Automation Systems Mechanical Fabricator-Technician
Picture your day starting on the fabrication floor in Birmingham. You review a new assembly drawing, pull steel from the rack, and lay out cuts. By mid-morning you’ve MIG-welded a frame, verified fit and tolerances, and moved to precision assembly—installing bearings, aligning shafts, and setting belts and couplings. After lunch, you collaborate with controls and electrical teammates to dry-run motion, troubleshoot a minor interference, and suggest a design tweak. Later in the week, you’ll travel (about 15%) to a customer site to level, anchor, and commission the full system.
This hands-on role builds and services custom automated and robotic equipment—from first tack to final startup. You’ll weld, fabricate, machine, assemble, install, test, troubleshoot, repair, and paint components and systems while partnering closely with mechanical engineers, controls engineers, electricians, fellow technicians, and customers.
What You’ll Build and Do
Welding and Fabrication
- Perform production-quality MIG welding on mild and stainless steel; occasionally aluminum.
- Fabricate per drawings and specifications—fit, tack, weld, grind, finish, and verify conformance.
- Prep and paint frames, components, and completed assemblies.
- Inspect welds and fabricated parts for quality, fit, and dimensional accuracy.
- Flag fabrication issues and partner with engineering to resolve.
- Keep welding/fab equipment in safe, reliable condition.
Mechanical Assembly
- Interpret blueprints, assembly and technical drawings, and schematics.
- Assemble custom machines, robots, frames, guarding, fixtures, conveyors, and related mechanisms.
- Use hand/power tools and precision metrology to meet spec.
- Install and align bearings, shafts, belts, gears, sprockets, couplings, linear rails, cylinders, valves, sensors, guards, and more.
- Continuously verify fit, movement, alignment, and function during builds.
- Identify wrong dimensions, interferences, missing hardware, and other fit-up concerns; communicate clearly to engineers.
Machining and Part Modification
- Operate manual machines for part mods and one-off components as required.
- Drill, tap, cut, grind, and hand-fit to achieve correct dimensions and finishes.
- Use calipers, micrometers, squares, and other gauges to confirm tolerances.
- Rework existing components to support assembly, installation, repair, or design updates.
- Follow prints, specifications, and engineering direction.
Prototype and Engineering Collaboration
- Co-build prototypes with mechanical, controls, electrical, and fellow technicians.
- Assemble from concept models and evolving drawings.
- Offer practical feedback on assembly, fit, serviceability, and design improvements.
- Assist with functional testing, documentation, and iteration based on results or customer input.
- Recommend process, tooling, design, and reliability enhancements.
Installation, Startup, and Field Support (~15% Travel)
- Install mechanical systems at our facility and at customer sites.
- Travel as needed (about 15%) for installation, startup, troubleshooting, repair, and post-delivery service.
- Set and secure frames, guarding, fixtures, conveyors, and subassemblies per plans.
- Level, align, anchor, adjust, and verify installed equipment.
- Function-test equipment in simulated or live production.
- Support tuning and full-system readiness with engineering, controls, electrical, and customer teams.
- Represent Automation Solutions professionally on-site.
Troubleshooting and Repair
- Diagnose mechanical faults and implement corrective actions.
- Inspect for wear, damage, misalignment, looseness, or interference.
- Determine root causes via wear patterns, stress points, motion, and performance.
- Repair/replace belts, chains, gears, bearings, bushings, shafts, valves, cylinders, seals, fasteners, and similar components.
- Tweak mechanisms to improve performance and reliability; validate with tests and report results.
- Document work performed and open issues.
Teamwork and Communication
- Report daily priorities and direction to the Mechanical Engineering Manager.
- Accept tasking from management and engineering as projects require.
- Collaborate across mechanical, controls, project management, sales, fabrication, and installation.
- Communicate directly with customers when needed to resolve issues and provide service.
- Join team meetings, safety talks, and continuous-improvement sessions; provide timely status updates and risk flags.
- Participate in cross-training and skill development.
Safety and Housekeeping
- Maintain an orderly, clean, and safe workspace.
- Follow company safety policies and OSHA requirements for PPE, welding, tools, machinery, material handling, and mechanical work.
