Automation Technician

Kelly Services; Romeoville (IL); On-site; USD 48,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation

Job summary

Kelly Services is seeking an experienced Automation Technician in Romeoville, IL to troubleshoot, repair, and maintain automated production systems in a USDA-regulated facility. The role focuses on reliability, safety, and efficiency, with responsibilities spanning electrical and mechanical maintenance, PLC and VFD work, and rapid response to breakdowns.

You'll work a Monday–Friday 3:00pm–11:30pm shift, and benefit from comprehensive company benefits and seasonal training opportunities.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic maintenance in a USDA or FDA food manufacturing environment.
• Experience troubleshooting automated production and packaging equipment.
• Strong understanding of electrical controls, motors, wiring, relays, control panels, and industrial electrical systems.

Responsibilities

• Inspect, troubleshoot, repair, and maintain food processing and packaging equipment.
• Perform preventive maintenance, equipment setup, and repairs on conveyors, stackers, baggers, check weighers, UPC barcode systems, and case erectors.
• Diagnose and repair electrical systems including motors, starters, relays, timers, breakers, panels, conduit, and wiring.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics and control drawings to troubleshoot equipment issues.
• Perform basic PLC and VFD programming and troubleshooting.
• Dismantle, clean, lubricate, and reassemble equipment per preventive maintenance schedules.
• Respond quickly to equipment breakdowns to minimize downtime.
• Ensure equipment is operational before production starts.

Skills

Maintenance experience

PLC troubleshooting

Electrical systems

Reading schematics

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

PLC

VFDs

Job description

Automation Technician – Romeoville, IL

Pay: $35-$38/hr

Schedule: Monday - Friday | 3:00pm - 11:30pm

Join a Team That Keeps Automation Running!

We're looking for an experienced Automation Technician to help keep our food production and packaging equipment operating at peak performance. In this role, you'll troubleshoot, repair, and maintain automated production systems in a USDA-regulated manufacturing environment while ensuring equipment reliability, safety, and production efficiency.

If you're mechanically inclined, enjoy electrical troubleshooting, and have experience with PLCs, VFDs, and automated packaging equipment, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Do

• Inspect, troubleshoot, repair, and maintain food processing and packaging equipment.
• Perform preventive maintenance, equipment setup, and repairs on conveyors, stackers, baggers, check weighers, UPC barcode systems, and case erectors.
• Diagnose and repair 110V, 230V, and 460V electrical systems including motors, starters, relays, timers, breakers, panels, conduit, and wiring.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics and control drawings to troubleshoot equipment issues.
• Perform basic PLC and VFD programming and troubleshooting.
• Dismantle, clean, lubricate, and reassemble equipment according to preventive maintenance schedules.
• Respond quickly to equipment breakdowns to minimize production downtime.
• Ensure all production equipment is operational before scheduled production starts.
• Fabricate replacement parts and modify equipment as needed to improve performance.
• Maintain facility equipment and support compliance with city, fire, and USDA regulations.
• Follow all safety procedures including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), ladder safety, and company safety programs.
• Support SQF Food Safety Code requirements and maintain a clean, food-safe work environment.
• Assist with training and mentoring maintenance and production team members.

What You Bring

• 5+ years of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic maintenance experience in a USDA or FDA food manufacturing environment.
• Experience troubleshooting automated production and packaging equipment.
• Strong understanding of electrical controls, motors, wiring, relays, control panels, and industrial electrical systems.
• Ability to read electrical schematics, blueprints, and technical documentation.
• Basic PLC and Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) troubleshooting experience.
• Safe and proficient use of hand tools, power tools, and diagnostic equipment.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work independently and within a team.
• High school diploma or GED required.
• Valid Illinois Driver's License preferred.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus.
• Must be available to work any shift as business needs require.

Why You'll Love It Here

• Competitive pay based on experience
• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid vacation and company benefits
• Stable, clean, USDA-regulated manufacturing environment
• Ongoing training and opportunities for career growth
• Join a collaborative maintenance team where your technical expertise makes a direct impact every day

As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Please note: The following benefits reflect Kelly's general offerings. Eligibility may vary by assignment, location, and job type. Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability. As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan. Click here (https://www.mykelly.com/help-support-working-with-kelly-us/#Benefits) for more information on benefits and perks that may be available to you as a member of the Kelly Talent Community.

Get a complete career fit with Kelly ® .

You're looking to keep your career moving onward and upward, and we're here to help you do just that. Our staffing experts connect you with top companies for opportunities where you can learn, grow, and thrive. Jobs that fit your skills and experience, and most importantly, fit right on your path of where you want to go in your career.

About Kelly

Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we're obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it's about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It's the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It's the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life-just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.

Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Kelly may use AI-powered tools during the recruitment and hiring process. For full details, including how Kelly uses AI, your rights, and how to request a reasonable accommodation, visit the Recruitment Artificial Intelligence Notice (https://www.kellyservices.com/hubfs/myKelly/Resources/Employment_Policies/Recruitment-Artificial-Intelligence-Notice.pdf?hsLang=en) .

Kelly Services is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affinitive Action employer. We welcome, value, and embrace diversity at all levels and are committed to building a team that is inclusive of a variety of backgrounds, communities, perspectives, and abilities. At Kelly, we believe that the more inclusive we are, the better services we can provide. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to Kelly’s Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment.