Machine Tool Field Service Technician
All Engineering Recruitment Solutions
Farmington Hills, MI, USA
6/14/2022
Engineering
Job Description
Job Description
Machine Tool Field Service Technician
The Machine Tool Service Technician is responsible for installing, inspecting, troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining industrial machine tools and related electrical and electromechanical equipment at customer locations. This position requires hands-on experience with industrial electrical systems, 480 VAC power, 24 VDC control circuits, three-phase motors, motor starters, variable frequency drives (VFDs), sensors, relays, safety circuits, and basic PLC troubleshooting.
The ideal candidate is a safety-focused field technician who can read electrical schematics, use a multimeter effectively, isolate equipment failures, identify root causes, complete repairs, document service activity, and communicate clearly with customers and technical support teams.
Responsibilities
- Perform on-site machine tool troubleshooting, diagnostics, repair, and preventive maintenance.
- Inspect and service industrial machine tools, production equipment, electrical control panels, motors, drives, sensors, and related components.
- Follow all site safety requirements, including lockout/tagout (LOTO), electrical safe-work practices, and applicable arc flash PPE procedures.
- Verify electrical circuits are de-energized using approved live-dead-live meter testing procedures.
- Diagnose faults in 480 VAC three-phase power systems, 24 VDC control circuits, control transformers, fuses, breakers, relays, contactors, and power supplies.
- Read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, ladder diagrams, equipment manuals, and control-panel documentation.
- Troubleshoot machine start failures, control-power faults, emergency-stop circuits, guard switches, safety relays, limit switches, and other machine safety devices.
- Inspect and test three-phase motors, motor starters, overload relays, disconnects, contactors, motor wiring, and mechanical loads.
- Diagnose VFD faults, including overcurrent, overvoltage, overload, acceleration, deceleration, grounding, and motor-parameter issues.
- Verify motor current, motor nameplate data, phase-to-phase voltage, overload settings, motor rotation, and equipment loading conditions.
- Troubleshoot industrial sensors and devices, including photoelectric sensors, proximity sensors, limit switches, solenoid valves, and pneumatic components.
- Verify sensor voltage, output signals, wiring polarity, common wiring, alignment, and target distance.
- Perform basic PLC troubleshooting by checking field-device signals, input and output status, terminal wiring, module indicators, alarms, and related electrical conditions.
- Use PLC and machine-control information to help identify failed inputs, outputs, interlocks, or field devices.
- Troubleshoot machine operating problems involving electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, and control components.
- Identify intermittent electrical issues caused by loose terminals, damaged conductors, vibration, moisture, contamination, or failed connectors.
- Apply a logical root cause analysis process by gathering symptoms, verifying power, following circuits systematically, testing one section at a time, and documenting results.
- Avoid unnecessary parts replacement by identifying the most likely cause of failure before completing repairs.
- Verify that repaired equipment operates safely and correctly before returning it to service.
- Refuse unsafe requests to bypass safety devices and follow established escalation procedures for unresolved safety concerns.
- Communicate equipment status, diagnostic findings, repair recommendations, required parts, downtime risks, and next steps to customers.
- Complete accurate field service reports documenting symptoms, tests performed, meter readings, root cause, corrective action, parts used, and preventive recommendations.
- Escalate complex or unresolved technical issues with complete troubleshooting details, test results, fault codes, and referenced drawings.
- Maintain service tools, test equipment, replacement parts, and required personal protective equipment in field-ready condition.
- Travel to customer facilities and respond to scheduled service calls, equipment breakdowns, and machine-support requests as assigned.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED required; technical diploma, associate degree, apprenticeship, or vocational training in industrial electricity, machine tool technology, electromechanical technology, or a related field preferred.
- Demonstrated experience as a Machine Tool Service Technician, Industrial Electrician, Electrical Field Service Technician, Maintenance Technician, Electromechanical Technician, or similar hands-on role.
- Experience troubleshooting industrial machine tools, manufacturing equipment, production machinery, or related electromechanical systems.
- Working knowledge of 480 VAC, three-phase electrical systems, and 24 VDC controls.
- Ability to safely use a voltage-rated digital multimeter, clamp meter, and other electrical test equipment.
- Knowledge of lockout/tagout, electrical hazard awareness, arc flash requirements, and energized electrical work restrictions.
- Ability to read and follow electrical schematics, ladder diagrams, wiring diagrams, terminal plans, and equipment manuals.
- Experience troubleshooting control transformers, power supplies, fuses, circuit breakers, emergency-stop circuits, relays, contactors, and safety devices.
- Experience diagnosing AC motors, motor starters, overloads, open phases, single-phasing conditions, motor rotation, and mechanical loading problems.
- Practical experience troubleshooting and resetting variable frequency drives and interpreting VFD fault codes.
- Familiarity with photoelectric sensors, proximity sensors, limit switches, guard switches, solenoid valves, pneumatic cylinders, and machine safety devices.
- Basic understanding of PLC systems, including field wiring, digital inputs and outputs, module status indicators, alarms, and signal verification.
- Ability to use PLC information for troubleshooting; PLC programming experience is not required.
- Strong electrical diagnostics, root cause analysis, and systematic troubleshooting skills.
- Ability to identify whether a machine problem is electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, or control-related.
- Ability to work independently at customer sites while knowing when to escalate a technical or safety issue.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to explain technical findings professionally.
- Ability to prepare detailed service documentation and accurately report test results and corrective actions.
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to customer locations as required.
- Ability to work around industrial equipment, climb ladders, access control panels, and lift or carry service tools and replacement components.
- Willingness to work flexible hours, overtime, weekends, or emergency service calls when required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Three or more years of machine tool service, industrial electrical troubleshooting, maintenance, or field service experience.
- Experience supporting machine tools, manufacturing machinery, production equipment, or industrial equipment.
- Experience with common VFD brands and industrial motor-control equipment.
- Familiarity with preventive maintenance, electrical inspections, grounding, wiring repairs, and industrial control panels.
- OSHA, NFPA 70E, electrical safety, or manufacturer-specific technical training.
- Experience working directly with customers in a field service or technical-support environment.
Skills and Competencies
- Machine tool troubleshooting
- Machine tool repair
- Industrial electrical troubleshooting
- Electrical schematic interpretation
- Lockout/tagout
- Arc flash safety
- 480 VAC systems
- Three-phase motors
- 24 VDC control circuits
- Motor starters and overloads
- Variable frequency drives
- Basic PLC troubleshooting
- Sensor troubleshooting
- Multimeter testing
- Root cause analysis
- Preventive maintenance
- Electromechanical troubleshooting
- Field service documentation
- Customer communication
- Technical escalation
Machine Tool Service Technician, Machine Tool Technician, Field Service Technician, Industrial Electrical Troubleshooting, Machine Tool Repair, Electrical Schematics, 480 VAC, 24 VDC Controls, Three-Phase Motors, Motor Controls, Variable Frequency Drives, VFD Troubleshooting, Basic PLC Troubleshooting, Industrial Sensors, Electromechanical Troubleshooting, Preventive Maintenance, Root Cause Analysis, Lockout/Tagout, NFPA 70E, Field Service