Automation Technician Jobs in New Jersey
Automation Technician jobs in New Jersey are in strong demand, with openings concentrated in pharmaceutical manufacturing, petrochemical processing, and food and beverage production at every level from entry-level to senior technician. The heaviest hiring activity is in and around Newark, Edison, and Parsippany, where established manufacturers like Johnson & Johnson, Merck, and Honeywell maintain significant operations. The most sought-after specialties in New Jersey are PLC programming, SCADA systems, and industrial robotics integration. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 10+ Automation Technician jobs
About the role:
The Automation Controls Technician (PLC) serves the Advanced Automation Infrastructure team and is on the front line of ZT Systems' automated assembly operations, keeping the controls behind our equipment running reliably. You’ll troubleshoot PLCs, HMIs, sensors, I/O, networks, and safety systems, serving as the first responder when automation stops and helping drive improvements that keep production moving. This is an opportunity to build hands-on expertise at the center of next-generation manufacturing for one of the industry's leading hyperscale system integrators.
What you’ll do:
- Serve as the owner for PLC, HMI, electrical controls, sensors, I/O, and automation networks supporting production equipment.
- Troubleshoot complex controls issues across the field device, I/O, PLC logic, network, HMI, and machine sequence to rapidly restore equipment.
- Maintain controlled PLC/HMI programs, configurations, backups, network documentation, and machine recovery files for automated equipment.
- Develop and execute a critical controls spare parts strategy and preventive maintenance program based on equipment criticality and downtime exposure.
- Partner with OEMs, system integrators, and engineering teams to resolve complex controls issues, implement system improvements, and eliminate recurring failures.
- Analyze controls-related downtime and failure data to identify root causes, reliability improvements, and opportunities to improve automation performance.
- Crosstrain and provide backup support for the automated mechanical systems to build team-wide knowledge and eliminate single points of knowledge.
What you bring:
- A minimum of a trade school certification in a technical field and 6+ years of practical experience in an automated manufacturing environment.
- Deep expertise in industrial automation controls, including PLCs, HMIs, I/O systems, sensors, safety circuits, industrial networks, and SMEMA machine sequencing.
- Proven ability to troubleshoot complex controls failures from the field device through the PLC, network, HMI, and machine sequence without relying solely on OEM support.
- Strong experience reading and interpreting electrical schematics, control panel drawings, I/O lists, PLC logic, network architecture, and machine documentation.
- Experience with PLC programming (Festo / CodeSys / Structured Text), HMI configuration, controls integration, industrial Ethernet, sensors, and safety systems in an automated manufacturing environment.
- Ability to establish and maintain controlled PLC/HMI backups, configuration records, software versions, and machine recovery documentation.
- Demonstrated ability to perform root-cause analysis on recurring controls failures and implement improvements that increase equipment reliability and reduce downtime.
- Strong technical judgment and change-control discipline, with the ability to make repairs independently while recognizing when an issue requires engineering, OEM, or system-integrator escalation.
- Experience with Microsoft Office tools (Outlook, Excel, and Word).
- Strong verbal and written communications skills.
About ZT Systems
At ZT Systems, a Sanmina Company, you’ll get to do work you are proud of alongside smart, passionate people. Every day, there are opportunities to collaborate with the best in the industry to design, build, and deliver impactful solutions to world-class customers. Along the way, you will gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced environment that’s challenging, rewarding, and career-defining.
A culture built around our values we work hard and think fast. We view challenges as opportunities—to do better, push harder, and be faster than we were the day before. When we fail, we learn from it and move on together. And when we succeed, we use the momentum to go even further. We create value with everything we do, building the foundation of today—and transforming the future of tomorrow.
Join ZT Systems and help us build technology infrastructure that connects the world.
What We Offer
At ZT Systems, a Sanmina Company, we believe that investing in our people is key to our continued growth and innovation. When you join our team, you’ll gain access to a comprehensive and inclusive benefits package designed to support your well-being, financial security, and professional development—both now and in the future.
