2nd-Shift Automation Team Lead

Textron Inc.; Lavonia (GA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Kautex is seeking a Technical Team Lead for the 2nd shift in Lavonia, GA to lead and coach controls, maintenance, and process technicians across assigned areas. You will review priorities, assign work, and provide hands-on support to keep production running smoothly.

Ideal candidates have a technical degree or apprenticeship with 3+ years in manufacturing, plus PLC/HMI and robotics exposure. This role emphasizes teamwork, safety, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Apprenticeship, two-year technical degree, or comparable education and experience in maintenance, controls, process technology, mechatronics, electrical, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of three years of relevant manufacturing experience preferred, including experience in controls/automation, industrial maintenance, or plastics/process technology.
• Working knowledge of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and automated manufacturing systems.
• Experience troubleshooting production equipment and using structured problem-solving methods.
• Ability to read and interpret equipment manuals, wiring schematics, technical drawings, and process or quality documentation.
• PLC and HMI troubleshooting or programming knowledge preferred; Siemens PLC experience is a plus.
• Robotics experience preferred; FANUC programming experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coordinate, and support Controls, Maintenance, and Process Technicians across assigned shifts or operating areas.
• Review work orders, preventive maintenance requirements, production priorities, and verbal assignments; establish priorities and assign work to the appropriate technician.
• Follow up on assigned work, confirm completion and documentation, and coach technicians when performance, technical approach, or standard work needs improvement.
• Provide hands‑on technical support for troubleshooting, repair, setup, retooling, and optimization of production equipment, plant systems, tooling, and automation.
• Coordinate rapid response to equipment breakdowns and other emergency repair needs to support safe restoration of production.
• Support programming, installation, modification, and troubleshooting of automation systems, including PLCs, HMIs, robotics, drives, computers, and interfaces with factory control systems.
• Support machine setup and process optimization to meet production, quality, cycle‑time, and standardized‑work requirements.
• Ensure preventive maintenance procedures, inspections, equipment readings, repair records, shift‑book entries, and change‑point documentation are completed accurately and on time.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Electrical knowledge

Mechanical knowledge

Schematics reading

Problem-solving

Education

Two-year technical degree

Apprenticeship

Comparable education/experience

Tools

Siemens PLC

FANUC robotics

HMI systems

Job description

Kautex is seeking a Technical Team Lead for the 2nd shift in Lavonia, GA to lead and coach controls, maintenance, and process technicians across assigned areas. You will review priorities, assign work, and provide hands-on support to keep production running smoothly.

Ideal candidates have a technical degree or apprenticeship with 3+ years in manufacturing, plus PLC/HMI and robotics exposure. This role emphasizes teamwork, safety, and continuous improvement.