Automation Technician

peakenergy.com; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Medical, dental and vision coverage

401(k) plan

Equity opportunities

Job summary

Peak Energy Technologies Inc. in Sacramento seeks an Automation Technician to join the Manufacturing Operations team, supporting BESS automation and production. You will build, install, and maintain automation equipment, troubleshoot under production pressure, and mentor a second technician on shift.

The role covers a single shift in a two-shift operation, with opportunities to contribute to PM routines and safety programs while ensuring rapid recovery from equipment downtime.

Qualifications

• 15+ years hands-on automation/controls/electrical technician experience in manufacturing.
• Experience with PLC systems: Beckhoff TwinCAT, Allen-Bradley, Siemens.
• Ability to read schematics and panel prints; safe around 24VDC and 480VAC.
• Proven diagnose and repair under production time pressure.
• Strong documentation habits and ability to mentor a second technician.
• High school diploma; associate degree a plus.

Responsibilities

• Build and install automation equipment per drawings; wiring and termination.
• Commission new equipment; IO checks, IP config, firmware updates.
• Respond to down equipment; diagnose and restore production quickly.
• Document assessments, repairs, and downtime; escalate when needed.
• Guide a second technician; mentor on shift for consistent practices.
• Support preventive maintenance for IO, sensors, drives, pneumatics.
• Follow safety: LOTO, NFPA 70E, interlocks and E-stops.
• Track spares and work orders; log downtime and repairs; assist commissioning.

Skills

PLC-based control systems

Electrical schematics reading

Troubleshooting under pressure

Documentation & mentoring

Team leadership

Safety procedures

Education

High school diploma

Associate's degree in Electronics or Industrial Automation

Tools

Beckhoff TwinCAT

Allen-Bradley

Siemens

SCADA/HMI platforms

Ignition by Inductive Automation

Job description

Role: Automation Technician
Location: Sacramento, CA
Department: Manufacturing Operations
Position: Full Time

About Peak Energy

Peak Energy Technologies is the first American venture to advance globally proven Sodium-Ion battery systems as the storage standard for the new era of renewable energy on a resilient grid. We're a team of about 105 today, growing rapidly as we move from pilot through commercial scale-up. Our leadership team brings decades of experience from Tesla, Northvolt, Apple, Powin, and Enovix, and we are backed by Xora, Eclipse Ventures, and TDK Ventures.

About the Role

We are looking for an Automation Technician to join our Manufacturing team at our Sacramento facility, supporting Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) manufacturing automation. This role starts by helping build out automation equipment - mounting valves and sensors, running cable, and wiring field devices back to power distribution panels - before shifting into a sustaining role keeping that equipment running in full production: the first call when automated equipment goes down, and a technical mentor to a second technician.

The right person is a seasoned, hands-on technician who is equally comfortable building a new automation cell and troubleshooting one under production pressure, knows when a problem is theirs to fix versus Controls/Automation Engineering's, and documents either outcome clearly. Peak Energy is planning a two-shift manufacturing operation; this role covers a single shift and coordinates with the opposing-shift technician to keep automation running on both shifts.

What You’ll Do

• Build and install automation equipment: mount and align valves, actuators, and sensors; run cable and conduit; and terminate field wiring back to power distribution panels per mechanical and electrical drawings - comfortable around both 24VDC control power and 480VAC three-phase machine supply distribution
• Commission new equipment: perform point-to-point IO checks and loop checks, diagnose and resolve network connectivity issues, assign and configure device IP addresses, and flash and update PLC and device firmware
• Respond to down equipment: serve as first responder to automation failures on your shift, diagnose root cause using PLC, HMI, and network diagnostics, and restore equipment to production as quickly and safely as possible
• Escalate and document: document equipment assessments, repairs, and downtime root cause, and elevate issues beyond technician scope to Controls/Automation Engineering with clear, actionable handoff notes
• Guide a second technician: provide day-to-day work direction, technical mentorship, and on-the-job training to a second Automation Technician on shift, ensuring consistent troubleshooting practices across shifts
• Support preventive maintenance: perform and help develop PM routines for PLC IO modules, sensors, servo/VFD drives, and pneumatic/hydraulic components to reduce unplanned downtime
• Follow safety procedures: apply lockout/tagout (LOTO), arc flash, and NFPA 70E electrical safety practices, and maintain safety interlocks and emergency stop circuits on automated equipment
• Track spares and work orders: maintain critical spare parts inventory and log work orders, downtime, and repairs in the CMMS; support commissioning and FAT/SAT activities alongside Engineering

What You’ll Bring

• 15+ years of hands-on experience as an Automation, Controls, or Electrical Technician in an industrial or manufacturing environment, spanning both equipment build/installation and sustaining production support
• Working knowledge of PLC-based control systems (e.g., Beckhoff TwinCAT, Allen-Bradley, or Siemens), including IO troubleshooting, network diagnostics, and basic program monitoring/forcing
• Comfortable working safely around 24VDC control power and 480VAC three-phase industrial power distribution; able to read electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel prints
• Proven ability to diagnose and repair mechanical, pneumatic, electrical, and controls issues on automated equipment under production time pressure
• Strong documentation habits and demonstrated ability to guide, train, and direct the work of a less experienced technician
• High school diploma or equivalent required; technical/trade school training or an Associate's degree in Electronics or Industrial Automation is a plus

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Beckhoff TwinCAT, Ignition by Inductive Automation, or similar SCADA/HMI/historian platforms
• OSHA 10/30 certification and NFPA 70E arc-flash safety training
• Experience supporting battery, energy storage, or other 24/7 industrial manufacturing environments

Diversity and Inclusion

Peak Energy is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We strongly encourage women, people of color, and individuals from underrepresented groups to apply. We value skills, potential, and perspective over specific credentials.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $95,000 - $140,000, with actual pay varying based on work location, experience, and skills. At Peak Energy, we value our employees and promote work-life balance. Our competitive benefits package includes unlimited PTO, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, a strong 401(k) plan, and equity opportunities.

At Peak Energy Technologies Inc., we believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace makes us more capable, innovative, and competitive company. Peak Energy Technologies Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, marital or family status, disability, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.