The Role

Valstad is seeking a Robotics & Automation Technician to help build, integrate, commission, operate and maintain the robotic manufacturing systems in our Austin facility.

You will work directly with industrial robots, PLCs, electrical control systems, linear rails, welding equipment, industrial networks, sensors, safety devices, custom end effectors, fixtures and large steel structures.

You will help assemble and wire new automation systems, configure PLC hardware and I/O, integrate sensors and auxiliary equipment, support robot and PLC programming, troubleshoot faults, complete preventive maintenance and operate robotic cells during testing and production.

This is not a role where you will simply press start and watch an automated cell run. Valstad's production systems are still evolving. You will be expected to understand how the equipment works, help connect new devices and subsystems, identify abnormal behavior, make safe first-line repairs and provide engineers with clear diagnostic information when a problem requires deeper investigation.

The ideal candidate combines the hands-on capabilities of an industrial maintenance technician with the technical curiosity of an automation integrator. You should be mechanically capable, electrically knowledgeable and comfortable working across robots, PLCs, sensors, networks and production equipment.

What You Will Do
Automation Integration and Commissioning

• Assist with the assembly, installation and commissioning of new robotic cells and automation equipment.
• Install and configure industrial robots, PLCs, remote I/O, sensors, actuators, motor controls and auxiliary equipment.
• Help lay out and connect control panels, junction boxes, field devices and machine wiring.
• Terminate and label power, control, network and sensor wiring.
• Verify wiring against electrical schematics, I/O lists and panel drawings.
• Perform point-to-point checks and validate digital and analog I/O.
• Configure basic PLC hardware, communication modules and remote I/O systems.
• Assist with PLC program setup, download, backup and controlled modification.
• Develop or modify basic ladder-logic routines under established engineering standards.
• Configure timers, counters, permissives, alarms, interlocks and equipment sequences.
• Integrate devices using Ethernet/IP, PROFINET, Modbus TCP or other industrial communication protocols.
• Configure basic HMI screens, status indicators, alarms and operator controls.
• Support integration of safety PLCs, emergency-stop circuits, light curtains, gate switches and other machine-safety devices.
• Participate in factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing and production-readiness reviews.
• Create redlines and communicate field changes so electrical and controls documentation remains accurate.

PLC and Controls Support

• Connect to and diagnose PLC-controlled equipment.
• Monitor logic, tags, I/O states, timers and sequence conditions during troubleshooting.
• Identify failed permissives, interlocks, communication links and field devices.
• Make limited, approved PLC and HMI changes during commissioning and production support.
• Maintain current backups of PLC, HMI, robot and other equipment programs.
• Assist engineers with implementing equipment sequences and fault-recovery logic.
• Troubleshoot communication among PLCs, robots, welding equipment, sensors and higher-level software.
• Verify that controller logic reflects actual machine and safety-system behavior.
• Help develop clear alarm messages and recovery procedures for operators.
• Document changes through Valstad's configuration-control and review processes.
• Avoid uncontrolled online edits or temporary logic changes that create safety or production risk.

Robotic Cell Integration

• Set up and configure industrial robots and supporting equipment.
• Jog robots safely using a teach pendant.
• Create or modify basic robot programs within established procedures.
• Touch up positions and validate approach, process and retreat motions.
• Configure and verify tool-center points, user frames and workpiece frames.
• Map robot I/O to PLC-controlled sequences and peripheral equipment.
• Integrate grippers, welding torches, scanners, sensors and other end-of-arm tooling.
• Support robot mastering, calibration and alignment activities.
• Test robot handshakes, sequence logic and controller-state transitions.
• Assist engineers with validating newly generated robot paths.
• Support integration of robots mounted on linear rails, gantries or positioners.
• Diagnose whether a failure originates in the robot, PLC, controller interface, tooling, sensor, software or workpiece.

Robotic Cell Operation

• Set up and operate robotic systems used for material handling, fit-up, welding, scanning and inspection.
• Prepare robots, tools, fixtures, sensors and work areas for production.
• Load and verify the correct robot programs, PLC recipes, job files and production instructions.
• Confirm that parts, fixtures, tools and workpieces are correctly positioned before execution.
• Perform startup, homing, recovery and shutdown procedures.
• Monitor robotic operations and respond appropriately to warnings, faults and unexpected conditions.
• Pause or stop production when equipment behavior, part condition or safety conditions are abnormal.
• Recover interrupted jobs using controlled procedures.
• Record production output, cycle times, faults, interventions and rework.
• Support safe operation during engineering tests, commissioning and customer production.

Electrical and Controls Troubleshooting

• Diagnose electrical, controls, networking, pneumatic, mechanical and sensor-related problems.
• Use electrical schematics, I/O lists and equipment documentation to isolate faults.
• Use multimeters and other test equipment to verify voltage, continuity, signals and device operation.
• Troubleshoot relays, contactors, motor starters, power supplies, circuit protection and control wiring.
• Troubleshoot proximity sensors, photoelectric sensors, encoders, limit switches and analog devices.
• Diagnose industrial-network and communication failures.
• Verify IP addressing, device configuration and network connectivity.
• Troubleshoot VFDs, servo drives, motors and motion-control equipment.
• Replace and configure failed sensors, communication modules, I/O devices and control components.
• Safely return equipment to service after approved repairs or adjustments.
• Escalate complex issues to automation, robotics, electrical or mechanical engineers with useful diagnostic information.