Compensation & Financial Security
- Competitive base salary
- Performance-based annual bonus eligibility
- 401(k) retirement savings plan
- Tuition reimbursement for eligible education programs
Health & Wellness
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with access to leading providers
-Mental health resources and employee wellness support programs-
- Company-paid life and disability insurance
Time Away & Work-Life Balance
- Paid time off (PTO) and company-paid holidays
- Parental leave and family care support programs
Growth & Purpose
- Structured training programs and on-the-job learning opportunities
- Matching gifts and volunteer programs to support causes you care about
These benefits are available to eligible employees and are designed to grow with you as your career evolves. Full benefits and eligibility varies by work location.
ZT Group Int’l. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. ZT Systems provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Please be aware that certain positions may require the applicant to either 1) be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or 2) be eligible to obtain an export control license or license exception from the Bureau of Industry and Science & U.S. Department of Commerce. All offers of employment will be conditional subject to the foregoing.
About the role:
The Automation Controls Technician (PLC) serves the Advanced Automation Infrastructure team and is on the front line of ZT Systems' automated assembly operations, keeping the controls behind our equipment running reliably. You’ll troubleshoot PLCs, HMIs, sensors, I/O, networks, and safety systems, serving as the first responder when automation stops and helping drive improvements that keep production moving. This is an opportunity to build hands-on expertise at the center of next-generation manufacturing for one of the industry's leading hyperscale system integrators.
What you’ll do:
- Serve as the owner for PLC, HMI, electrical controls, sensors, I/O, and automation networks supporting production equipment.
- Troubleshoot complex controls issues across the field device, I/O, PLC logic, network, HMI, and machine sequence to rapidly restore equipment.
- Maintain controlled PLC/HMI programs, configurations, backups, network documentation, and machine recovery files for automated equipment.
- Develop and execute a critical controls spare parts strategy and preventive maintenance program based on equipment criticality and downtime exposure.
- Partner with OEMs, system integrators, and engineering teams to resolve complex controls issues, implement system improvements, and eliminate recurring failures.
- Analyze controls-related downtime and failure data to identify root causes, reliability improvements, and opportunities to improve automation performance.
- Crosstrain and provide backup support for the automated mechanical systems to build team-wide knowledge and eliminate single points of knowledge.
What you bring:
- A minimum of a trade school certification in a technical field and 6+ years of practical experience in an automated manufacturing environment.
- Deep expertise in industrial automation controls, including PLCs, HMIs, I/O systems, sensors, safety circuits, industrial networks, and SMEMA machine sequencing.
- Proven ability to troubleshoot complex controls failures from the field device through the PLC, network, HMI, and machine sequence without relying solely on OEM support.
- Strong experience reading and interpreting electrical schematics, control panel drawings, I/O lists, PLC logic, network architecture, and machine documentation.
- Experience with PLC programming (Festo / CodeSys / Structured Text), HMI configuration, controls integration, industrial Ethernet, sensors, and safety systems in an automated manufacturing environment.
- Ability to establish and maintain controlled PLC/HMI backups, configuration records, software versions, and machine recovery documentation.
- Demonstrated ability to perform root-cause analysis on recurring controls failures and implement improvements that increase equipment reliability and reduce downtime.
- Strong technical judgment and change-control discipline, with the ability to make repairs independently while recognizing when an issue requires engineering, OEM, or system-integrator escalation.
- Experience with Microsoft Office tools (Outlook, Excel, and Word).
- Strong verbal and written communications skills.
About ZT Systems
At ZT Systems, a Sanmina Company, you’ll get to do work you are proud of alongside smart, passionate people. Every day, there are opportunities to collaborate with the best in the industry to design, build, and deliver impactful solutions to world-class customers. Along the way, you will gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced environment that’s challenging, rewarding, and career-defining.
A culture built around our values we work hard and think fast. We view challenges as opportunities—to do better, push harder, and be faster than we were the day before. When we fail, we learn from it and move on together. And when we succeed, we use the momentum to go even further. We create value with everything we do, building the foundation of today—and transforming the future of tomorrow.
Join ZT Systems and help us build technology infrastructure that connects the world.
What We Offer
At ZT Systems, a Sanmina Company, we believe that investing in our people is key to our continued growth and innovation. When you join our team, you’ll gain access to a comprehensive and inclusive benefits package designed to support your well-being, financial security, and professional development—both now and in the future.
