Application & Automation Technician - Manufacturing

What you’ll do:

The Application & Automation Technician is responsible for troubleshooting, repairing, maintaining, and improving manufacturing equipment and automated production systems to support safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations. This role performs preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance across electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and industrial control systems; supports automation, PLC, HMI, robotics, and connected manufacturing technologies; and partners with Maintenance, Engineering, Production, IT, vendors, and other cross-functional teams to reduce downtime, improve equipment reliability, and support continuous improvement initiatives. The position requires strong technical troubleshooting skills, accurate maintenance documentation, adherence to company safety procedures and regulatory requirements, and the ability to support business needs in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

In this function, you will:

•    Troubleshoot, repair, install, adjust, rebuild, and maintain manufacturing equipment and related electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electromechanical, and automation systems.
•    Diagnose equipment failures, downtime events, and process interruptions; identify root causes and implement appropriate corrective and preventive actions.
•    Perform preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance on production equipment, facility systems, and support equipment in accordance with established procedures.
•    Troubleshoot PLC-controlled equipment, HMIs, variable-frequency drives, servo systems, sensors, safety circuits, actuators, robotic cells, machine vision systems, and industrial control networks.
•    Perform PLC diagnostics, program and system backups, recovery support, and approved control-system modifications within demonstrated training, qualification, and authorization.
•    Repair and maintain motors, drives, gearboxes, pumps, conveyors, bearings, valves, cylinders, and fluid-power systems.
•    Perform fabrication and repair work, including welding, brazing, soldering, cutting, grinding, pipe fitting, rigging, and basic machining, when trained and authorized.
•    Support equipment installations, automation upgrades, new-product or equipment launches, reliability improvements, and capital projects.
•    Use the computerized maintenance management system to complete work orders and accurately document inspections, repairs, equipment history, and follow-up needs.
•    Maintain technical documentation, including electrical schematics, equipment drawings, PLC and HMI backups, manuals, bills of material, and related maintenance records.
•    Read and interpret blueprints, electrical schematics, ladder logic, hydraulic and pneumatic diagrams, maintenance manuals, and equipment drawings.
•    Coordinate preventive-maintenance activities and equipment support with Maintenance leadership, Production, Planning, Engineering, IT, vendors, and qualified contractors.
•    Participate in root-cause analysis, Total Productive Maintenance, Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and equipment-reliability initiatives.
•    Follow company safety policies and applicable requirements, including lockout/tagout, electrical safety, machine guarding, personal protective equipment, housekeeping, and 5S practices.
•    Perform electrical, energized, elevated, confined-space, rigging, powered-industrial-equipment, and other specialized work only when appropriately trained, qualified, authorized, and equipped.
•    Communicate equipment condition, corrective actions, unresolved risks, and maintenance needs across shifts and functions.
•    Perform other duties consistent with the position as assigned.

Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications:

•    High school diploma or GED from an accredited institution and five (5) years of industrial maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment involving electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and automation systems.
•    Demonstrated experience troubleshooting automated manufacturing equipment and industrial control systems.
•    Working knowledge of PLC-controlled equipment and industrial automation systems.
•    Experience using a computerized maintenance management system and electronic maintenance documentation.

Preferred Qualifications:

•    Associate degree or technical certification in Industrial Maintenance, Mechatronics, Automation Technology, Electronics, Electrical Technology, or a related field and three (3) years of industrial maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment involving electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and automation systems.
•    Experience troubleshooting or programming Allen-Bradley PLCs and HMIs.
•    Experience with robotics, automated material-handling systems, automated storage systems, and machine vision technology.
•    ABB robotic troubleshooting or programming experience.
•    Experience with industrial networks, including EtherNet/IP or comparable communication systems.
•    Knowledge of Industry 4.0 technologies, connected manufacturing systems, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness data collection.
•    Experience supporting metal-fabrication equipment, including lasers, turret presses, dies, stamping presses, powder-coat systems, or wastewater-treatment equipment.
•    Experience with welding, fabrication, machining, rigging, or pipe fitting.
•    Proficiency with Microsoft Office and industrial software platforms.

Position Success Criteria:

•    Demonstrated ability to diagnose and resolve equipment problems while supporting safety, quality, reliability, and production requirements.
•    Ability to use maintenance tools, diagnostic equipment, computers, machinery, and powered industrial equipment safely and within assigned authorization.
•    Ability to collaborate effectively with employees, contractors, vendors, technical resources, and leadership.
•    Ability to maintain required training and job-specific qualifications.
•    Ability to support overtime, off-shift work, shutdowns, or emergency maintenance response based on operational needs and applicable scheduling requirements.
•    Ability to stand, walk, bend, climb, reach, kneel, squat, and perform repetitive motions during the workday, with or without reasonable accommodation.
•    Ability to work at heights, in confined or restricted-access areas, and around industrial manufacturing equipment when properly trained and authorized.
•    Ability to lift, carry, push, pull, or position materials weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation and/or mechanical assistance.
•    Ability to wear required personal protective equipment and safely use tools and testing equipment.

•    Ability to document and communicate equipment status, completed repairs, and required follow-up actions.
•    Ability to prioritize assigned work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
•    Ability to work in a manufacturing environment that may include varying temperatures, noise, dust, vibration, electrical hazards, and moving mechanical equipment.

•    Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, hydraulic and pneumatic diagrams, blueprints, ladder logic, and technical manuals.

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