Mechanical and Pneumatic Troubleshooting

• Diagnose mechanical, pneumatic and tooling-related problems.
• Replace or adjust cylinders, valves, regulators, fittings and pneumatic components.
• Inspect rails, bearings, gearboxes, couplings, fasteners and mechanical assemblies.
• Identify backlash, looseness, interference, wear and alignment problems.
• Install and adjust fixtures, clamps, sensors and custom end effectors.
• Support mechanical assembly and modification of robotic cells.
• Assist with equipment alignment, leveling and verification.
• Make approved mechanical adjustments and minor modifications.
• Work with engineers to improve equipment access, maintainability and changeover time.

Preventive Maintenance

• Perform scheduled preventive maintenance on robots, PLC-controlled equipment, rails, welding systems, sensors, fixtures and related equipment.
• Inspect electrical enclosures, cables, connectors and robotic dress packages.
• Inspect equipment for wear, damage, looseness, contamination and abnormal operation.
• Maintain lubrication, inspection and service records.
• Help manage critical spare parts, automation components and consumable inventory.
• Maintain current equipment and controller-program backups.
• Verify that replacement components and tools are correctly installed and configured.
• Support calibration and verification of robot tools, sensors, fixtures and workpiece locations.
• Identify maintenance tasks that should be added or adjusted based on actual equipment performance.
• Help develop clear maintenance, troubleshooting and recovery procedures.

Welding and Process Equipment

• Set up and maintain robotic welding torches, wire feeders, consumables and related equipment.
• Integrate welding power sources and process equipment with robots and PLCs.
• Verify welding-system I/O, ready signals, fault states and process commands.
• Replace contact tips, nozzles, liners and other welding consumables.
• Inspect torch condition and verify proper wire feeding and shielding-gas delivery.
• Assist with torch cleaning, TCP checks and welding-cell preparation.
• Recognize obvious weld-process abnormalities and escalate them to the Welding Engineer.
• Support execution of welding trials and procedure-development tests.
• Help ensure that approved welding parameters, materials and consumables are used.
• Maintain clean, organized and production-ready robotic welding equipment.

Sensors, Vision and Measurement Systems

• Install, configure and troubleshoot industrial sensors and measurement equipment.
• Support integration of laser scanners, cameras, touch sensors, force sensors and dimensional-inspection systems.
• Verify sensor power, communication, mounting, alignment and calibration.
• Configure basic sensor parameters and communication settings.
• Assist with data collection and controlled testing of new sensing systems.
• Identify environmental conditions that may affect sensor performance.
• Work with software and robotics engineers to diagnose differences between sensor measurements and physical conditions.
• Maintain sensor calibration, configuration and maintenance records.

Documentation and Configuration Control

• Update I/O lists, network maps, equipment settings and commissioning checklists.
• Create and maintain backups of PLC, HMI, robot, drive and sensor configurations.
• Document equipment addresses, firmware versions and communication settings.
• Record wiring changes and provide redlines for updated electrical drawings.
• Document symptoms, fault codes, corrective actions and unresolved problems.
• Help create work instructions, troubleshooting guides and recovery procedures.
• Ensure the correct software, robot program and PLC revision is used for each production configuration.
• Participate in change reviews before modified equipment is released to production.
• Maintain organized records for equipment configuration, maintenance and calibration.

Production and Quality Support

• Follow production instructions, inspection requirements and configuration-control procedures.
• Verify that the correct materials, parts, programs, recipes and revisions are being used.
• Perform basic dimensional and visual checks as trained.
• Identify and document nonconforming parts or process conditions.
• Support inspection, rework and corrective-action activities.
• Train additional technicians and operators as the manufacturing team grows.
• Participate in daily production meetings and communicate equipment risks early.
• Maintain a clean, organized and safe production area.

Initial Priorities
First 30 Days

• Complete required safety and equipment training.
• Learn Valstad's current robotic-cell, PLC and controls architecture.
• Demonstrate safe operation of the robots, welding equipment and supporting systems.
• Review electrical schematics, network architecture, I/O lists and current controller programs.
• Learn startup, shutdown, recovery and escalation procedures.
• Begin supporting production, commissioning and engineering tests under supervision.

First 90 Days

• Independently prepare and operate the robotic cell for routine production work.
• Connect to PLCs and robots to diagnose common sequence, I/O and communication faults.
• Perform point-to-point checks and support installation of new field devices.
• Make limited, approved PLC, HMI and robot-program changes.
• Complete scheduled preventive-maintenance activities.
• Improve documentation for recurring faults and recovery procedures.
• Support integration and testing of fixtures, tooling, sensors and auxiliary equipment.
• Develop a clear understanding of when to resolve a problem directly and when to escalate it.

First Six Months

• Become a trusted owner of day-to-day robotic-cell readiness.
• Independently support the integration and commissioning of new automation equipment.
• Reduce production downti