What are the responsibilities and job description for the Reliability and Automation Technician position at McMaster-Carr?
About the job
McMaster-Carr is a trusted e-commerce company that keeps industry moving. For 125 years, customers have counted on us to deliver the right parts quickly and accurately so they can fix problems, avoid downtime, and keep critical operations running. Our ability to do that comes from world-class execution – robust systems, disciplined processes, and people who take pride in getting the details right.
Our success is built on our people. At McMaster‑Carr, teams work side by side to solve real problems, adapt as technology evolves, and continually improve how we operate. The work is fast-paced, essential, and meaningful. We invest in our people, value collaboration, and create careers where effort, curiosity, and accountability drive meaningful results for customers every day.
This is a fully onsite role at our brand-new facility located at 15333 Independence Parkway, Fort Worth, TX. It’s an exciting time at McMaster-Carr as we grow into our new regional headquarters in Fort Worth —a modern, automated distribution facility that will help support Texas customers with the excellent service and innovative solutions that define our company.
Who We Are
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.
What You’ll Do
- 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.
Who You Are
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.
- 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.
Technical Skills:
- 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 role works within a broad coverage window between 4:00 AM and 11:00 PM. Actual shifts may fall anywhere within that range, such as early‑morning, daytime, or evening hours. Saturday availability may be required. In some cases, the position may follow a 4‑day, 10‑hour schedule that includes Saturdays.
Preferred Skills
- Experience in high-volume, automated logistics, distribution and/or manufacturing.
Key Competencies for Success
- 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.
Cash Compensation
Total cash compensation ranges from $119,500 - $137,500 annually, which includes annual cash profit sharing based on company profitability.
Benefits
We offer comprehensive benefits to support employees and their dependents, such as:
- 100% tuition reimbursement
- Medical, dental, pharmacy, and vision plans with no monthly premiums
- Industry-leading company-funded retirement accounts
- Inclusive, all-gender benefits
- First-time home buyer assistance
- Paid parental leave for all new parents
- Adoption and surrogacy assistance
- Paid time off for vacation and personal time
Salary : $119,500 - $137,500