Automation Technician

Actalent; Princeton (IN); On-site; USD 41,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Disability insurance

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

PTO / Vacation

Job summary

Actalent in Princeton, IN, is seeking an Automation Technician to develop, validate, and commission automated equipment for battery pack manufacturing. You will program PLCs (Omron/Siemens), integrate robotics and conveyors, review electrical/mechanical drawings, and ensure safety and quality across multiple facilities.

Occasional travel (domestic/international) and extended hours are required. The role involves collaboration with Production Engineering and global teams, equipment risk

Qualifications

• 2-year associate’s degree in a technical field, completion of a trade school program, or 3+ years of relevant technical experience.
• At least 2 years of experience with PLC programming using platforms such as Omron or Siemens.
• Hands-on PLC troubleshooting in an industrial/manufacturing setting.
• Ability to read mechanical and electrical drawings for installation, troubleshooting, and modification.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Teams).
• Willingness to work up to 25% overtime and travel up to 50% (domestic and international).
• Demonstrated self-motivation and adaptability in fast-paced engineering environments.

Responsibilities

• Support Battery Pack Assembly equipment development with cross-functional teams.
• Assist in equipment specifications and safety standard compliance.
• Contribute to risk assessments and mitigation validation.
• Perform detailed safety/electrical/mechanical checks for operation and compliance.
• Confirm configurations for safety interlocks and logistics hardware.
• Support vendor buy-off trials and zone trials for system functionality.
• Assist with adjustments to meet safety, quality and productivity targets.
• Participate in installation and commissioning of PLC-controlled systems and robotics.
• Troubleshoot PLC programs and control systems to improve reliability.
• Collaborate to integrate robotics, vision, and material handling into lines.
• Review drawings to support installation, modification, troubleshooting.
• Prepare documentation on equipment specs, risk assessments, and confirmations.
• Travel to vendors/sites in US, Canada, Mexico, and Japan.
• Work extended hours including overtime, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Use Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Teams for documentation and communication.
• Collaborate with teams; adapt to changing priorities and travel schedules.
• Maintain high safety standards and proper PPE usage.

Skills

PLC programming

Robotics integration

Electrical schematics

Mechanical drawings reading

Microsoft Office

Troubleshooting PLC

Travel readiness

Education

Associate's degree in a technical field

Trade school program completion

Tools

Omron PLC

Siemens PLC

Kawasaki/FANUC robotics

Keyence vision systems

AutoCAD/CATIA

Job description

Job Automation Technician

This role supports the Production Engineering Vehicle Manufacturing Engineering Battery Pack Assembly group by developing, validating, and commissioning automated equipment and systems used in battery pack manufacturing. You will focus on PLC programming, equipment specification and risk assessment, and integration of robotics and conveyor systems, ensuring that all machinery meets safety, quality, and productivity standards across multiple facilities.

Responsibilities

• Support the Battery Pack Assembly equipment development activities in collaboration with Production Engineering, Vehicle Manufacturing Engineering, North American manufacturing centers, and global teams.
• Assist in developing equipment specifications and confirm compliance with established engineering and safety standards.
• Contribute to equipment machine risk assessment activities and support the confirmation of mitigation measures.
• Perform detailed equipment checks for safety, electrical, and mechanical design to validate proper operation and compliance.
• Confirm equipment, conveyor, and logistics hardware configurations for individual cell and zone safety interlocks.
• Support equipment confirmation activities at vendor buy-off trials and larger zone trials, ensuring systems function as designed.
• Assist with equipment adjustments and optimization to achieve safety, quality, and productivity targets in battery pack assembly operations.
• Participate in the installation and commissioning of manufacturing equipment, including PLC-controlled systems and robotics, as needed.
• Troubleshoot PLC programs and control systems to resolve issues and improve reliability and performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate robotics, vision systems, and material handling equipment into production lines.
• Review and interpret mechanical and electrical drawings to support equipment installation, modification, and troubleshooting.
• Prepare and maintain documentation related to equipment specifications, risk assessments, and confirmation activities.
• Travel to vendors and manufacturing sites in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Japan to support equipment development, trials, and integration.
• Work extended hours, including overtime, weekends, and holidays when required to support project timelines and production needs.
• Use Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, and Teams to document work, communicate with stakeholders, and report progress.
• Collaborate effectively with different teams, demonstrating flexibility in handling changing priorities, travel requirements, and work schedules.
• Maintain a strong focus on personal and team safety, following all safety procedures and using required personal protective equipment.

Essential Skills

• 2-year associate’s degree in a technical field, completion of a trade school program, or 3+ years of relevant technical experience.
• At least 2 years of experience with PLC programming using platforms such as Omron or Siemens (experience with other major PLC platforms is also valuable).
• Hands-on experience with PLC troubleshooting and programming in an industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical and electrical drawings to support equipment installation and troubleshooting.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, and Teams.
• Ability and willingness to work up to 25% overtime, including possible 12‑hour shifts, with significant weekend and holiday work when required.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 50% at peak times, both domestically and internationally.
• Strong self‑motivation, with the ability to work independently and take initiative in a fast‑paced engineering environment.
• Flexibility to work with different teams and adapt to changing project requirements, travel schedules, and overtime needs.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with manufacturing equipment procurement, installation, and commissioning in an automotive or industrial setting.
• Experience working with industrial robots from Kawasaki or FANUC for part transfer or auto‑tightening applications.
• Familiarity with PLC platforms such as Mitsubishi, Siemens, Allen‑Bradley, and Omron, including PLC programming and troubleshooting.
• Experience with Keyence or other vision system setup and integration into automated production lines.
• Experience with autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and AGV traffic control systems.
• Exposure to equipment installation and integration in areas such as paint or other automated manufacturing processes.
• Familiarity with engineering tools such as AutoCAD and CATIA for reviewing or supporting equipment layouts and designs.
• Experience with microcontroller‑based control systems and general controls engineering concepts.
• An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical discipline is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to be self‑motivated, flexible, and comfortable working with different teams, travel schedules, and overtime requirements.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Princeton, IN.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $43.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Princeton,IN. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Oct 5, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News‑Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.