions. The position supports concept development, prototyping, testing, commissioning, troubleshooting, and aftermarket learning to ensure smart machine capabilities are useful, reliable, scalable, and grounded in actual customer needs.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Design, prototype, test, and validate new equipment, automation systems, smart machine features, and process enhancements to support product innovation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and evaluate intelligent machine capabilities, including diagnostics, condition monitoring, predictive maintenance concepts, operator guidance, machine vision, data analytics, and AI-enabled automation tools.
• Collaborate with Sales, Engineering, Applications, Technical Services, and customers during concept development to ensure technical feasibility, operational performance, and alignment with customer objectives.
• Serve as a technical liaison between customers and internal teams, including potential on-site support for commissioning, optimization, troubleshooting, and implementation of smart machine and automation solutions.
• Develop and communicate equipment standards, automation requirements, sensor strategies, controls specifications, machine data requirements, and design intent to the Production Engineering team to support successful execution of customer projects.
• Work with Engineering to create bills of materials, technical documentation, test plans, validation records, and complete design packages for release to manufacturing and purchasing.
• Support Technical Services and Customer Care by troubleshooting equipment performance issues, identifying root causes, and implementing corrective actions to minimize customer downtime and operational impact.
• Partner with Technical Services, Customer Care, and Engineering to identify recurring machine issues and convert those learnings into improved designs, smart diagnostics, troubleshooting tools, or future product enhancements.
• Conduct research, product testing, process validation, and smart machine trials at the Science & Innovation Center in collaboration with Engineering, R&D, Applications, and cross-functional teams.
• Identify opportunities to improve machine performance, reliability, maintainability, operator experience, and customer value through advanced controls, automation, instrumentation, data analytics, and AI-enabled technologies.
• Work with Electrical Engineering to support controls architecture, sensor selection, instrumentation, data collection, and machine connectivity standards for intelligent equipment platforms.
• Evaluate emerging automation, AI, machine vision, and smart manufacturing technologies for practical use within RBS equipment and customer applications.
• Meet regularly with Engineering and Product Innovation leadership to communicate project status, identify technical risks, prioritize smart machine opportunities, and develop strategic solutions.
• Support development of customer-facing smart machine concepts that may enable future digital service offerings, including remote diagnostics, performance optimization, predictive maintenance, and lifecycle support.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or related technical field.
• Strong background in industrial electrical controls, automation systems, and machine troubleshooting.
• Hands-on experience with PLC-based control systems, preferably Rockwell and/or Siemens.
• Experience commissioning, testing, troubleshooting, or improving industrial equipment in manufacturing environments.
• Strong structured problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate issues across controls, mechanical systems, process conditions, sensors, and equipment operation.
• Ability to translate customer needs, field issues, and machine behavior into practical technical solutions.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work across Engineering, Sales, Service, Applications, customers, and leadership.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• OEM experience in food, baking, snack, packaging, or process equipment.
• Experience with machine vision, industrial data systems, OPC UA, MQTT, historians, edge devices, or machine connectivity.
• Exposure to AI, machine learning, predictive maintenance, condition monitoring, or data analytics in industrial applications.
• Experience developing prototypes, test plans, validation methods, and scalable machine solutions.
• Familiarity with industrial cybersecurity and customer data considerations.

SUCCESS IN THIS ROLE LOOKS LIKE

• Smart machine features are developed that improve machine reliability, serviceability, uptime, operator experience, and customer value.
• Recurring field issues are translated into better diagnostics, better designs, and improved equipment standards.
• Controls, sensors, data collection, and automation strategies become more standardized across intelligent machine platforms.
• AI and digital technologies are applied practically, not theoretically.
• RBS develops smart machine capabilities that are useful to customers, support future service offerings, and strengthen long-term equipment differentiation.