Jeff Buck
VP of Engineering
Automationnth
Jeff Buck leads the engineering team at Automationnth and is responsible for recruiting and developing engineers, resourcing projects, and providing technical leadership to projects. As a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Tennessee and Certified Machine Safety Expert, Jeff is an expert in discerning codes including NEC, UL 508A, and NFPA-79, and ensuring compliance across the company’s projects. Jeff’s detail-oriented approach and skills in risk mitigation and project management has led to the successful delivery of hundreds of projects since he joined the company in 2003.
Jeff created and leads “NTH University,” the company’s training program for engineers. NTH University was designed to accelerate the development of well-rounded, technically proficient engineers when they first join the company. This includes a 3-month internship program culminating in a capstone project. In this project, the intern designs and builds a trainer control system for a simple machine that inspects parts on a small-scale production line. NTH University also has a robust curriculum to fill skill gaps in full-time engineers. Course topics range from control system design and risk assessments to programming such as PLC, HMI, SCADA, and robotics, which all conclude with a test to evaluate comprehension. After seeing demand from customers to train their own staff, Jeff led the creation of training as a service offering for our customers.
Earlier in his career, Jeff worked his way through all the major engineering roles of a systems integrator, including designer, programmer, project manager, and technical leader for large, complex automation systems. As part of these roles, Jeff has visited and worked in production facilities around the world in a variety of industry segments. Among his key accomplishments was delivering a high-speed production line with 1,000 parts per minute of output while maintaining 100% vision inspection. Jeff started his career at Wright Industries, a large, Nashville based machine builder.
Jeff is also an accomplished leader, outdoorsman, and developer of youth skills and values. He is an Eagle Scout and currently a Crew Advisor for a Boy Scout Venturing Crew. Jeff previously served as a Boy Scout Scoutmaster, the Outdoor Coordinator for American Heritage Girls (AHG), and completed the Boy Scout’s Wood Badge leadership training and twice participated as a staff member. He also created the AHG Middle Tennessee Council Camporee for youth and served as co-director for 4 years. Jeff currently sits on the Middle Tennessee State University Engineering Technology & Mechatronics Advisory Board. Jeff graduated with a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Automation, and Robotics and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee.