Reliability and Automation Technician

As a Reliability and Automation Technician, you’ll be responsible for maximizing the uptime, efficiency, and longevity of automated systems, robotics, and industrial machinery. This role combines preventive maintenance with advanced troubleshooting of PLCs, sensors, and control systems to minimize downtime and enhance process reliability. The technician acts as a subject matter expert, analyzing failure modes and implementing improvements to prevent recurrence. 

This is a fully onsite role at our facility located at 600 N. County Line Road, Elmhurst, IL. 

McMaster-Carr is a leading e-commerce company that industrial customers have trusted for over 125 years. Our products help them get manufacturing lines back up quickly, keep operations running smoothly, and prototype the next generation of innovative solutions. Behind it all are our people: exceptional and resourceful problem-solvers who take pride in getting every detail right for our customers.

• →Troubleshooting & Repair: Diagnose and repair complex faults in automated equipment (conveyors, robotics, PLC control panels, VFDs) through electrical, mechanical, and pneumatic pathways.
• →Preventive & Predictive Maintenance: Perform routine inspections and predictive maintenance (thermography, vibration analysis) to proactively identify potential component failures.
• →Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Lead or assist in RCA investigations for chronic equipment failures and implement corrective actions.
• →Documentation & CMMS: Maintain detailed logs of repairs, maintenance activities, and parts usage in a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
• →Safety Compliance: Uphold all safety policies, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), robot safety standards, and machine guarding.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics, Automation, Electrical Engineering Technology, or related field is strongly preferred. 
• Experience: 3–5+ years of hands-on experience maintaining industrial automation, PLC controls, or robotics.

• Proficiency with PLC troubleshooting (Siemens, Allen-Bradley, or similar).
• Strong knowledge of industrial sensors, motor controls, and actuators.
• Physical Ability: Able to work in an industrial environment, lift heavy components, and work at heights.
• Flexibility: This position supports a 24/7 distribution operation. Opportunities may be available across day, evening, overnight, and weekend shifts. Final shift assignments will be determined during the selection process.

• Experience in high-volume, automated logistics, distribution and/or manufacturing. 

• Problem-Solving: Methodical approach to isolating faults under pressure.
• Collaboration: Working shoulder-to-shoulder with engineering, maintenance, and production teams.
• Proactive Mindset: Focus on reliability rather than just "break-fix" repair.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees a workplace with reasonable accommodations and free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. At McMaster-Carr, we do not make employment decisions based on age, ethnicity, citizenship status, military status, gender identity and expression, race, religion, disability status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected group.

This position is not eligible for work authorization sponsorship by McMaster-Carr.

We may collect professional, education and employment-related data, and any assessments made throughout the recruiting process, to evaluate candidacy for employment. To communicate with job applicants, we may collect applicant names, contact information, and other personal identifiers, including those outlined in the California customer records statute. Through voluntary disclosure, we may also collect protected classifications under federal or California law (e.g., race, gender, etc.). For additional details about the personal information we collect and its uses, please click here.