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 a Senior Automation Controls Engineer who can safely lead complex technical initiatives, own system-level performance, and drive measurable improvements in equipment reliability, automation integration, and manufacturing efficiency.
This role requires a deep understanding of industrial controls systems, automation architecture, and manufacturing process. The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise with leadership capability, able to independently lead critical problem resolution, execute complex retrofit and automation projects, and influence cross-functional teams.
You will play a critical role in stabilizing operations, driving equipment continuous improvement, and ensuring that new and existing systems are production-ready, scalable, and sustainable. The role requires a strong bias for action, strategic thinking, and the ability to translate ambiguous problems into structured solutions that improve uptime, performance, and cost.
This role offers the option to be hired in either Beaverton, OR or Saint Charles, MO.
Required Skills & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Automation, Controls, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, or related Engineering field (or equivalent experience).
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in manufacturing, automation, or controls engineering in high-volume production environments.
- Advanced experience troubleshooting complex industrial equipment and control systems (< 50VDC, <440VAC).
- Hands-on experience with PLC and VFD systems (Allen-Bradley, Siemens), HMI, and integrated automation architectures.
- Experience with communication protocols and integration of electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems.
- Proven experience leading equipment continuous improvement or retrofit projects.
- Strong experience applying structured problem solving.
- Ability to read and interpret complex electrical, mechanical, and controls system documentation
- Demonstrated experience working cross-functionally in production environments.
- Strong leadership, communication, and technical decision-making skills.
Preferred Skills & Experience
- Experience with plastics processing equipment (extrusion, thermoforming, RF welding, trimming)
- Experience with robotics (ABB, Denso) and vision systems (Keyence, Cognex) integration
- Proficiency in AutoCAD Electrical or equivalent controls design tools.
- Experience leading vendor-supported projects (scope definition, execution, validation).
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or reliability-centered maintenance principles.
- Experience supporting pilot-to-production transitions of automation solutions.
WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON
At Nike Air Manufacturing Innovation, you will lead the reliability and performance of advanced manufacturing systems across extrusion, thermoforming, RF, and automation platforms. You will own complex technical problems, drive equipment continuous improvement initiatives, and ensure automation solutions are ready for scalable deployment across production environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead resolution of critical equipment escalations, driving root cause elimination and long-term reliability improvements.
- Own and execute complex continuous improvement and retrofit projects that improve uptime, performance, and cost efficiency.
- Drive improvements in key performance metrics including uptime, OEE, and equipment stability.
- Lead vendor engagement, defining scope, managing execution, and ensuring delivery of technical solutions
- Support and validate pilot automation solutions, ensuring readiness for production deployment and scale.
- Define and implement technical standards, system improvements, lessons learned and best practices.
- Ensure systems are production-ready, maintainable, and sustainable after implementation.
- Mentor and support junior engineers and maintenances technicians, providing technical guidance and problem-solving leadership.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Manufacturing Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering teams to drive execution and alignment.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Automation, Controls, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, or related Engineering field, or equivalent experience
- At least 3 years of experience in manufacturing, automation, or controls engineering in high-volume production environments
- Advanced experience troubleshooting complex industrial equipment and control systems operating below 50 VDC and 440 VAC
- Hands-on experience with PLC and VFD systems, including Allen-Bradley and Siemens
- Experience with HMI and integrated automation architectures
- Experience with communication protocols and integration of electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems
- Experience leading equipment continuous improvement or retrofit projects
- Strong experience applying structured problem-solving methods
- Ability to read and interpret complex electrical, mechanical, and controls system documentation
- Experience working cross-functionally in production environments
- Strong leadership, communication, and technical decision-making skills
- Experience with plastics processing equipment, including extrusion, thermoforming, RF welding, or trimming
- Experience integrating ABB or Denso robotics and Keyence or Cognex vision systems
- Proficiency with AutoCAD Electrical or equivalent controls design tools
- Experience leading vendor-supported projects involving scope definition, execution, and validation
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or reliability-centered maintenance principles
- Experience supporting pilot-to-production transitions of automation solutions
Nike Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Nike and has not been reviewed or approved by Nike.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with a company match is complemented by options such as a Mega Backdoor Roth and deferred compensation for eligible earners. Financial coaching and structured savings programs support long-term financial security.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — An Employee Stock Purchase Plan with a stock discount sits alongside broad-based equity vehicles like RSUs and non-qualified stock options. These avenues expand wealth-building opportunities beyond base pay.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave includes maternity and paternity time, recently expanded in the U.S. to 16 weeks and extended to part-time retail teammates. Additional supports include childcare assistance at select locations and family-building benefits such as fertility, surrogacy, and adoption.
Nike Insights
What We Do
At NIKE, Inc., we innovate to serve athletes*. Every teammate - from coder to creator - plays a role in making these athletes’ dreams real. Our tech, data, and digital teams push limits every day, building the future of sport and the tools that drive it. Here, curiosity is fuel. Innovation is the game plan. Different perspectives keep us on the offense. You’ll solve challenges worth tackling, grow fast and belong to a team that backs you to do the right thing. Bring your drive. Bring your bold. Let’s move the world, together. Take your first step at nike.com/careers * If you have a body, you’re an athlete.
Why Work With Us
At NIKE, Inc., your dedication fuels the future of sport. There is a sense of pride that comes from representing an iconic brand and shaping its future. Here, we treat every day as a new opportunity to push boundaries, ask tough questions and share whole-hearted convictions. We are a team – united by the belief that anything is possible.
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