Industrial Automation Technician

Job Title: Maintenance Technician
Job Description
This direct-hire Maintenance Technician role focuses on commissioning, maintaining, and improving highly automated food manufacturing equipment in a brand-new, regulated production facility. You will perform preventive and corrective maintenance, troubleshoot complex mechanical and electrical issues, support automation and PLC-based systems, and contribute to reliability and continuous improvement initiatives that maximize equipment uptime and operational performance. The position suits a high-level, multicraft industrial maintenance professional who thrives in a fast-paced startup environment and is comfortable working with new processes and equipment.
Responsibilities

• Execute preventive maintenance tasks according to PM schedules and work orders in the CMMS to ensure equipment reliability and uptime.
• Support the development, optimization, and continuous improvement of preventive and predictive maintenance routines.
• Track and help improve maintenance KPIs such as MTTR, MTBF, and PM compliance to drive reliability initiatives.
• Diagnose and repair mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and automation system failures on production and packaging equipment.
• Replace, align, and adjust mechanical components including motors, pumps, belts, bearings, gearboxes, and related hardware.
• Repair and maintain instrumentation and control hardware to support accurate and reliable equipment operation.
• Perform root-cause analysis on recurring failures and implement corrective actions to prevent future issues.
• Troubleshoot VFDs, motor controls, relays, sensors, and control panels in a high-speed, automated environment.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics, ladder logic, P&IDs, wiring diagrams, and technical manuals to support troubleshooting and repairs.
• Support PLC fault diagnosis and collaborate with controls and automation engineers or external vendors on complex control system issues.
• Assist with installation, start-up, testing, and commissioning of new production lines, equipment, and line modifications.
• Support qualification and validation activities required in a regulated food manufacturing environment.
• Provide input on spare parts strategies, critical spares, and capital project planning to enhance equipment reliability and maintainability.
• Create and close detailed work orders in the CMMS, update equipment histories, and log parts usage to maintain accurate maintenance records and support audits.
• Recommend appropriate inventory levels for parts and consumables and support procurement of critical spare parts.
• Follow Lockout/Tagout, confined space, and other safety procedures at all times to ensure a safe working environment.
• Work safely in washdown and food production areas while following GMPs, sanitation requirements, and plant hygiene standards during maintenance activities.
• Report and escalate hazards, near-misses, and safety incidents promptly and participate in corrective and preventive safety measures.
• Adapt to changing priorities, schedules, and tasks typical of a startup environment and support extended hours or weekend work when needed to stabilize operations.
• Collaborate with operations, quality, and engineering teams to support production goals and ensure equipment readiness for manufacturing.

Essential Skills

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 2-7+ years of hands-on maintenance experience in industrial or manufacturing environments.
• Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills in an industrial setting.
• Experience working in food manufacturing or high-speed manufacturing environments strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with pneumatics and hydraulics in production equipment.
• Experience with VFDs, motor controls, instrumentation, and industrial electrical panels.
• Working familiarity with PLCs and the ability to support troubleshooting of control systems; PLC programming experience is a plus.
• Ability to troubleshoot and support automation systems and PLC-controlled equipment.
• Experience using a CMMS (such as Fiix, Maintenance Connection, or MP2) to execute and document work orders.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, P&IDs, ladder logic, wiring diagrams, and technical manuals.
• Comfort working across varying schedules and responding to on-call or extended-hour issues as needed in a startup environment.
• Ability to safely follow Lockout/Tagout, confined space, and other safety procedures.
• Capability to work effectively in a GMP-regulated food production environment, including adherence to sanitation and hygiene requirements.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Technical certificate, trade school, or vocational training in industrial maintenance, electrical, mechanical, or a related field preferred.
• EPA certification for refrigeration work is a plus if refrigeration systems are involved.
• Welding, fabrication, or millwright skills are highly desirable.
• Formal apprenticeship or journeyman training in industrial maintenance or a related trade is a plus.
• Experience with predictive maintenance tools such as vibration analysis and thermal imaging is beneficial.
• Experience with high-speed conveyors and automated material handling systems is advantageous.
• Hands-on experience with Allen-Bradley PLC environments is a strong plus.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams including operations, engineering, and quality.
• High level of flexibility, adaptability, and problem-solving mindset suitable for a new plant startup environment.

Why Work Here?
You will join a brand-new, highly automated food production facility where you can directly influence how equipment, processes, and maintenance programs are built from the ground up. The organization offers comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage with multiple plan options and no high-deductible medical plans, as well as a 401(k) plan with a 100% match up to 4% after 90 days. Paid time off and sick time accrue to support work-life balance, and a steel toe/composite footwear stipend helps cover essential safety gear. Benefits begin on the first day of the month following eligibility, providing early access to coverage. The culture encourages continuous improvement, safety, and professional development, with on-the-job training and opportunities to grow your technical skills in a modern, automated environment.
Work Environment
This role is based in a brand-new, climate-controlled food manufacturing plant that produces protein bars using highly automated, high-speed equipment and conveyor systems. The facility operates under GMP standards and regulated food safety requirements, including washdown areas and strict sanitation and hygiene practices. You will work closely with new production lines and state-of-the-art equipment, helping to commission and stabilize operations in a startup environment. Training is provided on the job, and you will interact regularly with automation, PLC-controlled systems, and industrial electrical and mechanical equipment. The primary schedule runs Monday through Friday with 10-hour shifts from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with overtime paid after 40 hours and some Saturdays required, especially during startup and commissioning phases. During certain periods, such as April and May, the schedule may shift to Monday through Saturday six-day workweeks to support equipment ramp-up, with a 30-minute unpaid lunch. In later months, the schedule transitions to a five-day workweek with 8- or 10-hour days and a 30-minute unpaid lunch. The plant is air-conditioned and heated to maintain ingredient and product quality. During early construction phases, temporary portable restroom facilities are in use until permanent plumbing is fully installed. Appropriate safety footwear is required, and team members must follow all PPE, GMP, and safety standards while working in production and maintenance areas.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Nashville, TN.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $62400.00 - $72800.00/yr.
DP Benes:-$75 Steel Toe/Composite Stipend -Medical, Dental, Vision - 3 Medical plans no high deductible. Anthem BlueCross.-Benes start 1st of month.-15 PTO days accrued.-6 Sick days accrued.-401K after 90 days. 100% match up to 4%.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Nashville,TN.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Jul 3, 2026.

About Aerotek

Aerotek® Inc. provides staffing and services solutions in manufacturing, logistics, construction, aviation, facilities and maintenance. We provide the expertise, solutions and people required to rise to the challenges of North American industry. Headquartered in Hanover, Md., Aerotek operates a unified network of over 200 offices across North America, supporting more than 18,000 clients each year. Aerotek is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in workforce and business solutions. To learn more, visit: Aerotek.com | 1-888-AEROTEK.


Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.


The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.