- Attend safety briefings; promptly report hazards, incidents, and damaged tools/equipment.
- Inspect, maintain, and store tools properly; keep shared areas tidy.
- Support general housekeeping—organize parts, remove debris, sweep—on-site and at customer facilities.
Qualifications
Education
- Associate degree or technical training in Welding, Mechanical Technology, Industrial Maintenance, Mechatronics, or related field preferred.
- Equivalent hands-on experience in fabrication, welding, assembly, or industrial maintenance considered in lieu of formal education.
Required Experience
- 2+ years of direct experience in mechanical fabrication, welding, assembly, industrial maintenance, or similar environment.
- Proficient MIG and TIG welding on mild steel and stainless steel.
- Confident reading mechanical drawings/blueprints and technical specs.
- Skilled with hand tools, power tools, fab equipment, and precision instruments.
- Strong mechanical aptitude; familiar with fasteners, bearings, shafts, belts, gears, and common build practices.
- Proven troubleshooting and repair capability.
- Willing and able to perform hands-on fabrication, assembly, installation, and repairs.
Preferred Experience
- Background in custom machine building, systems integration, industrial automation, manufacturing, or robotics equipment.
- Experience fabricating/assembling custom industrial machinery.
- Aluminum welding exposure.
- Surface prep and painting of fabricated parts/equipment.
- Manual machining capability.
- Installation, alignment, commissioning, and field service.
- Basic pneumatics and hydraulics knowledge.
- Familiarity with mechanical power transmission components/systems.
- Industrial machinery troubleshooting and repair.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Advanced welding, fabrication, assembly, and mechanical diagnostic skills.
- Translate drawings into complete, accurate assemblies.
- High attention to quality, detail, and efficiency.
- Competent with tape measures, calipers, micrometers, levels, squares, and alignment tools.
- Clear communicator with engineers, technicians, customers, and stakeholders.
- Strong multi-tasking and priority management.
- Effective working independently or in cross-functional teams.
- Organized, analytical, and resourceful problem solver.
- Dependable self-starter who owns outcomes.
- Eager to learn new processes, equipment, and skills.
Travel and Field Service
- Travel about 15% based on project/customer needs; some overnight trips.
- Support installs, startups, alignments, troubleshooting, repairs, and post-delivery assistance.
- Work safely within customer industrial/manufacturing sites and their access rules.
- Valid U.S. driver’s license and acceptable driving record required.
Certifications (Preferred)
- OSHA 10 or OSHA 30.
- Forklift/powered industrial truck operator.
- Aerial lift/mobile elevated work platform.
- Relevant welding, mechanical, OEM, or safety certifications.
Physical Requirements
- Lift/carry up to 50 lbs.
- Stand for extended periods.
- Bend, reach, climb, kneel, crouch to assemble/install equipment.
- Safely operate welding/fabrication machinery, hand/power tools, and precision instruments.
- Work safely around industrial machinery, automation, welding operations, and manufacturing processes.
- Wear required PPE.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
Why Join Us
- Build one-of-a-kind automation and robotic systems—no repetitive production work.
- See projects through—from fab and first assembly to test, install, and customer startup.
- Advance skills in welding, fabrication, machining, assembly, troubleshooting, and installation.
- Work alongside seasoned engineers, electricians, fabricators, technicians, and automation pros.
- Shape designs and processes with your practical feedback.
- Tackle real manufacturing challenges with tangible impact.
- Enjoy stable, full-time work with growth and development opportunities.
- Watch your builds become production-ready systems.
Proficiencies
- Mechanical Troubleshooting Skills
- OSHA 10-Hour Certification (OSHA 10)
- Pneumatics Troubleshooting
- Maintenance and Repair Skills
- Field Service Readiness
- CNC Machine Setup & Changeover
- Mechanical Systems & Component Repair
- Crane & Lifting Equipment Systems
- Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
- Equipment Installation
Additional Employment Requirements
- Ability to pass applicable background checks.
- Ability to pass pre-employment and random drug screenings.
- Ability to comply with company and customer safety requirements.
- Ability to wear required personal protective equipment.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Automation Solutions and Livingston & Haven consider all qualified applicants without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, religion, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status protected by applicable law.