Lead Field Automation Specialist – PLC Program & Electro-Mechanical Service

Location: Johnson Creek, WI area (field-based, must reside within a 45-minute drive) |
Schedule: Full-time, direct-hire, on-site and field operations with flexible scheduling |
Compensation: Up to $120,000 base salary

An established, fast-growing systems integrator that designs, installs, rebuilds, and services custom control systems and industrial machinery across Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois is seeking a Lead Field Automation Specialist. This high-autonomy role blends electro-mechanical troubleshooting with PLC programming and controls expertise, serving as a trusted technical resource for clients in the field.

• Serve as a dedicated field maintenance specialist handling service calls, system startups, emergency repairs, retrofits, and machinery upgrades across Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois using an assigned company vehicle
• Architect and program custom control software from scratch across various major PLC and HMI platforms
• Perform advanced on-site electrical and controls troubleshooting, diagnosing control circuits, electrical panels, VFDs, DC controllers, motor drives, and safety interlocks
• Diagnose and repair mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems across custom industrial machinery and automated production lines
• Install, commission, and retrofit automation machinery, including panel builds, light curtains/scanners, safety controllers, and cobot/robotic integrations
• Interpret complex electrical schematics and blueprints on-site to resolve issues rapidly and serve as a trusted technical advisor to minimize customer downtime

• 5+ years of electro-mechanical industrial maintenance experience (open to lower tenure for candidates who pass a rigorous technical skills assessment)
• 2+ years of hands-on experience developing PLC programs from scratch and configuring HMI screens across multiple industrial platforms
• High-level expertise in panel wiring, schematic interpretation, power distribution, motor controls, and diagnostic testing
• Solid hands-on understanding of hydraulic and pneumatic pumps, valves, cylinders, and mechanical power transmission assemblies
• Open to candidates without a formal diploma if backed by strong hands-on field experience, OR candidates holding an Associate Degree (A.S.) in Automated Systems, Controls, or Mechatronics
• Must reside within a 45-minute drive of Johnson Creek, WI
• Valid driver's license with a clean driving record
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder)

• Hands‑on integration, path teaching, or programming experience with FANUC, Universal Robots (UR), or alternative robotic cells
• Exposure to high-level language integration, Ignition SCADA, or SQL database connections for plant floor data collection
• Proficiency configuring Ether Net/IP, Modbus, or PROFIBUS communication topologies across complex control networks

• Up to $120,000 starting base salary, scaling with automation and maintenance depth
• Assigned company service vehicle
• Comprehensive corporate benefits package
• Long-term equity/ownership potential

This position offers high-autonomy field work with flexible scheduling, direct technical mentoring, and long-term equity/ownership potential within a stable, fast-growing organization known for an average employee tenure of about 9 years.