Compensation & Financial Security
- Competitive base salary
- Performance-based annual bonus eligibility
- 401(k) retirement savings plan
- Tuition reimbursement for eligible education programs
Health & Wellness
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with access to leading providers
-Mental health resources and employee wellness support programs-
- Company-paid life and disability insurance
Time Away & Work-Life Balance
- Paid time off (PTO) and company-paid holidays
- Parental leave and family care support programs
Growth & Purpose
- Structured training programs and on-the-job learning opportunities
- Matching gifts and volunteer programs to support causes you care about
These benefits are available to eligible employees and are designed to grow with you as your career evolves. Full benefits and eligibility varies by work location.
ZT Group Int’l. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. ZT Systems provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Please be aware that certain positions may require the applicant to either 1) be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or 2) be eligible to obtain an export control license or license exception from the Bureau of Industry and Science & U.S. Department of Commerce. All offers of employment will be conditional subject to the foregoing.
See All 10 Automation Technician Jobs in New Jersey
Find roles in New Jersey that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Automation Technician JobsAutomation Technician Jobs by City in New Jersey
Where New Jersey roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Automation Technician Job Market in New Jersey
A snapshot from current New Jersey openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
- Staffing & Recruiting
What New Jersey Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in automation technician jobs across New Jersey.
- Associate degree or technical certificate in electronics, mechatronics, or industrial automation required
- Hands-on experience with PLC platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or Mitsubishi
- Proficiency with SCADA systems and HMI configuration in a manufacturing environment
- Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot and maintain automated production or conveyor systems
- Familiarity with GMP standards and regulatory compliance in pharmaceutical or food manufacturing
- Knowledge of electrical schematics, pneumatic systems, and basic instrumentation calibration
Automation Technician Jobs in New Jersey: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a automation technician in New Jersey?
New Jersey does not require a state-issued license specifically for automation technicians, so the standard path is completing an associate degree or technical certificate in electronics, mechatronics, or industrial automation at a community college such as Middlesex College or Mercer County Community College. Employers in New Jersey's pharmaceutical and manufacturing corridors typically expect candidates to hold or pursue credentials like a Certified Automation Professional designation and to demonstrate hands-on PLC and controls experience before or during employment.
How much do automation technicians make in New Jersey?
Automation technicians in New Jersey earn a median of about $60,040 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $51,960 for the lowest 10% to over $109,140 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire automation technicians in New Jersey?
Employers hiring automation technicians in New Jersey right now include Jobot, GE Vernova, and ZT Systems, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. New Jersey's dense concentration of pharmaceutical and specialty chemical manufacturers means many of these openings are in regulated production environments with strict validation and compliance requirements.
Which New Jersey cities have the most automation technician jobs?
The cities with the most automation technician openings in New Jersey are Dover, Avenel, and Dayton. This distribution reflects New Jersey's pharmaceutical manufacturing belt along the Route 1 and Route 287 corridors, where large life sciences and industrial employers anchor hiring in suburban markets that would otherwise be smaller on the map.
Are there remote automation technician jobs in New Jersey?
Yes, but they're rare. Automation technician work is fundamentally hands-on, requiring physical presence to install, troubleshoot, and maintain equipment on production floors. About 0% of automation technician openings tied to New Jersey are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those tend to be in controls engineering support or programming roles where configuration work can be done off-site between on-site visits.
How can I get hired as a automation technician in New Jersey with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is completing a mechatronics or industrial technology program at a New Jersey community college and applying directly to apprenticeship or technician-in-training programs that pharmaceutical and consumer goods manufacturers run for recent graduates. Large New Jersey employers in the Edison and Parsippany areas regularly hire for maintenance technician or production associate roles that build into automation positions, and holding a CompTIA or vendor-specific PLC certification gives candidates a measurable edge over other entry-level applicants.
Where can I find and apply to automation technician jobs in New Jersey?
You can find and apply to automation technician jobs in New Jersey on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience and specialization, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 10 Automation Technician Jobs in New Jersey
Find roles in New Jersey that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Automation Technician Jobs