2nd Shift - Manufacturing Engineering - Technician III

Business Title: Technician III-Automation & Controls (NGMC) Reports to: Manufacturing Engineering Manager Leadership Scope: Individual Leader Company Info: With a heritage of nearly 120 years, we aren’t just a company; we are a brand of trust. But more than anything, we are a collection of individuals who, together, give Grote Industries a decisive competitive advantage. At Grote, our shared vision is clear – to meet the needs of the customers we serve. We accomplish that mission every day by following a set of core values that makes us who we are Innovation has been the hallmark of Grote Industries from the start. From durable, easy to see stop lights to the latest in LED lighting technology, Grote has been leading the way in advanced vehicle system solutions from early in the last century right up to today. With these innovations, Grote has helped millions of people throughout North America and the world benefit from the innovation and design excellence of Grote products. Position Summary: The Technician III – Automation & Controls is a highly skilled technical role responsible for programming, troubleshooting, and optimizing automated manufacturing equipment within NGMC. This role supports high-volume production lines, including robotic systems, PLC-controlled equipment, and integrated manufacturing cells, ensuring maximum uptime, quality, and process capability. This position requires strong hands-on experience in robotics, PLC programming, and industrial automation, along with the ability to independently develop and improve control systems from concept through production support. Position Duties: - Program, troubleshoot, and optimize industrial robots, including Yaskawa (Motoman) systems or demonstrate transferable experience with other robotic platforms (e.g., UR, Fanuc, ABB). - Develop, modify, and maintain PLC programs from scratch, including ladder logic, structured text, and function block programming. - Support and troubleshoot Allen-Bradley PLC systems using RSLogix / Studio 5000. - Design and maintain HMI interfaces, ensuring usability for operators and maintenance teams. - Integrate and troubleshoot sensors, vision systems, and motion control systems (temperature, flow, proximity, load cells, etc.). - Work with VFDs, servo systems, and motor controls for automated equipment. - Diagnose and resolve electrical, controls, and automation-related downtime issues on production lines. - Support new equipment launches, including installation, commissioning, and validation. - Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Operations teams to improve process capability and throughput. - Maintain proper documentation including electrical schematics, PLC logic, and troubleshooting guides. Requirements: The ideal candidate will have an Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related field, along with a minimum of three years of hands-on experience in industrial automation, controls, or a related manufacturing environment. Candidates must have demonstrated experience programming PLCs from the ground up, performing system modifications and maintenance, and troubleshooting automated equipment. Experience working with industrial robots, including programming, teach pendant operation, and troubleshooting, is essential. The successful candidate will possess a strong understanding of ladder logic, industrial control systems, electrical schematics, and control panel troubleshooting, as well as experience with industrial communication protocols such as EtherNet/IP and Modbus. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, along with the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, are required.