Industrial Automation Field Service Specialist

About the role

Picture your day: you roll out with a company truck, toolbox in hand, on your way to a manufacturing plant. A production line is down, a VFD is faulting, and the PLC logic isn’t behaving. You arrive, assess, and quickly trace the issue through relays, contactors, solenoids, and control logic. You read the schematics, validate I/O, and bring the line back to life. Later, you commission a new control system—startup goes smoothly because you’ve seen it all—from AC drives to servo motion. That’s a typical day serving Innovative IDM customers.

We’re seeking a seasoned field professional who thrives on variety, owns problems end-to-end, and delivers Legendary Service every time. This is a hands-on industrial automation role focused on controls, drives, and electro‑mechanical troubleshooting. It is not an IT position.

What you’ll do

• Diagnose and repair PLCs, HMIs, motion controllers, AC/DC drives, and related industrial devices for Innovative IDM customers.
• Perform on-site troubleshooting and component-level electronic repairs on a wide range of production machinery—from simple systems to complex automation cells.
• Install, commission, and start up industrial control systems, drives, and motion equipment.
• Handle field retrofits and start-up services for large, intricate control architectures.
• Participate in a rotational, after-hours on-call schedule to support customers when they need it most.
• Collaborate with internal teammates and external plant personnel; communicate findings and recommendations clearly.
• Research tricky technical problems and resolve them calmly, professionally, and efficiently—doing whatever it takes to get customers running.
• Maintain thorough documentation of diagnostics, repairs, and configurations.

Who you are

• 3–5 years troubleshooting industrial electronic controls (relays, contactors, solenoids, control logic).
• Fluent reading and interpreting electrical/electronic schematics.
• Proven skill repairing and programming AC VFDs and DC motor controls.
• Strong with PLC and servo motion troubleshooting.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; comfortable with customer-facing work.
• Self-starter: organized, motivated, and effective with minimal supervision.
• Creative, persistent problem-solver across electronic and industrial devices.
• Able to juggle multiple jobs and deadlines with urgency and sound decision-making.
• Electrical/electronic ACAD and PLC programming experience are a plus.
• Four-year degree preferred.
• Owns and brings applicable hand tools.
• Values a positive, energetic, team-first mindset.

Skills and competencies we’ll lean on

• Valid driver’s license and field-readiness
• PLC fault-finding and logic troubleshooting
• Equipment diagnostics and repair
• Reading/creating electrical schematics
• Electrical troubleshooting and root cause analysis
• Mechanical troubleshooting capability
• Experience in food & beverage manufacturing environments
• PCB assembly and component-level familiarity
• Knowledge of single- and three-phase power
• Industrial electrical systems diagnostics and repairs
• Industrial robot programming exposure
• OSHA 10-hour safety certification
• Troubleshooting of industrial automation equipment
• Relay verification and testing
• Insulation resistance testing
• Hands-on PLC programming experience
• Machine vision system programming familiarity
• PLC panel and field wiring experience
• Strong grasp of electrical/electronic systems
• Pneumatics troubleshooting
• Industrial electrical background
• Network connectivity (TCP/IP, SD‑WAN) fundamentals
• Meets physical demands of field service work
• Manufacturing-plant experience
• Structured problem-solving and RCA

Tools & technologies you’ll touch

• Packaging and conveyor systems; pelletizer machines
• Motor Control Centers (Allen Bradley, ABB, Siemens, Schneider Electric, Eaton)
• Multimeters (Fluke) and industrial power tools
• Industrial controls platforms (Allen Bradley, Mitsubishi, ABB, Omron, Siemens, Schneider Electric)
• Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs)
• PLCs (Allen Bradley, Mitsubishi, Omron, Siemens, Schneider Electric, Beckoff)
• Servo motors and motion systems
• Industrial robots (ABB, Yaskawa Motoman)

Rewards & benefits

• Company truck and company credit card
• Daily overtime: 1.5x pay for hours beyond 8 in a day
• Double time for billable work performed on Sundays
• Additional 15% pay premium for travel assignments
• 401(k) with company match
• PTO, Personal Time, Volunteer Time, and Paid Holidays
• Student Loan Match and Tuition Reimbursement
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and FSA
• Company-paid Life Insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Accident & Critical Illness coverage

Note: This is not an IT role.