Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Mechatronics Technician
What mechatronics technicians actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a mechatronics technician?
Check the overnight downtime report. From there, the day usually includes install automated equipment, troubleshoot mechanical and electrical faults, and program and adjust PLCs. Most work full-time; plants may require shifts and on-call duty.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a mechatronics technician working full time.
- Check the overnight downtime report.
- Troubleshoot a jammed robotic cell.
- Replace a failed proximity sensor.
- Adjust PLC timing on a conveyor.
- Perform preventive maintenance on a pneumatic system.
- Help engineers commission a new line.
- Log repairs in the CMMS.
Where mechatronics technicians work
Technicians work in factories, warehouses and labs, around moving machinery.
Hours and schedule
Most work full-time; plants may require shifts and on-call duty.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Install automated equipment
- Troubleshoot mechanical and electrical faults
- Program and adjust PLCs
- Maintain robots and sensors
- Repair motors and drives
- Test systems
- Document repairs
Tools you’ll use every day
- PLCs and programming software
- Multimeters
- Robot teach pendants
- HMIs
- Hand tools
- CMMS
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Automation skills in demand
- Mix of mechanical and electrical
- Good pay for an associate degree
- Problem solving
What’s hard
- Shift and on-call work
- Pressure during downtime
- Machinery hazards
- Constant learning
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I like robots and automation
- I enjoy troubleshooting
- I like both mechanical and electrical work
- I want a two-year degree
- I stay calm when machines go down
- I like learning technology
Not sure? Take the free Mechatronics Technician fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Follow lockout/tagout
- Never bypass interlocks
- Wear arc-flash PPE for electrical work
- Use reduced speed in robot cells