Automation Technician

Job Purpose

Responsible for performing preventative and predictive maintenance on all automation systems.  The Automation technician will be responsible for designing, programming, troubleshooting, and improving automated machinery or computer systems.  

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Responsible for performing preventative and predictive maintenance on all automation systems. 
• Responsible for designing, programming, troubleshooting, and improving automated machinery or computer systems. 
• Repairing electrical parts such as switches, motors, relays, or sensors.
• Creating new automation technologies for manufacturing processes or enhancing existing technologies
• Creating detailed drawings of machinery wiring or PLC or other structures according to requirements provided by engineers.
• Testing and installing industrial controls, including computerized systems that monitor and handle operations like robots or automated production lines.
• Evaluate, maintain, troubleshoot, and improve industrial networks.
• Troubleshoots, maintains, and repairs industrial control systems and related devices including Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Human Machine Interfaces (HMI), distributed control systems, Servos, Drives and Robotic Controllers.
• Participates individually or in cross-functional teams focused on relentless continuous improvement and problem-solving activities throughout the company.  May require traveling to other locations.
• Follows all established safety and good manufacturing practices (GMP) for area assigned company policies and procedures and recognized practices.
• Conducts preventive maintenance programs and keeps accurate maintenance records.
• May install, maintain, and calibrate industrial instrumentation and related devices as required.
• Assist and train production employees in proper operation and maintenance of automation.
• Monitor equipment downtime and operator reports and lead Root Cause Analysis initiatives to eliminate downtime or equipment variation.
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience, Educational and Technical Qualifications

An associate degree in technology, Electrical, Electronics, Electro-Mechanical or certification in a similar technical area preferred or a minimum of three years related job experience.

Preferred knowledge/experience of PLCs, robotics, servos/VFDs, vision cameras/RFID scanners, electrical, and mechanical systems.

Must have strong written and verbal communication skills and strong organizational and problem-solving skills.

Must have and be able to demonstrate intermediate math skills.

Must have ability to read schematics and be able to use precision measuring/inspection equipment.

Interpersonal skills to provide training to team members and other department employees.
 

Abilities Required

• Technical Aptitude:  strong grasp of different technologies, software and machinery.
• Analytical skills:  understand and process complex information quickly to identify any faults or inefficiencies in the automated systems.
• Problem-solving abilities:  creatively and effectively draw on their problem-solving abilities to troubleshoot issues and rectify them quickly.
• Self motivation and flexibility of job assignments.
• Communication skills:  conveying information about the systems' status, the problems identified, and the measures taken to fix them.

Physical Activity Required:

Climbing:

Ascending or descending ladders, stairs and equipment, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms.  Needs good body agility.

Stooping:

Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at waist.  This requires the full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.

Crouching:

Bending body downward and forward by bending legs and spine.

Reaching:

Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

Standing:

Standing for sustained periods of time.

Walking:

Moving over long distances to accomplish tasks.

Pushing:

Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.

Pulling:

Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.

Lifting:

Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position.

Grasping:

Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

Feeling:

Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin.

Fingering:

Picking, pinching, or otherwise working primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm.

Talking:

Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.  This includes activities where detailed or important spoken instruction must be conveyed to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

Hearing:

Perceiving the nature of sounds with no less than 40 dB at 500 Hz, 100 Hz, and 2000 Hz with or without correction.  Able to receive detailed information through oral communication and to make fine discriminations in sound, such as when making fine adjustments on machine parts.

Repetitive Motion:

Substantial movements of the arms, hand and/or fingers.

Vision:

Must be able to prepare and analyze data and figures.  Eye sight capable of seeing small defects at distances close to the eyes.

Exertion:

Medium Work – Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Environmental Working Conditions:

• The worker is subject to both inside and outside environmental conditions.
• The worker may be subject to extreme heat.  Temperatures above 100 for periods of more than one hour.
• The worker is subject to noise.
• The worker is subject to vibrations.  Exposure to oscillating movements of the extremities or whole body.
• The worker is subject to being exposed to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, chemicals, etc.
• The worker may be subject to atmospheric conditions, i.e. fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases or poor ventilation.
• The worker is subject to oils.  Air and/or skin exposure to oils and other cutting fluids.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Pay Range:

$29.32 - $43.11