Lead Automation Technician

ZipRecruiter; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a Lead Automation Technician to oversee maintenance operations and manage a team of technicians. This role involves ensuring preventive maintenance, troubleshooting equipment, and collaborating with engineering teams to optimize performance. The ideal candidate will have mechanical expertise, strong communication skills, and experience in a similar role.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years as a plant mechanic or field service technician.
• Valid Driver's License and Forklift certification a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage local hub-based Automation Technicians as direct supervisor.
• Perform maintenance and repairs on electromechanical packaging machines.
• Support the deployment and setup of new equipment installations.

Skills

Mechanical expertise

Electrical troubleshooting

Excellent communication

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

Hand tools

Computer skills

Job description

The Lead Automation Technician will report directly to the Maintenance Manager. They will support maintenance on Sojo’s industrial machinery located at Sojo’s and customer facilities. They will also serve as local maintenance leadership, with all in-house Technicians reporting directly to them. Responsibilities include managing technicians’ day-to-day activities, ensuring preventive maintenance is completed, troubleshooting, and supporting new equipment implementation projects.

Responsibilities

1. Manage local hub-based Automation Technicians as direct supervisor.
2. Oversee hub technician training, progress, and performance management.
3. Work with maintenance management to ensure all required preventive maintenance tasks are created in the CMMS and properly assigned to local technicians. Monitor completion and work with local technicians to manage their assigned work orders.
4. Work with local plant management to schedule the team and provide adequate coverage for operations needs.
5. Perform maintenance and repairs on electromechanical packaging machines, air compressors, robots, tray formers, and other related equipment.
6. Develop a deep understanding of best practices and optimization techniques for Sojo’s packaging lines, and collaborate with Engineering and Operations teams to improve performance.
7. Support the deployment and setup of new Sojo Flight equipment installations.
8. Change over lines based on pre-programmed recipes for new packaging formats.
9. Evaluate equipment failures for root cause and work with broader technical team to make improvements on the equipment.
10. Install modifications and upgrades to equipment as instructed by the manager.
11. Follow PM schedules and procedures, recording all relevant information in Sojo’s Computerized Maintenance Management System.
12. Install replacement materials and support upgrades to equipment and machines.
13. Lubricate, clean, and service equipment.
14. Maintain a safe, clean working area.
15. Perform all other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

• Valid Driver's License
• Mechanical expertise and proficiency with hand tools
• Skilled with computers
• Electrical troubleshooting experience up to 480 Volts
• Experience working around and troubleshooting industrial robots and PLCs
• Knowledge of safety practices for working with factory equipment
• Forklift certification a plus
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Possess a sense of urgency and ownership
• Excellent communication skills
• 5-7 years as a plant mechanic or field service technician

Physical Demands

In a typical work setting, people in this job:

• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects
• Stand for long periods
• Kneel, stoop, crouch, bend, stretch, twist, or crawl
• Operate sky jack of up to 22 feet
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away
• See between colors, shades, and brightness