Automation Controls Technician

ZT Systems; Secaucus (NJ); On-site; USD 40,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) retirement savings plan

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off (PTO)

Company-paid holidays

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Job summary

ZT Systems in Secaucus, NJ is seeking an Automation Controls Technician to join the Advanced Automation Infrastructure team. You will troubleshoot PLCs, HMIs, I/O, networks, and safety systems on automated production equipment, serving as the first responder to keep lines running and drive improvements.

The role requires a trade school certification in a technical field and 6+ years of hands-on experience in automated manufacturing.

Qualifications

• Trade school certification in a technical field and 6+ years of automated manufacturing experience.
• Deep expertise in industrial automation controls including PLCs, HMIs, I/O, sensors, safety circuits, and networks.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex controls failures across field devices to PLCs and networks without over-reliance on OEM support.

Responsibilities

• Own PLC, HMI, electrical controls, sensors, I/O, and automation networks for production equipment.
• Troubleshoot complex controls issues to rapidly restore equipment.
• Maintain PLC/HMI backups, configurations, and machine recovery files.

Skills

PLCs, HMIs, I/O, networks

Controls troubleshooting

Electrical schematics reading

PLC programming (Festo / CodeSys / ST)

HMI configuration

Industrial Ethernet

Office tools (Outlook, Excel, Word)

Education

Trade school certification in a technical field

Tools

Festo

CodeSys

Structured Text

HMI configuration tools

Industrial networking equipment

Job description

About the role:

The Automation Controls Technician (PLC) serves the Advanced Automation Infrastructure team and is on the front line of ZT Systems’ automated assembly operations, keeping the controls behind our equipment running reliably. You’ll troubleshoot PLCs, HMIs, sensors, I/O, networks, and safety systems, serving as the first responder when automation stops and helping drive improvements that keep production moving. This is an opportunity to build hands-on expertise at the center of next-generation manufacturing for one of the industry’s leading hyperscale system integrators.

What you’ll do:

• Serve as the owner for PLC, HMI, electrical controls, sensors, I/O, and automation networks supporting production equipment.
• Troubleshoot complex controls issues across the field device, I/O, PLC logic, network, HMI, and machine sequence to rapidly restore equipment.
• Maintain controlled PLC/HMI programs, configurations, backups, network documentation, and machine recovery files for automated equipment.
• Develop and execute a critical controls spare parts strategy and preventive maintenance program based on equipment criticality and downtime exposure.
• Partner with OEMs, system integrators, and engineering teams to resolve complex controls issues, implement system improvements, and eliminate recurring failures.
• Analyze controls-related downtime and failure data to identify root causes, reliability improvements, and opportunities to improve automation performance.
• Crosstrain and provide backup support for the automated mechanical systems to build team-wide knowledge and eliminate single points of knowledge.

What you bring:

• A minimum of a trade school certification in a technical field and 6+ years of practical experience in an automated manufacturing environment.
• Deep expertise in industrial automation controls, including PLCs, HMIs, I/O systems, sensors, safety circuits, industrial networks, and SMEMA machine sequencing.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot complex controls failures from the field device through the PLC, network, HMI, and machine sequence without relying solely on OEM support.
• Strong experience reading and interpreting electrical schematics, control panel drawings, I/O lists, PLC logic, network architecture, and machine documentation.
• Experience with PLC programming (Festo / CodeSys / Structured Text), HMI configuration, controls integration, industrial Ethernet, sensors, and safety systems in an automated manufacturing environment.
• Ability to establish and maintain controlled PLC/HMI backups, configuration records, software versions, and machine recovery documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to perform root-cause analysis on recurring controls failures and implement improvements that increase equipment reliability and reduce downtime.
• Strong technical judgment and change-control discipline, with the ability to make repairs independently while recognizing when an issue requires engineering, OEM, or system-integrator escalation.
• Experience with Microsoft Office tools (Outlook, Excel, and Word).
• Strong verbal and written communications skills.

ZT Systems assesses market data to ensure a competitive compensation package is created for all our employees. The typical base salary for this position is expected to be $35 hourly . If hired, the final base salary will be determined on an individual basis taking into consideration experience, skills, knowledge, education and/or certifications.

Base salary is just one component of ZT Systems total rewards philosophy. We take pride in offering a wide range of benefits and perks that appeal to the variety of needs across our diverse employee base. Other rewards may include bonus, paid time off, generous 401k match, tuition reimbursement, wellbeing resources, and more.

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

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About ZT Systems

At ZT Systems, a Sanmina Company, you’ll get to do work you are proud of alongside smart, passionate people. Every day, there are opportunities to collaborate with the best in the industry to design, build, and deliver impactful solutions to world-class customers. Along the way, you will gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced environment that’s challenging, rewarding, and career-defining.

A culture built around our values we work hard and think fast. We view challenges as opportunities to do better, push harder, and be faster than we were the day before. When we fail, we learn from it and move on together. And when we succeed, we use the momentum to go even further. We create value with everything we do, building the foundation of today—and transforming the future of tomorrow.

Join ZT Systems and help us build technology infrastructure that connects the world.

What We Offer

At ZT Systems, a Sanmina Company, we believe that investing in our people is key to our continued growth and innovation. When you join our team, you’ll gain access to a comprehensive and inclusive benefits package designed to support your well-being, financial security, and professional development—both now and in the future.

Compensation & Financial Security

• Competitive base salary
• Performance-based annual bonus eligibility
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Tuition reimbursement for eligible education programs

Health & Wellness

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with access to leading providers
• Mental health resources and employee wellness support programs
• Company-paid life and disability insurance

Time Away & Work-Life Balance

• Paid time off (PTO) and company-paid holidays
• Parental leave and family care support programs

Growth & Purpose

• Structured training programs and on-the-job learning opportunities
• Matching gifts and volunteer programs to support causes you care about

These benefits are available to eligible employees and are designed to grow with you as your career evolves. Full benefits and eligibility varies by work location. Learn more about our benefits here.

ZT Group Int’l. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. ZT Systems provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Please be aware that certain positions may require the applicant to either 1) be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or 2) be eligible to obtain an export control license or license exception from the Bureau of Industry and Science & U.S. Department of Commerce. All offers of employment will be conditional subject to the foregoing.