Automation Maintenance Lead – Allen-Bradley / Siemens PLCs & VFDs

KLA Industries, Inc.; Brown Deer (WI); On-site; USD 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Shift differential

Bonuses

Profit sharing

Benefits

Job summary

KLA Industries, Inc. in Greater Milwaukee, WI seeks an Automation Maintenance Lead to own diagnostic work on Allen-Bradley and Siemens PLCs, and VFDs on high-speed lines. The role offers a direct-hire path with multiple shifts and strong autonomy in a stable, employee-focused facility.

You will diagnose real-time electromechanical systems, read schematics, and support fabrication as needed, backed by profit sharing and full benefits. Up to $38/hr with bonuses and shift differentials.

Qualifications

• 3+ years hands-on industrial maintenance on high-speed production machinery.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley or Siemens PLC fault tracing and I/O monitoring.
• Proficiency reading electrical schematics and mechanical drawings.
• Reliable attendance and safety-focused work history.
• Residence within 45 minutes of Greater Milwaukee, WI and US work authorization.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose automated production lines with real-time mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic diagnostics.
• Interface with Allen-Bradley or Siemens PLCs to trace faults and clear stoppages.
• Trace schematics and drawings for emergency repairs and preventive maintenance.
• Maintain fluid power systems including pneumatics and distribution lines.
• Service AC/DC drives and power distribution up to 480V and VFDs.
• Perform light fabrication and welding to adapt equipment.

Skills

Industrial maintenance

PLC diagnostics

Electrical schematics

Reliability & attendance

Local commute readiness

Safety compliance

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs

Siemens PLCs

VFDs

Robust diagnostic tools

Job description

Automation Maintenance Lead – Allen-Bradley / Siemens PLCs & VFDs

Up to $38.00/hr + Shift Differentials & Bonuses Greater Milwaukee, WI All Shifts Available Direct-Hire

• Pay & Incentives: Baseline starting pay up to $38.00/hour (scaling directly with technical depth) + competitive shift differentials, multiple corporate performance bonuses throughout the year, profit sharing, and full corporate benefits package.
• Work Pattern/Schedule: Choice of traditional shifts (Monday – Friday): 1st Shift (7:00 AM – 3:00 PM), 2nd Shift (3:00 PM – 11:00 PM), or 3rd Shift (11:00 PM – 7:00 AM).
• Environment & Company Profile: Direct-hire seat with an established market leader in Greater Milwaukee; high-tech, collaborative facility featuring a high-autonomy, non-micromanaged shop floor culture, exceptional employee appreciation, and a zero-layoff history.
• Core Functional Scope: Real-time mechanical/electrical/pneumatic diagnostics, Allen-Bradley or Siemens PLC fault-tracing, robotics, AC/DC electrical up to 480V, VFDs, pneumatics, and schematic/ladder logic tracing.
• Strict Requirements & Authorization: Requires 3+ years of hands‑on industrial equipment maintenance, US work authorization (U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder), and a local commute within 45 minutes of Greater Milwaukee, WI.

If you are an industrial maintenance professional looking for a stable, high-autonomy career home where your trade skills are respected and micromanagement is left at the door, this is your ideal destination. Operating out of a premier manufacturing facility in the Greater Milwaukee area, this market leader has built a reputation for being genuinely employee-friendly, collaborative, and financially rock-solid.

This role provides a rare opportunity to secure the exact work schedule that fits your life, with openings actively available across all three traditional Monday-through-Friday shifts. You won't just be swapping parts; you will take true technical ownership of complex automation lines, advanced robotic cells, and high-speed processing machinery. Backed by regular profit sharing, performance bonuses, and a history of zero layoffs, this is an environment where technicians regularly plant roots and stay for decades.

What You Will Be Doing (Daily Responsibilities)

• Diagnose Automated Production Lines: Execute real-time mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic diagnostics to keep automated machinery, processing lines, and robotic cells running at peak efficiency.
• Navigate PLC Logic & Controls: Interface directly with Allen-Bradley or Siemens PLCs to trace input/output faults, isolate software/hardware errors, and clear production line stoppages.
• Trace Schematics & Drawings: Utilize complex electrical blueprints, ladder logic, and mechanical drawings to perform emergency breakdown repairs and structured preventative maintenance sequences.
• Maintain Fluid Power Systems: Service, rebuild, and optimize heavy‑duty pneumatic valves, cylinders, regulators, and distribution lines.
• Service AC/DC Drives & Power Distribution: Work safely with industrial power systems up to 480V, electric motors, variable frequency drives (VFDs), sensors, and low-voltage control circuits.
• Execute Machinery Fabrication: Perform light structural welding, torching, and metal fabrication to adapt, modify, or repair production equipment components.

What We Are Looking For (Requirements & Qualifications)

• 3+ Years Industrial Maintenance Depth: Verifiable hands‑on track record servicing and repairing high-speed production machinery, custom automation, or heavy industrial equipment.
• Automation & PLC Diagnostic Skills: Demonstrated familiarity working around automated equipment, including basic navigation, I/O monitoring, and error tracing in PLC environments.
• Schematic & Electrical Literacy: Proficiency reading electrical schematics, mechanical blueprints, and hydraulic/pneumatic fluid power diagrams without hand-holding.
• Proven Tenure & Reliability: Solid, stable work history showing strong daily attendance, safety dedication, and long-term commitment with previous employers.
• Local Commute: Residence within a comfortable 45‑minute daily drive of the Greater Milwaukee, WI area.
• Compliance & Legal Authorization: Must be a United States Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder).

Preferred Technical Assets (Bonus Skills)

• Industrial Robotics: Hands‑on experience with FANUC, ABB, or Yaskawa robotic arms, teach pendants, or end‑of‑arm tooling (EOAT).
• Fabrication & Welding: Welding certifications or strong proficiency in MIG/TIG welding for shop equipment modifications.
• Predictive Maintenance: Exposure to thermal imaging, vibration analysis, or computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS).