Automation Technician - 1st Shift

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US Farathane is seeking a 1st Shift
Automation Technician
at our Facility in Riverside, MO who can troubleshoot, root cause and correct plant issues to include automation, robots, and maintenance and can effectively communicate findings and train others in the repairs as such.

US Farathane has been a leading source of plastics manufacturing, supplying the automotive industry for over 40 years. Through highly technical research and development, coupled with a diverse and knowledgeable Management Team and dedicated Associates, US Farathane has continued to grow each year. We provide customers with a wide range of full-service support from black-box design concepts to highly engineered composites, TPE’s and TPO’s as well as specialized extrusion and compression technologies.

Summary:

The Automation Technician is responsible for the installation, troubleshooting, repair, and continuous improvement of automated systems within an automotive plastic injection molding environment. This role supports production uptime by maintaining robotic systems, PLC controlled equipment, and auxiliary automation to meet safety, quality, and production standards aligned with IATF 16949.

Responsibilities:

Troubleshoot and repair automation equipment including:

• Robotics (Fanuc, Wittman, Sepro, Viper)
• End-of-arm tooling (EOAT)
• Conveyors and part handling systems

• Diagnose and resolve issues with PLCs, HMIs, sensors, and drives.
• Perform preventative and predictive maintenance on automated systems.
• Assist with PLC programming, modifications, and debugging (e.g., Allen Bradley, Siemens).
• Support robot programming and optimization for cycle time improvements.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics, ladder logic, and blueprints.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, scrap reduction, and uptime.
• Support lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Participate in root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective action implementation.
• Respond to downtime evens with urgency to minimize production loss.
• Support mold changes and automation setup for new or existing programs.
• Collaborate with production, quality, and engineering teams.
• Follow all plant safety procedures and OSHA requirements.
• Ensure equipment meets safety and guarding standards.
• Support compliance with IATF 16949 and internal quality systems.
• All other duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/ or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Associates degree or technical certification in Mechatronics, Automation, Electrical Technology, or related field preferred.
• 2-5+ years of experience in automation within a manufacturing environment (automotive preferred).
• Experience in plastic injection molding is strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of:
  • PLC systems (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, etc.)
  • Robotics (Fanuc, Wittman, Sepro, Viper)
  • Electrical systems (24V, 120V, 480V)
  • Sensors, vision systems, and servo drives
• Ability to troubleshoot electrical and mechanical systems.
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills.
• Effective communication across all levels of organization.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, sit, talk and hear. Ability to…