Industrial Automation Maintenance Technician — Automotive

Shape uptime in Athens, TN

You clock in for an evening shift in our Athens, TN plant. Production is humming. A robotic welder flags a fault. Minutes later, you’ve traced a PLC I/O issue, swapped a sensor, updated the work order in our ERP, and the line is back to rate. If this feels like your kind of win, you’ll thrive here.

Work schedule

Sunday - Thursday 6:00pm - 2:30am or Monday - Friday 3:00pm - 11:30pm

What you’ll take on

• Keep conveyors, robotic welders, and other automation assets running through expert mechanical and electrical repair.
• Diagnose and correct PLC faults and wiring issues; interface with HMIs and servo-powered equipment.
• Execute machine safety inspections and ensure all activities meet regulatory and site standards.
• Use ERP software to document maintenance, plan work, and manage spare parts inventory.
• Test and verify performance using electrical, electronic, and mechanical diagnostic tools.
• Coordinate closely with production control, tool room, and quality control to optimize throughput and asset utilization.
• Analyze production, quality, maintenance, and operating data to pinpoint root causes of downtime.
• Monitor equipment health—listening for abnormal sounds and addressing variances with supervisors and teammates.
• Partner with production on machine and process modifications that improve quality and efficiency.
• Work with Tool Crib Attendants and the Maintenance Planner to generate purchase orders for tools, parts, and equipment.
• Champion safety—comply with all plant policies at all times.
• Perform scheduled preventive maintenance on all equipment and report out as needed.
• Maintain world-class housekeeping (5S) and a safe, orderly workspace.
• Follow organizational policies and proactively mitigate safety hazards.
• Contribute in Production, 5Why/RCA, and other problem-solving sessions.
• Operate forklifts and other support equipment when required.

**Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individual with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. Also, additional job duties may be assigned.

How we work together

• Show consistent, reliable attendance and work the hours needed for success.
• Keep your area organized and efficient.
• Share accurate, timely updates with peers and leadership.
• Communicate clearly and respectfully to strengthen teamwork.
• Uphold company policies and procedures, including ISO14001, IATF16949, and all safety requirements.
• Be receptive to direction and take on duties with a positive mindset.
• Treat every colleague with dignity and respect.
• Actively support the E&E values.

**Physical Demands

The physical demands describes below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The following physical demands include:

• Frequent standing, walking, crouching, bending, and twisting.
• Capability to work at heights when needed.
• Comfort working around continuous noise and in areas with changing temperatures.

Background you bring

Education

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Associate’s degree in a related field strongly preferred.

Experience & skills

• 4+ years of maintenance experience in a manufacturing setting, or an equivalent mix of trade school and experience.
• 3+ years in automotive supplier and/or steel stamping maintenance.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Solid written, verbal, and presentation skills; able to communicate in English.
• Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting aptitude.
• Hands-on knowledge of HMIs and PLCs.
• Current forklift license.
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the role.

Core technologies you’ll encounter

Conveyor systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, servo-driven equipment, ERP systems, HMIs, PLCs, robotic welders, and more.