Automation Technician - A Shift

GE Vernova•Bangor, ME

4d•Onsite

About The Position

GE Vernova’s Gas Power business engineers advanced, efficient natural gas-powered technologies and services, along with decarbonization solutions that aim to help electrify a lower carbon future. It is a global leader in gas turbines and power plant technologies and services with the industry’s largest installed base.

Requirements

Associate degree, technical diploma, or certification in Mechatronics, Robotics, Industrial Automation, Electrical Technology, Mechanical Technology, Controls Technology, or equivalent hands-on experience.
4+ years of experience in a manufacturing, automation, robotics, or advanced maintenance environment.
Demonstrated experience troubleshooting integrated industrial equipment beyond routine component replacement.
Working knowledge of industrial robotics.
Working knowledge of PLC-controlled systems.
Working knowledge of industrial electrical systems.
Working knowledge of servo and motion systems.
Working knowledge of mechanical power transmission.
Working knowledge of pneumatic and hydraulic systems.
Working knowledge of machine safety systems.
Flexibility: Willingness to work A, B, or C Shift.
Must successfully pass an assessment to demonstrate knowledge and ability in utilizing significant mechanical, electrical, and programmable logic controller experience and troubleshooting.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting complex automated manufacturing systems with multiple integrated subsystems.
Experience with industrial robots and cobots such as: FANUC, KUKA, ABB, Yaskawa Motoman.
Familiarity with PLC and controls platforms such as: Siemens, Rockwell Automation / Allen-Bradley.
Experience with servo drives and motion control.
Experience with VFDs and motor control systems.
Experience with industrial networks such as EtherNet/IP and Profinet.
Experience with vision systems.
Experience with automated conveyors and material handling.
Experience with safety PLCs and machine guarding systems.
Experience with data collection or condition monitoring tools.
Experience participating in root cause investigations, reliability improvement efforts, and startup/commissioning activities.
Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, ladder logic, panel layouts, P&IDs, mechanical drawings, robot and automation documentation.

