ABB Robotic Controls Technician

Helion Group; Emporia (VA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Helion Group is seeking a hands-on Automation/Maintenance Technician to own ABB robotic welding and cutting systems. You will re-home robots, program routines with a teach pendant, and fine-tune motion and process parameters to maximize uptime.

You’ll diagnose PLC and electrical issues, work from 480V down to 24V, and coordinate with electricians and vendors for upgrades. Occasional weekend support may be required.

Qualifications

• Hands-on ABB robot welding and cutting system expertise.
• Experience with teach pendant re-homing and programming.
• Strong PLC troubleshooting and parameter adjustment skills.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and troubleshoot ABB robotic welding and cutting cells.
• Re-home robots and reprogram trajectories using teach pendant.
• Revive idled robots and support new installations from setup to handoff.
• Diagnose PLC and automation issues; adjust I/O and parameters.
• Troubleshoot electrical problems from 480V to 24V across motors and drives.
• Collaborate with electricians, vendors, and supervisors on automation tasks.
• Coach maintenance staff on robot operation and structured troubleshooting.
• Execute preventive maintenance to minimize downtime.

Skills

ABB robotics

Teach pendant operation

PLC troubleshooting

Tools

Teach pendant

PLC programming

Electrical test equipment

Job description

About the RoleYour day starts at 6:00 AM. By the time most people finish their first coffee, you’ve already brought an ABB welding cell out of fault, re-homed a robot with a teach pendant, and tuned a PLC parameter to stabilize a line. This is hands-on work where your judgment keeps production humming and downtime minimal.You will support operations Monday–Friday, 6:00 AM–4:00 PM, with occasional weekend assistance when production needs it.What You’ll DoIn this role, you’ll be the go-to expert for ABB robotic welding and cutting systems—maintaining them, troubleshooting issues, and refining programs to improve performance. You’ll use a teach pendant to re-home robots, tweak routines, and adjust motion and process parameters on the fly. You’ll also breathe new life into legacy robots, returning idled units to service and assisting with the commissioning of new installations.Your controls know‑how will extend across PLCs, automation networks, sensors, scanners, and tracking equipment. You’ll diagnose faults, modify parameters within PLC programs, and validate inputs/outputs to get to root causes quickly. On the electrical side, you’ll work safely and confidently across the spectrum—from 480V power down to 24V control—troubleshooting motors, fuses, contactors, relays, and drives.Collaboration is central: you’ll partner with electricians on CAT cable terminations, 480V equipment, and controls-related tasks; coordinate with vendors and supervisors; and work closely with the Special Projects Manager to execute automation upgrades. You’ll also coach maintenance employees on robot operation, basic programming, and structured troubleshooting so the team grows stronger with every shift.How You’ll Make an ImpactKeep ABB robotic welding and cutting cells online with fast, accurate troubleshooting.Use a teach pendant to re-home, reprogram, and fine-tune robot operations.Revive out-of-service robots and support new system installs from setup to handoff.Diagnose PLC and automation issues; adjust parameters and verify I/O.Resolve electrical problems from 480V to 24V across motors, fuses, contactors, relays, and drives.Assist electricians with CAT cable terminations, high‑voltage gear, and controls tasks.Train maintenance personnel in safe robot operation and structured troubleshooting.Partner with vendors, supervisors, and the Special Projects Manager on automation initiatives.Execute preventive maintenance to cut unplanned downtime.Core CapabilitiesHands-on experience editing and troubleshooting ABB robots via teach pendant.Proficiency in PLC troubleshooting and parameter adjustments within programs.Electrical troubleshooting expertise from 480V power to 24V control circuits.