Reliability and Automation Technician

McMaster-Carr•Elmhurst, IL

6h•$119,500 - $137,500•Onsite

About The Position

As a Reliability and Automation Technician, you’ll be responsible for maximizing the uptime, efficiency, and longevity of automated systems, robotics, and industrial machinery. This role combines preventive maintenance with advanced troubleshooting of PLCs, sensors, and control systems to minimize downtime and enhance process reliability. The technician acts as a subject matter expert, analyzing failure modes and implementing improvements to prevent recurrence. This is a fully onsite role at our facility located at 600 N. County Line Road, Elmhurst, IL.

Requirements

3–5+ years of hands-on experience maintaining industrial automation, PLC controls, or robotics.
Proficiency with PLC troubleshooting (Siemens, Allen-Bradley, or similar).
Strong knowledge of industrial sensors, motor controls, and actuators.
Able to work in an industrial environment, lift heavy components, and work at heights.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics, Automation, Electrical Engineering Technology, or related field is strongly preferred.
Experience in high-volume, automated logistics, distribution and/or manufacturing.
Methodical approach to isolating faults under pressure.
Working shoulder-to-shoulder with engineering, maintenance, and production teams.
Focus on reliability rather than just "break-fix" repair.

Responsibilities

Troubleshoot and repair complex faults in automated equipment (conveyors, robotics, PLC control panels, VFDs) through electrical, mechanical, and pneumatic pathways.
Perform routine inspections and predictive maintenance (thermography, vibration analysis) to proactively identify potential component failures.
Lead or assist in Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigations for chronic equipment failures and implement corrective actions.
Maintain detailed logs of repairs, maintenance activities, and parts usage in a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
Uphold all safety policies, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), robot safety standards, and machine guarding.