Responsibilities

Install, maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize robotic systems, automated equipment, and manufacturing cells used in production.
Perform advanced fault isolation across integrated systems including robots, PLCs, HMIs, sensors, drives, conveyors, end-of-arm tooling, safety circuits, and peripheral equipment.
Diagnose and resolve complex equipment issues involving multiple failure modes across electrical, mechanical, controls, and process interactions.
Lead technical troubleshooting during high-impact downtime events, using a systematic approach to identify root cause and restore operation safely and efficiently.
Evaluate recurring failures and chronic equipment losses to determine whether issues stem from component wear, programming logic, process variation, setup conditions, operator interaction, or system design limitations.
Serve as the escalation point for difficult automation and robotics problems that cannot be resolved through standard maintenance practices.
Troubleshoot and support PLC logic, robot programs, CNC interfaces, servo systems, VFDs, and HMI-controlled processes.
Perform I/O diagnostics, signal tracing, device verification, and communication troubleshooting across control panels and machine networks.
Make controlled program edits, parameter adjustments, and recovery changes within approved procedures and change management expectations.
Analyze alarms, faults, interlocks, sequence issues, and machine state conditions to identify hidden causes of equipment stoppage or performance degradation.
Support backup, restoration, and version control of robot, PLC, and HMI programs in coordination with engineering and controls teams.
Assist in validating control system changes and startup performance after repairs, upgrades, or process adjustments.
Drive a structured troubleshooting culture using root cause analysis tools such as 5 Whys, fishbone diagrams, fault trees, Pareto review, and failure trend analysis.
Investigate chronic downtime, nuisance faults, repeat failures, and intermittent issues with the goal of eliminating recurrence.
Identify weak points in equipment design, maintenance strategy, spare parts readiness, component selection, or operating practice and recommend durable corrective actions.
Participate in and support reliability-centered maintenance activities including PM optimization, predictive maintenance, spare parts strategy, FMEA, TPM, and critical asset planning.
Use historical downtime data, alarm history, failure patterns, and maintenance records to prioritize improvement efforts.
Develop and implement corrective and preventive actions that improve machine reliability, process stability, throughput, and safety.
Support automation engineers with equipment upgrades, controls modifications, retrofits, and integration of new automation technologies.
Participate in commissioning, startup, debug, and validation of new robotic cells, automation systems, and production equipment.
Assist in proving out system functionality after installation or major maintenance, including verification of machine performance, safety systems, communications, and process repeatability.
Recommend and help implement improvements to increase equipment robustness, reduce cycle interruptions, improve fault recovery, and simplify maintenance access.
Support integration and troubleshooting of industrial communication systems including EtherNet/IP, Profinet, device-level networks, remote I/O, and smart instrumentation.
Contribute technical input to capital projects, controls upgrades, and equipment redesign efforts based on hands-on operational experience.
Respond rapidly to equipment downtime while balancing immediate recovery with thorough technical evaluation.
Work cross-functionally with production, engineering, and quality teams to resolve process-related automation issues that affect output, scrap, repeatability, or product quality.
Distinguish between machine faults, process faults, programming issues, setup errors, and operator-driven variation in order to apply the right corrective action.
Support product and process changeovers requiring advanced equipment adjustment, reteaching, recalibration, or program verification.
Assist in developing robust recovery methods for process interruptions to minimize scrap and unplanned downtime.
Provide technical mentorship and guidance to maintenance technicians and operators on equipment behavior, fault recovery, and basic troubleshooting practices.
Maintain detailed records of troubleshooting findings, root cause conclusions, corrective actions, program changes, and equipment modifications.
Update electrical schematics, troubleshooting guides, recovery procedures, PM documents, and maintenance work instructions as needed.
Document lessons learned from major failures and support creation of troubleshooting standards to improve future response.
Help build technical documentation that improves repeatability, accelerates diagnosis, and reduces dependency on tribal knowledge.
Ensure all repairs, modifications, and adjustments are properly communicated and recorded in accordance with site procedures.
Follow all GE Vernova, local site, and regulatory safety requirements related to electrical systems, robotics, automation equipment, and machine safeguarding.
Execute and support lockout/tagout, arc flash awareness, stored energy isolation, and machine safety verification activities.
Troubleshoot and maintain safety systems including light curtains, interlocks, guarding, safety relays, safety PLCs, and emergency stop circuits.
Identify equipment conditions that create safety, quality, or reliability risk and escalate or correct them appropriately.
Support safe startup and restart of automated systems following maintenance, fault recovery, or system modification.
Obey all safety rules including wearing personal protective equipment such as safety toe shoes, safety glasses, and hearing protection in designated areas.
Comply with all practices and procedures including the GE Vernova Bangor Handbook, the Code of Mutual Respect, and the GE Vernova Spirit & Letter.
Qualify for and utilize specialized personal protective equipment (e.g. respirator, arc flash and fall protection), as required for the position.
Perform a diverse range of tasks and responsibilities by effectively utilizing cross-training and multi-skilling. This includes, but is not limited to, operating multiple machines simultaneously within the same shop/area and based on business needs.
Foster a safety culture by engaging in and supporting Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) audits, training sessions, related activities, and compliance with Life-Saving Rules (LSR).
Ensure that all products consistently meet or exceed the quality standards and customer expectations. Additionally, identify and address any quality issues promptly to maintain high standards and customer satisfaction.
Deliver the products/services right the first time, every time, with focus, using standard work and lean to ensure both safety and quality objectives are met and sustained.
Embrace innovation and a continuous improvement/lean mindset through collaborative efforts with Safety/Quality/Delivery/Cost/Culture initiatives supporting the overall success of the Bangor and GE Vernova Teams.
Innovate and solve problems rapidly with rigor, transparency, and to Stop Work when needed.
Complete all required certifications promptly and within designated timeframes.
Adhere to established company standard work procedures and continuously seek process improvements.
Complete all required training promptly and thoroughly.
Treat others with dignity and respect while being committed to proactively solving problems, raising concerns, and working collaboratively as one team.
Communicate with transparency, integrity, and respect to foster positive working relationships.
Take ownership of work and roles/responsibilities so each individual and each team is accountable for delivering on commitments.