Job Description

Position Purpose

The Senior Automation Engineer is a hands-on technical leader and people manager responsible for the ongoing service, maintenance, troubleshooting, upgrades, and operational support of automation and control systems within live entertainment and theme park environments. This position ensures that show automation, motion, and safety systems remain reliable, safe, and fully functional throughout ongoing operations.

Senior Automation Engineers provide technical leadership across complex service and upgrade activities while directly managing and developing Automation Engineers. The role combines technical expertise with team leadership, resource planning, coaching, and employee development to ensure both systems and people perform at a high standard.

Working in highly reactive and time-sensitive environments, Senior Automation Engineers partner with Achieve teams, Engineering, Project Management, client technical teams, and organizational leadership to resolve issues, minimize downtime, and maintain strong client relationships. The role requires sound technical judgment, strong communication, and the ability to balance immediate operational needs with longer-term team and business priorities.

A Senior Automation Engineer operates at the intersection of technology, engineering, and live entertainment—ensuring complex automation and motion systems perform safely and reliably while developing the people and capabilities needed to support TAIT’s growing client and project needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for parkwide automation systems, ensuring show automation, motion, controls, and safety systems remain safe, reliable, functional, and operationally ready.
• Lead emergency and scheduled client support, including on-call response, rapid troubleshooting, preventative maintenance, inspections, repairs, load testing, system validation, and short-notice onsite support during park maintenance hours.
• Diagnose and resolve complex automation, controls, electrical, mechanical, and electromechanical issues, including controls networks, drives, safety systems, rigging, gearboxes, brakes, alignment, and other mechanical systems.
• Lead system upgrades, retrofits, and software updates from planning and testing through commissioning, validation, documentation, and return to operation.
• Independently lead medium-to-large and moderate-to-high-risk technical scopes, including FAT through SAT, while owning schedule, quality, scope, technical execution, and resolution of project blockers.
• Provide technical direction and expertise during project planning, design, bidding, commissioning, and troubleshooting, partnering with Engineering, Project Management, Achieve teams, and client technical stakeholders to ensure effective and practical solutions.
• Serve as the direct line manager for assigned Automation Engineers, establishing expectations, conducting regular one-on-ones and performance reviews, providing feedback, and supporting employee development and career progression.
• Build and develop a high-performing automation engineering team through coaching, mentoring, training, stretch assignments, knowledge sharing, succession planning, onboarding, and identifying opportunities to strengthen team capabilities.
• Align team staffing, workload, resources, and priorities with project and organizational needs, balancing immediate client requirements with long-term team effectiveness and business objectives.
• Foster an inclusive, accountable, respectful, and collaborative team culture, addressing performance or people-related concerns appropriately and advocating for the development and success of direct reports.
• Make timely, sound technical and operational decisions while balancing safety, quality, client needs, resource constraints, and sustainable system performance; recognize when issues require escalation.
• Maintain strong relationships and communication with clients, technical teams, Engineering, Project Management, peers, and leadership, providing clear updates and representing TAIT professionally in highly visible operating environments.
• Identify recurring issues, system risks, skill gaps, and opportunities for continuous improvement, using lessons learned, service data, documentation, and team knowledge to improve reliability and future project execution.
• Maintain accurate technical documentation and service records, including test reports, commissioning records, redlines, system updates, and handover materials, while consistently following TAIT safety procedures and company standards.

Position Requirements

To perform the essential responsibilities, individuals must have the following level of education and experience, or equivalent combination. Additionally, the following certifications, knowledge, skills, or physical requirements are necessary for the position.

• GED or High School Diploma required. Formal study or training in a relevant technical field is a plus.
• 5+ years of technical experience in field applications, mechanical system maintenance, automation installation, controls, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience troubleshooting automation or entertainment systems preferred.
• Experience with rigging, hydraulics, mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical systems.
• Experience with Siemens TIA Portal is a plus.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley PLCs and controls is a plus.
• Demonstrated experience leading, coaching, or mentoring engineers or technical staff.
• Prior formal people-management or line-management experience preferred.
• Experience providing constructive feedback, supporting employee development, and coordinating training.
• Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, decision-making, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and make sound decisions in fast-paced, time-sensitive environments.
• Willingness and ability to provide onsite client support during park maintenance hours, including off-hours as required.
• Experience troubleshooting entertainment automation systems in theme parks, theaters, cruise ships, or similar environments is a plus.
• Right to work in the US.
• Willingness to relocate to Orlando, FL.
• Willingness and ability to travel on short notice for potentially extended periods to support client sites and projects.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The employee is required to frequently walk, bend, climb, push, pull, twist, squat, stoop, and kneel each day. Specific requirements are:

• Must be able to stand for extended periods of time
• Must be able to lift or move 70 lbs. with or without assistance.
• Must be able to pull or push 140 lbs.
• Work conditions of the role:

Work conditions may involve moderate exposure to unusual elements such as dirt, dust, fumes, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises. Work environment involves some exposure to hazards or physical risks which require following basic safety precautions.

• Must be able to wear and properly utilize appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to work within or visit areas where required. This includes, safety glasses, reflective vest, ear plugs, safety toed shoes, and other PPE as required by the location
• Ability to work in “entertainment conditions” including a wide variety of working places such as shops, backstage, catwalks at height, construction areas, theme parks, and cruise ships.

TAIT Benefits:

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contributions (HDHP plans)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical & Dependent Care)
• Employer-paid life insurance with optional supplemental coverage
• Employer-paid Short-term with optional long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Wellness stipends
• Voluntary benefits (e.g., accident, critical illness)
• Paid vacation and 12 holidays

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