Weld & Automation Technician - 3rd Shift - $2,500 Signing Bonus

North American Stamping Group•Portland, TN

About The Position

The Weld & Automation Technician provides technical support for robotic and resistance welding, MIG welding, automated assembly equipment, fixtures, tooling, and related production processes in the Assembly, Bender and Weld (ABW) department. The position maintains equipment in a safe, reliable, production-ready condition while supporting quality manufacturing and minimizing downtime. Duties include troubleshooting and repairing mechanical, electrical, robotic, pneumatic, hydraulic, weld-control, and automation equipment; responding to production interruptions; making process and equipment adjustments; and supporting preventive and predictive maintenance. As a third-shift technical resource, the technician is expected to evaluate equipment and process concerns independently, determine root causes, implement corrective actions, and escalate significant issues as needed. The role also supports equipment launches and improvements, collaborates with Production, Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, Tooling, Maintenance, and other departments, and documents repairs and process changes. Safety responsibilities include following applicable procedures and Lockout/Tagout requirements, maintaining safety devices, and reporting unsafe conditions. Quality responsibilities include maintaining approved process parameters, verifying that repairs and adjustments support conforming product, and assisting with quality investigations and corrective actions.

Requirements

High school diploma, Grade 12 education, or equivalent GED.
Five or more years of relevant manufacturing experience is preferred, with demonstrated experience supporting robotic welding, automated assembly, or similar production equipment.
Experience programming and troubleshooting industrial robots.
Knowledge of MIG welding and resistance welding principles and applications.
Experience with production MIG and/or resistance weld controls.
Experience troubleshooting automated manufacturing equipment.
Experience with PLC diagnostics as related to production equipment troubleshooting.
Experience troubleshooting electrical and mechanical equipment.
Working knowledge of pneumatic and hydraulic systems.
Experience adjusting automated fixtures, weld tooling, sensors, clamps, and related production equipment.
Industrial robotics and robotic programming knowledge, including robotic weld-cell troubleshooting.
Working knowledge of MIG and resistance welding processes, weld-control programming and diagnostics, and Medar or similar resistance welding systems.
Knowledge of PLC diagnostics, machine controls, industrial electrical systems, mechanical troubleshooting and repair, pneumatic and hydraulic systems, automated assembly equipment, and machine-control components.
Ability to work with weld fixtures, automated tooling, machine and robotic safety systems, and electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical schematics.
Knowledge of preventive and predictive maintenance, equipment troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, process troubleshooting, and corrective action.
Basic computer skills and ability to use electronic maintenance documentation.
Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving ability in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, including the ability to identify root causes rather than repeatedly address symptoms.
Ability to make sound technical decisions using measurable data and available information.
Strong mechanical aptitude and electrical troubleshooting ability.
Ability to work independently with limited supervision, particularly during off-shift production.
Ability to prioritize equipment issues based on safety, quality, production impact, and customer requirements, and remain effective during breakdowns and time-sensitive situations.
Strong attention to detail and accuracy; ability to work within established tolerances and process requirements.
Effective verbal and written communication skills, including communicating technical concerns across shifts and departments.
Effective time-management and organizational skills.
Understanding of continuous improvement and waste-elimination principles; ability to work effectively on cross-functional teams.
Initiative, dependability, integrity, and a strong work ethic.
Willingness to support production needs through overtime, schedule changes, and additional training when required.
Follow applicable division-specific requirements in NASG ME-049.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree, technical diploma, apprenticeship, certification, or equivalent technical training in industrial maintenance, electrical/industrial electronics, robotics, automation, electrical controls, welding technology, mechanical engineering technology, mechatronics, industrial millwright, or a related technical discipline.
Equivalent combinations of education, technical training, and relevant work experience may be considered.
Understanding of stamped metal components and welding and assembly processes.
Knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).
Industrial electrician, millwright, maintenance technician, automation technician, or similar technical experience.

Responsibilities

Provide technical support for robotic welding, resistance welding, MIG welding, automated assembly equipment, fixtures, tooling, and related ABW production processes.
Maintain assigned production equipment in a safe, operational, and production-ready condition.
Troubleshoot and repair mechanical, electrical, robotic, pneumatic, hydraulic, weld-control, and automation equipment problems.
Respond to equipment downtime and safely restore equipment to normal operating condition.
Diagnose recurring equipment and process failures and implement corrective actions to prevent repeat downtime.
Program, troubleshoot, adjust, and maintain industrial robots used in welding and automated assembly.
Troubleshoot and adjust MIG and resistance welding processes to maintain required weld quality and process capability.
Monitor weld parameters and make adjustments within established process and quality requirements.
Troubleshoot weld controls, including Medar or similar resistance welding control systems.
Adjust weld fixtures, automation tooling, sensors, clamps, locating devices, and related equipment.
Verify that equipment and process adjustments produce parts meeting established quality requirements before returning equipment to production.
Support troubleshooting of dimensional, weld-quality, fit-up, assembly, and process concerns.
Read and interpret electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and equipment schematic drawings.
Use PLC diagnostics and controls information to identify equipment and process failures.
Perform preventive and predictive maintenance according to established schedules and initiate corrective action for conditions that could cause future downtime.
Complete maintenance requests, work orders, projects, and technical assignments accurately and on time.
Document equipment repairs, process changes, corrective actions, and other required maintenance information.
Maintain appropriate spare parts and identify critical components; assist with requisitioning replacement parts, components, and technical supplies.
Support installation, qualification, launch, and improvement of new or transferred weld and automated assembly equipment, including runoff activities as required.
Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering, Production, Quality, Tooling, Maintenance, and other departments during launches and takeover work.
Use data, root-cause analysis, problem-solving methods, and equipment history to identify and correct production issues.
Identify and pursue improvements to equipment reliability, cycle time, productivity, quality, maintainability, and equipment effectiveness.
Participate in continuous improvement activities focused on reducing downtime and waste and improving process capability.
Verify that repairs and improvement activities remain effective.
Communicate equipment conditions, open issues, repairs, temporary countermeasures, and follow-up needs to production leadership and technical personnel, including at shift change.
Work with outside contractors and technical service providers when required.
Maintain clean and organized work areas, tools, equipment, and technical workspaces.
Participate in required technical, safety, quality, automation, robotics, and equipment training.
Follow NASG standards, procedures, work instructions, applicable division-specific requirements, and safety and quality requirements, including NASG ME-049.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Follow established safety procedures and applicable regulatory requirements, including Lockout/Tagout when required.
Maintain and restore machine guarding, interlocks, light curtains, safety switches, emergency stops, robot safety systems, and other safety devices; do not bypass or defeat them except as specifically authorized by an approved procedure.
Identify and immediately report unsafe conditions, stop equipment when immediate risks exist, and follow PPE requirements.
Maintain weld and assembly processes within established quality and engineering requirements and approved parameters.
Support investigation, containment, troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and permanent corrective actions for weld-quality and assembly concerns.
Help ensure equipment and process conditions support production of conforming product.