Automation Technician - A Shift

GE Vernova; Bangor (ME); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

GE Vernova’s Gas Power business seeks experienced technicians to install, troubleshoot, and optimize robotic systems and automated equipment in Bangor, ME. You will diagnose complex failures across electrical, mechanical, and control domains, lead downtime investigations, and implement durable improvements.

Responsibilities include supporting PLC logic, robot programs, CNC interfaces, servo systems, and HMI-driven processes, with systematic fault isolation and robust documentation to prevent

Qualifications

• Associate degree, technical diploma, or certification in Mechatronics/Robotics/Industrial Automation/Electrical Technology.
• Automation and robotics experience preferred but not required.
• Strong problem-solving and safety-conscious mindset.

Responsibilities

• Install, maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize robotic systems and automated equipment in production.
• Diagnose complex equipment issues across electrical, mechanical, controls, and process interactions.
• Lead technical troubleshooting during downtime events and identify root causes.
• Support PLC logic, robot programs, CNC interfaces, servo systems, and HMI-controlled processes.
• Develop and implement corrective actions to improve machine reliability and performance.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Root Cause Analysis

System diagnostics

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Associate degree or technical diploma in Mechatronics/Robotics/Industrial Automation/Electrical Technology

Tools

PLC programming

EtherNet/IP

Profinet

HMI/SCADA

Robotics hardware

Job description

Job Description Summary

GE Vernova’s Gas Power business engineers advanced, efficient natural gas-powered technologies and services, along with decarbonization solutions that aim to help electrify a lower carbon future. It is a global leader in gas turbines and power plant technologies and services with the industry’s largest installed base

Job Description

Essential Responsibilities

Advanced Automation & Robotics Support

• Install, maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize robotic systems, automated equipment, and manufacturing cells used in production.
• Perform advanced fault isolation across integrated systems including robots, PLCs, HMIs, sensors, drives, conveyors, end-of-arm tooling, safety circuits, and peripheral equipment.
• Diagnose and resolve complex equipment issues involving multiple failure modes across electrical, mechanical, controls, and process interactions.
• Lead technical troubleshooting during high-impact downtime events, using a systematic approach to identify root cause and restore operation safely and efficiently.
• Evaluate recurring failures and chronic equipment losses to determine whether issues stem from component wear, programming logic, process variation, setup conditions, operator interaction, or system design limitations.
• Serve as the escalation point for difficult automation and robotics problems that cannot be resolved through standard maintenance practices.

Controls, Programming, and Diagnostics

• Troubleshoot and support PLC logic, robot programs, CNC interfaces, servo systems, VFDs, and HMI-controlled processes.
• Perform I/O diagnostics, signal tracing, device verification, and communication troubleshooting across control panels and machine networks.
• Make controlled program edits, parameter adjustments, and recovery changes within approved procedures and change management expectations.
• Analyze alarms, faults, interlocks, sequence issues, and machine state conditions to identify hidden causes of equipment stoppage or performance degradation.
• Support backup, restoration, and version control of robot, PLC, and HMI programs in coordination with engineering and controls teams.
• Assist in validating control system changes and startup performance after repairs, upgrades, or process adjustments.

Reliability, Root Cause, and Continuous Improvement

• Drive a structured troubleshooting culture using root cause analysis tools such as 5 Whys, fishbone diagrams, fault trees, Pareto review, and failure trend analysis.
• Investigate chronic downtime, nuisance faults, repeat failures, and intermittent issues with the goal of eliminating recurrence.
• Identify weak points in equipment design, maintenance strategy, spare parts readiness, component selection, or operating practice and recommend durable corrective actions.
• Participate in and support reliability-centered maintenance activities including PM optimization, predictive maintenance, spare parts strategy, FMEA, TPM, and critical asset planning.
• Use historical downtime data, alarm history, failure patterns, and maintenance records to prioritize improvement efforts.
• Develop and implement corrective and preventive actions that improve machine reliability, process stability, throughput, and safety.

System Integration & Technical Improvement

• Support automation engineers with equipment upgrades, controls modifications, retrofits, and integration of new automation technologies.
• Participate in commissioning, startup, debug, and validation of new robotic cells, automation systems, and production equipment.
• Assist in proving out system functionality after installation or major maintenance, including verification of machine performance, safety systems, communications, and process repeatability.
• Recommend and help implement improvements to increase equipment robustness, reduce cycle interruptions, improve fault recovery, and simplify maintenance access.
• Support integration and troubleshooting of industrial communication systems including EtherNet/IP, Profinet, device-level networks, remote I/O, and smart instrumentation.
• Contribute technical input to capital projects, controls upgrades, and equipment redesign efforts based on hands-on operational experience.

Production and Process Support

• Respond rapidly to equipment downtime while balancing immediate recovery with thorough technical evaluation.
• Work cross-functionally with production, engineering, and quality teams to resolve process-related automation issues that affect output, scrap, repeatability, or product quality.
• Distinguish between machine faults, process faults, programming issues, setup errors, and operator-driven variation in order to apply the right corrective action.
• Support product and process changeovers requiring advanced equipment adjustment, reteaching, recalibration, or program verification.
• Assist in developing robust recovery methods for process interruptions to minimize scrap and unplanned downtime.
• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to maintenance technicians and operators on equipment behavior, fault recovery, and basic troubleshooting practices.

Documentation, Standardization, and Knowledge Capture

• Maintain detailed records of troubleshooting findings, root cause conclusions, corrective actions, program changes, and equipment modifications.
• Update electrical schematics, troubleshooting guides, recovery procedures, PM documents, and maintenance work instructions as needed.
• Document lessons learned from major failures and support creation of troubleshooting standards to improve future response.
• Help build technical documentation that improves repeatability, accelerates diagnosis, and reduces dependency on tribal knowledge.
• Ensure all repairs, modifications, and adjustments are properly communicated and recorded in accordance with site procedures.

Safety, Risk Reduction, and Compliance

• Follow all GE Vernova, local site, and regulatory safety requirements related to electrical systems, robotics, automation equipment, and machine safeguarding.
• Execute and support lockout/tagout, arc flash awareness, stored energy isolation, and machine safety verification activities.
• Troubleshoot and maintain safety systems including light curtains, interlocks, guarding, safety relays, safety PLCs, and emergency stop circuits.
• Identify equipment conditions that create safety, quality, or reliability risk and elevate or correct them appropriately.
• Support safe startup and restart of automated systems following maintenance, fault recovery, or system modification.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Associate degree, technical diploma, or certification in one of the following:
  • Mechatronics
  • Robotics
  • Industrial Automation
  • Electrical Technology