Automation Technician

Openings: 2 — First Shift and Second/Off Shift

Blue Chip Talent, in partnership with a manufacturing organization, is seeking a skilled Automation Technician. This role is responsible for supporting automated production equipment, troubleshooting complex electrical and controls issues, and identifying root causes of recurring equipment failures. The Automation Technician serves as a technical escalation point between Maintenance and Controls Engineering in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Job Duties

• Troubleshoot electrical, PLC, robotic, pneumatic, mechanical, and machine-control issues on automated production equipment
• Respond to equipment downtime and diagnose failures across complete automated systems
• Navigate Allen-Bradley PLC ladder logic, I/O, faults, and machine sequences to identify equipment issues
• Diagnose robots, VFDs, conveyors, sensors, RFID devices, vision systems, and related automation equipment
• Read electrical schematics and troubleshoot high- and low-voltage circuits, power supplies, relays, sensors, and control components
• Perform root cause analysis on recurring equipment failures and identify corrective actions
• Partner with Maintenance and Engineering to improve equipment reliability and reduce unplanned downtime
• Monitor production equipment proactively and identify opportunities for equipment and process improvements

Skills & Experience

Required

• 5+ years of hands-on equipment troubleshooting experience within a manufacturing or plant environment
• Strong electrical troubleshooting experience, including electrical schematics, multimeter use, power supplies, control circuits, and 480V, 220V, and low-voltage systems
• Working knowledge of Lockout/Tagout procedures and electrical safety practices
• Hands-on experience troubleshooting Allen-Bradley PLC-controlled equipment, including ladder logic, inputs/outputs, common instructions, and equipment faults
• Experience troubleshooting automated equipment involving VFDs, sensors, conveyors, pneumatics, mechanical systems, and machine-level controls
• Hands-on robotics troubleshooting experience, including fault diagnosis and basic robot touch-ups
• Ability to connect to PLC-controlled equipment and trace machine logic to diagnose production issues
• Practical experience diagnosing equipment failures directly on the production floor

Desired

• Automotive or other high-volume automated manufacturing experience
• Experience troubleshooting vision and camera systems such as Keyence or Cognex
• Experience with RFID, proximity sensors, lasers, function testers, torque equipment, or similar automation technologies
• Experience performing root cause analysis and implementing equipment reliability improvements
• PLC programming or controls modification experience beyond troubleshooting
• Broader mechatronics experience spanning electrical, controls, robotics, pneumatics, and mechanical systems

Blue Chip Talent is an award-winning and woman-owned talent solutions provider based out of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. For over 30 years, we’ve specialized in IT, Engineering, and Professional Services staffing—now serving clients in 37 states and counting. We connect the market's elite talent with top employers, pairing exceptional white-glove service with proven hiring results to drive innovation and fuel growth.

We offer industry-leading benefits options and are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) that values merit-based recruitment centered around technical ability, skillset, and alignment with our employing partners.