Automation & Controls Technician Trainee -- Veterans Cohort

Job Description

Job Description

A day in the Academy of Advanced Manufacturing

Wake up at the Cambria Hotel in downtown Milwaukee, grab breakfast, and meet your cohort in the lobby. The shuttle rolls out for Rockwell Automation’s Global Headquarters. By 8:00 AM, you’re on the lab floor, powering up industrial controllers, tracing signals through HMIs, and stepping through structured scenarios that mirror real production issues. After a one‑hour lunch, you dive back into hands‑on troubleshooting, refine PLC logic from earlier lessons, and run software-based exercises that sharpen diagnostic thinking. By 5:00 PM, you’ve built more confidence, checked off another module, and logged experience that translates directly to high‑demand roles with our manufacturing partners.

About the Program

The Academy of Advanced Manufacturing (AAM) is an in‑residence technical training experience built for U.S. military veterans and transitioning service members. Through a powerful blend of classroom instruction and extensive lab practice, you’ll develop automation, instrumentation, and controls capabilities that modern manufacturers rely on to keep operations running.

Beyond training, AAM integrates a hiring pathway—connecting you with program‑affiliated manufacturing companies for full‑time roles aligned to what you learn.

Program Snapshot

• Program Cost: 100% free to U.S. Military Veterans and transitioning Service Members
• Housing: Cambria Hotel (Downtown Milwaukee)
• Transportation: Shuttle service to/from training Monday–Friday
• Training Site: Rockwell Automation Global Headquarters, Milwaukee, WI
• Duration: 11 weeks
• Training Wage: $12/hour
• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (includes a one‑hour lunch)
• Learning Mix: ~70% hands‑on lab work with scenario‑based exercises, ~30% classroom fundamentals

What You’ll Learn

Coursework is organized into focused modules that build system awareness and troubleshooting ability:

• Industrial Automation Principles
• Logix Foundation
• Logix Troubleshooting
• EOI Maintenance
• Industrial Controls Network
• Instrumentation
• Motor Control
• Variable Frequency Drives

Tools and Technology You’ll Use

• Basic hand and electrical tools (wiring tools, multimeters, etc.)
• Industrial controllers
• Human‑machine interfaces (HMIs)
• Low‑voltage motors
• Variable frequency drives (VFDs)
• Instrumentation devices
• Industrial networking equipment
• Company‑issued computer preloaded with training software

How You’ll Train

• Arrive prepared and on time each day.
• Attend all lessons, labs, coaching sessions, and evaluations.
• Complete exercises, labs, projects, and written/practical assessments.
• Follow safety procedures for both housing and training environments.
• Engage in individual and team‑based problem solving.
• Show steady effort and growth in technical competency.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods during classroom and lab work.
• Ability to work with small components, tools, and test instruments.
• Must be able to lift 50 lbs throughout the day.

Basic Qualifications

• U.S. military veteran or transitioning service member in favorable standing or with an Honorable/General under Honorable Conditions discharge
• Provide a DD‑214 to verify service and discharge status
• Willing and able to relocate anywhere in the U.S. for job placement with program‑affiliated manufacturing partners
• Possess technical experience from military service or a civilian career

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with 3‑phase power
• Industrial electrical background with medium to high voltage (typically 208v, 240v, 277v, 480v, and above)
• Industrial systems/equipment troubleshooting and maintenance experience
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Demonstrated aptitude for learning new technical concepts
• Solid computer skills

Proficiencies That Will Help You Succeed

• PLC Troubleshooting Skills
• Equipment Troubleshooting
• Electrical Troubleshooting Skills
• Mechanical Troubleshooting Skills
• PCB Assembly (Printed Circuit Board Assembly)
• 120/208/240/480 Voltage Systems
• CNC Programming
• Electrical Installation
• Electrical Troubleshooting
• PLC Programming Experience
• PLC Wiring Experience
• Electrical / Electronic Systems
• HVAC Troubleshooting
• CNC Machine Setup & Changeover
• Electrical Panel Installation
• Electrical Schematic Reading
• Basic Computer Skills

Graduate with real‑world skills and a direct line to full‑time roles that leverage automation, instrumentation, and controls—closing critical workforce gaps across U.S. manufacturing.