Software Engineering Technician - Manufacturing Automation Software

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.; Pullman (WA); On-site; USD 43,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan)

Top-tier medical, dental, vision, life

Paid holidays and vacation; generous 9

Family and medical leave

Job summary

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. is seeking a Software Engineering Technician I/II for our Manufacturing Automation Software team in Pullman, WA.

You will be the hands-on factory representative, building and sustaining automation that keeps production running and improving operator experience. You will collaborate with operators, process engineers, test and software engineers to deliver reliable solutions, and you will document issues and mentor colleagues while enabling rapid problem

Qualifications

• Hands-on troubleshooting experience with technical equipment, systems, or processes.
• Ability to communicate clearly with operators and engineers.

Responsibilities

• Rapid and accurate troubleshooting of system components including software, services, instruments, networking and hardware interfaces.
• Helping operators recover from common equipment and software issues.
• Developing clear guides that enable operators to be self-sufficient in resolving routine problems.
• Hands-on setup tasks for new automated machines, including assembling automation infrastructure and coordinating parts.
• Documenting evidence and outcomes for reported issues.
• Communicating issues to operators and engineers.
• Identifying opportunities to improve reliability and consistency of deployments.
• Teaching and mentoring engineers and technicians across Manufacturing.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Cross-functional collaboration

Production support

Tools

Ansible

Job description

We are adding a Software Engineering Technician I/II role in our Manufacturing Automation Software (MAS) team. You will be the MAS team's hands‑on production‑floor representative, helping build and support the automation systems that keep our manufacturing production lines running. Your focus will be on constantly improving the operation experience of our production team, the level of automation, and the robustness/uptime of our systems. Our goal is maximum throughput with zero unplanned downtime for manufacturing production and test systems. Direct collaboration with Production Operators, Process Engineers, Manufacturing Engineers, Test Engineers, and Software Engineers to ensure that our solutions exceed the expectations of all stakeholders is a key success factor. This role rewards disciplined people who love to get to the bottom of hard problems and who thrive in a high-throughput production environment. Every day is different and every day is an adventure. Experience with supporting production systems is especially valuable.

Why This Work Matters

Our work at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories makes electric power safer, more reliable, and more economical. Our devices must operate flawlessly for decades, then when called upon to act, respond to system faults within milliseconds to ensure safety, avoid damage, and minimize outages. Global utilities supplying hundreds of millions of industrial, commercial, and residential consumers depend on SEL products every day. Our team ensures that we continuously produce the highest quality products at high volume. Our automation solutions are the key to safe, smooth, efficient operation of our product factories.

What You Will Do

The solutions you will support have an immediate impact on the efficiency of factory operations and on the quality of the products SEL delivers. You will build, bring‑up, support, and optimize the infrastructure that automates operation of our production systems and continuously collects data to drive improvement. Specific responsibilities will include:

• Rapid and accurate troubleshooting of system components including software, services, instruments, networking and hardware interfaces.
• Helping operators recover from common equipment and software issues.
• Developing clear guides that enable operators to be self‑sufficient in resolving routine problems.
• Hands‑on setup tasks for new automated machines as we expand. This includes assembling automation physical infrastructure, verifying equipment connections and configuration, and coordinating parts and inventory to ensure that installations are ready when needed.
• Documenting evidence and outcomes for reported issues.
• Communicating issues to operators and engineers.
• Identifying opportunities to make SEL's automation more reliable and machine deployments more consistent.
• Teaching and mentoring engineers and technicians throughout Manufacturing.

This Role Might Be for You

• You're compelled by collaborating with a multi-disciplinary team of highly skilled technical professionals doing real work that really matters to ensure uninterrupted high-volume production.
• You’re excited by the opportunity to support mission critical automation software and data analytics solution.
• You can establish clear priorities and work efficiently.
• You have a highly disciplined approach to work that minimizes mistakes and you will help us learn from incidents that do occur.
• You have a proven ability to troubleshoot issues to determine both a solution and root cause quickly.
• You demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly with people across technical levels both verbally and in writing.
• You can document your work so that others can leverage the material to do their job more effectively.
• You are willing to follow established procedures and safe work practices.
• You are comfortable asking for guidance or escalating issues.
• Discipline, curiosity, reliability, and the ability to organize work and follow through are important.
• You would rather find the real root cause than apply a quick patch.
• You love sharing knowledge with your coworkers.
• You understand the challenges of supporting mission critical production software solutions.
• You have at least one year of hands‑on experience troubleshooting technical equipment, systems, or processes through work, education, military service, or comparable practical experience.
• Even Better If You have hands‑on experience with high throughput test automation systems for mission critical products in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
• You are able travel to other SEL manufacturing sites when necessary.
• You understand, and have experience with, modern communications protocols.
• You have proven leadership experience.
• You are familiar with installing or maintaining computers, networks, controls, sensors, or other connected equipment; using logs and measurements to diagnose issues; and maintaining technical documentation or inventory is also helpful.
• You have experience with Windows or Linux, scripting, source control, issue tracking, or configuration-management tools such as Ansible is a plus.

Why SEL

Your work has purpose. Our customers rely on our products to keep critical systems safe and fully operational—and we stand behind them 100 percent. By concentrating on our purpose, we continue to build our service to the electric power industry worldwide. You own what you build. SEL is 100% employee owned. There are no outside shareholders and no pressure to chase a quarter. When the company succeeds, you share directly in that success through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan. You are trusted with hard problems. Experienced people do their best work where they are given real ownership and the room to exercise judgment. We put the people closest to the work in charge of improving it, and we back that with long‑term investment in our people rather than short‑term churn. It is built to last. SEL has manufactured in the United States since 1984, through every cycle the industry has seen. We view our role in the electric power industry with a long‑term perspective, which parallels the longevity of our products—and the tenure of the people who build them.

Locations

Pullman, WA | Nampa, ID | Post Falls, ID – All three communities offer an exceptional quality of life. Embrace the charm of small‑town living with spacious surroundings, no traffic hassles, and easy access to outdoor adventures in nearby mountains, rivers, and forests. Plus, benefit from excellent schools and universities in the areas.

Physical Requirements

None

Pay Range

Software Engineering Technician I: $31.00 - $46.00 per hour

Software Engineering Technician II: $34.00 - $50.00 per hour

Our compensation ranges are based on the responsibilities of the role. Starting pay is determined individually and considers factors such as relevant experience, skills, knowledge, and training. Candidates may be considered at different levels based on their background. As a result, pay may vary to align with the level of the role. Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work. People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees. We’re 100% employee owned.

Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options. We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.

We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.

We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs. Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.

Communication with Applicants

We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at [e-mail].

SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.

SEL invents, designs, and builds digital products and systems that protect power grids around the world. This technology prevents blackouts and enables customers to improve power system reliability and safety at a reduced cost. A 100 percent employee‑owned company headquartered in Pullman, Washington, SEL has manufactured products in the United States since 1984 and now serves customers worldwide. Our mission is simple: to make electric power safer, more reliable, and more economical.