Automation Technician

Camaco•Lorain, OH

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Automation Technician III provides advanced technical support for automated manufacturing equipment, robotics, PLC and HMI controls, industrial networks, machine vision, safety systems, electrical controls, and related production processes. The technician independently diagnoses complex equipment faults, restores safe operation, supports continuous improvement, and mentors less-experienced technicians. Assigned systems include FANUC, Motoman, and comparable industrial robots; RSLogix and Studio 5000 PLC platforms; HMIs and industrial networks; drives and electrical components; machine-vision and safety devices; automated welding equipment; WeldWatcher weld-monitoring systems; and other plant automation. The position supports production by troubleshooting downtime, performing authorized repairs and configuration changes, maintaining backups and traceable documentation, and coordinating with Production, Maintenance, Quality, Tooling, Engineering, IT/OT, and service providers. Program edits, device changes, WeldWatcher adjustments, and system recovery must remain within authorization and training limits and follow applicable backup, validation, approval, and change-control requirements. The role works primarily on the manufacturing floor around automated machinery, robots, electrical enclosures, welding equipment, moving equipment, noise, oils and lubricants, and varying temperatures. The employee must use required personal protective equipment and follow plant safety controls. Physical requirements include frequent walking, standing, kneeling, crouching, handling tools and equipment, and visually inspecting components, as well as occasional lifting or moving of up to 40 pounds. The position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, but may provide technical direction, training, and task coordination.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Five or more years of industrial automation, controls, robotic, or electrical troubleshooting experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Demonstrated experience with PLC/HMI diagnostics, industrial networks, robots, sensors, drives, safety devices, and low-voltage electrical systems in a production environment.
Ability to work the assigned shift, overtime, weekends, and emergency call-in coverage as required.
Advanced fault isolation across PLC logic, I/O, HMI, networks, sensors, safety circuits, robotics, drives, tooling, and process conditions.
Ability to connect to RSLogix 500, RSLogix 5000, and Studio 5000 systems; locate I/O; review interlocks; use cross-reference tools; and perform authorized uploads or backups.
Working knowledge of structured programming techniques, robot instructional commands, program structure, and safe editing practices.
Ability to configure or troubleshoot industrial communications, including Ethernet, Remote I/O, and DeviceNet.
Ability to identify, specify, replace, and configure controls hardware within the assigned level and work authorization.
Proficiency with multimeters, hand tools, electrical schematics, mechanical prints, and approved diagnostic software.
Working knowledge of machine-vision, scanner, safety, drive, and network-device diagnostics and backup procedures.
Computer, math, documentation, and communication skills sufficient for controls backups, maintenance records, parts requests, and cross-functional coordination.
Ability to follow applicable safety, lockout/tagout, electrical safe-work, machine-guarding, arc-flash, stored-energy, and cell-entry procedures.

Nice To Haves

Formal training in industrial automation, electrical technology, mechatronics, robotics, controls, industrial maintenance, or a related technical field.
Journeyman or equivalent certification.
Experience with automated welding or comparable robotic manufacturing processes.
Working knowledge of WeldWatcher setup and diagnostics, including weld references, monitoring features, limits, recipes, alarm interpretation, validation checks, configuration backup, and controlled adjustments within established process and quality requirements.

Responsibilities

Provide daily automation and controls support to production and respond to equipment downtime using safe, structured troubleshooting and documented recovery methods.
Connect to PLCs, locate I/O, upload and back up programs, review interlocks, cross-reference tags, and isolate machine faults.
Troubleshoot HMIs, sensors, electrical components, I/O devices, industrial networks, scanners, cameras, printers, light curtains, drives, and associated wiring.
Perform authorized low-voltage electrical checks using a multimeter, including checks of voltage type, grounding, continuity, fuses, circuit breakers, and connections.
Read and interpret U.S. and European electrical schematics, relay and sensor diagrams, cable pinouts, mechanical drawings, and OEM technical documentation.
Perform robot error recovery, verify home and zero positions, back up and protect programs, and make authorized position or sequence adjustments using a teach pendant.
Modify approved robot and PLC programs, HMI tags or screens, drive parameters, scanner zones, camera references, and device configurations within training and authorization limits.
Troubleshoot automated resistance, GMAW, and projection welding applications and faults involving wire feed, torch condition, gas flow, reamers, fixtures, robot position, and weld parameters.
Perform authorized WeldWatcher adjustments in accordance with validated process standards and change-control requirements.
Validate WeldWatcher performance after adjustments by confirming part and program selection, reviewing weld signatures and alarms, completing required verification checks, and documenting results before production resumes.
Troubleshoot WeldWatcher hardware, sensors, communications, data acquisition, signal quality, recipe selection, and interface conditions; escalate weld-process or quality decisions as required.
Back up and restore approved WeldWatcher configurations, weld references, limits, recipes, and validation records, and document authorized changes traceably.
Support communications and network troubleshooting for Remote I/O, Ethernet, DeviceNet, and comparable industrial protocols.
Install and replace approved controls hardware, sensors, cables, enclosures, conduit, I/O devices, cameras, scanners, light curtains, drives, and related components.
Perform preventive maintenance for automation, robotic, electrical, and weld-process components; identify recurring failures and recommend PM or spare-parts improvements.
Support equipment installation, commissioning, run-at-rate, program backup, controls documentation, and acceptance of new or rebuilt automated equipment.
Complete work orders, downtime notes, fault findings, program and parameter backup records, parts usage, and shift handoffs accurately.
Coordinate equipment recovery with Production, Maintenance, Quality, Tooling, Engineering, IT/OT, and service providers to protect safety, quality, and delivery.
Follow lockout/tagout, electrical safe-work practices, machine guarding, arc-flash requirements, stored-energy control, and approved cell-entry procedures.
Train operators and less-experienced technicians in basic error recovery, fault recognition, inspection checks, program backup, and standard troubleshooting methods.
Independently troubleshoot complex, interconnected automation, robotic, electrical, network, process, and mechanical conditions.
Prioritize equipment-recovery work and coordinate technical support across departments and external service providers.
Mentor Automation Technician trainees and Level I or II technicians in safe troubleshooting, drawing interpretation, diagnostics, programming fundamentals, and standard recovery methods.
Support controls standardization, recurring-failure analysis, preventive-maintenance improvement, spare-parts planning, equipment installation, commissioning, and production readiness.
Perform other duties as assigned.