Automation Technician

Nodi; New York (NY); On-site; USD 66,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Unlimited PTO

14+ company holidays

401(k)

Mental health support

Job summary

Nodi’s Brooklyn Navy Yard laboratory seeks an on-site Automation Technician to prototype, install, troubleshoot, and maintain robotic and electromechanical systems in a self-driving materials lab. You will collaborate with engineers and scientists to keep hardware running efficiently, emphasizing discipline and craftsmanship.

The role requires a technical degree or equivalent hands-on automation experience, strong PLC-based skills, and the ability to work independently in a development

Qualifications

• Technical degree or equivalent hands-on experience in automation, mechatronics, or industrial maintenance.
• Strong electromechanical troubleshooting skills using schematics and diagnostic tools.
• Experience with PLC-based industrial automation systems.
• Fabrication and assembly skills for electro‑mechanical systems.
• Knowledge of industrial safety systems and safe work practices.
• Able to work independently in a hands-on, development‑oriented environment.
• Strong communication across engineering and scientific teams.

Responsibilities

• Build automation systems from technical documentation, including mechanical assembly and PLC wiring.
• Diagnose and repair automation hardware: sensors, actuators, 6-axis robots, and control cabinets.
• Perform preventive maintenance to reduce downtime and improve reliability.
• Validate new automation equipment before production use.
• Collaborate with teams on system modifications, experiments, and process development.
• Support installation and commissioning of new equipment and propose fixes.
• Operate fabrication tools: 3D printers, waterjets, laser cutters, and shop equipment.
• Keep lab, workshop, and assembly areas organized and clean.

Skills

Technical troubleshooting

PLC automation

Mechatronics

Fabrication & assembly

Industrial safety

Independent worker

Cross-team communication

Education

Technical degree or equivalent

Tools

PLC programming

Python

Job description

Compensation $66,000 – $103,000 per year USD

The opportunity

Our labs run on Workcells: integrated systems of PLCs, six-axis industrial robots, linear motion, and custom electromechanical equipment, built to run experiments without a human standing over them. Keeping that hardware alive is the job. You will prototype, install, troubleshoot, and maintain the robotic systems inside a first-of-its-kind self-driving materials lab, working shoulder to shoulder with the engineers and scientists who depend on it running. The work rewards discipline and craftsmanship as much as speed—organized, well-maintained equipment is what lets the team move fast and solve problems creatively, together.

What You'll Do

• Build automation systems from technical documentation, including mechanical assembly and PLC wiring.
• Diagnose and repair automation hardware: sensors, actuators, 6-axis robots, and control cabinets.
• Execute preventive maintenance to cut downtime and keep systems reliable.
• Validate new automation equipment before it goes into production.
• Collaborate with teams on system modifications, experiments, and process development.
• Support installation and commissioning of new equipment, catching performance issues early and proposing fixes.
• Operate fabrication tools: 3D printers, waterjets, laser cutters, and standard machine shop equipment.
• Keep the lab, workshop, and assembly areas organized and clean.

Required

• Technical degree, or equivalent hands‑on experience in automation, mechatronics, or industrial maintenance.
• Strong electromechanical troubleshooting skills using schematics, manuals, and diagnostic tools.
• Experience with PLC-based industrial automation systems.
• Fabrication and assembly skills in building electro‑mechanical systems.
• Working knowledge of industrial safety systems and safe work practices.
• Comfortable working independently in a hands‑on, development‑oriented environment.
• Strong communicator able to work across engineering and scientific teams.

Nice to Have

• Software experience (PLC logic and/or Python) for advanced troubleshooting or creating internal test equipment.
• Background supporting custom, prototype, or research‑grade automation equipment.
• Exposure to materials processing, metallurgy, powder handling, or thermal systems
• Familiarity with industrial networking, HMIs, or basic data collection systems.

Work Arrangement

On‑site at our Brooklyn Navy Yard lab. This role works hands‑on with physical equipment daily and is not remote‑eligible.

Compensation

$66,000 – $103,000. Compensation varies based on experience and scope. We offer 100% employer‑covered medical, dental, and vision insurance, unlimited PTO, 14+ company holidays, 401(k), and mental health support through Spring Health and Headspace Care.