Sr. Controls Specialist

Sr. Control Specialist

Automation Personnel Services is seeking a Sr. Control Specialist for a large packaging company located in Ranburne, Alabama. In this role you will be responsible for advanced troubleshooting, maintenance and optimization of electrical, mechanical and automation systems within a high‑volume pallet manufacturing facility. The role focuses on ensuring maximum equipment uptime, reliability, and safety through expert‑level diagnostics, hands‑on repair, and control system support.

The Sr. Maintenance Mechanic serves as a technical leader for PLCs, robotics, motor control systems, and complex industrial machinery, while also supporting continuous improvement initiatives and providing remote technical assistance as needed.

Pay Rate
: $67,000 – $92,000 Annually (Based on Experience)

Schedule and Hours
:
Monday through Friday 2:30 pm to 11:30 pm – 50+ hours weekly

• Troubleshoot, diagnose, and repair complex electrical, mechanical, and automation‑related issues in pallet manufacturing equipment.
• Support and maintain advanced robotics, PLC‑controlled machinery, servo systems, and VFD‑driven equipment.
• Perform detailed troubleshooting of 480V three‑phase power systems, 110 VAC, and 24 VDC control circuits.
• Analyze and interpret electrical schematics, ladder logic, wiring diagrams, and control drawings.
• Troubleshoot and maintain sensors, encoders, safety devices, pneumatics, and hydraulic systems.
• Modify, maintain, and back up PLC programs for a variety of production equipment and control systems.
• Work with Allen‑Bradley, Siemens, Carel, or similar PLC and automation platforms.
• Specify, select, and support electrical and automation components including motors, circuit breakers, relays, VFDs, controllers, sensors, and related hardware.
• Support commissioning, testing, and validation of new or modified equipment.
• Provide remote troubleshooting and technical support via phone, email, and text to maintenance teams and operations personnel.
• Use CMMS software to document work orders, repair activities, preventive maintenance tasks, and parts usage.
• Assist with spare parts management, components standardization, and inventory optimization.
• Support safety initiatives, lockout/tagout procedures, and compliance with electrical and machine safety standards.
• Collaborate with maintenance, engineering, and operations team to improve equipment reliability and performance.

• High School diploma or equivalent required; technical degree or equivalent experience strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of industrial maintenance or controls experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Advanced troubleshooting skills with PLC‑controlled equipment, robotics, and automated machinery.
• Strong working knowledge of 480V three‑phase, 110 VAC, and 24 VDC electrical systems.
• Proven experience troubleshooting PLCs, motor drives (servo and VDF), sensors, and industrial control circuits.
• Experience using CMMS software for work orders, documentation, and parts tracking.
• Strong communications skills with the ability to provide technical support in person and remotely.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including on‑call or off‑shift support as required.

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, or a related field.
• Hands‑on experience with Allen‑Bradley, Siemens, Carel, or similar automation platforms.
• Experience working in wood products, pallet manufacturing, or heavy industrial environments.
• Knowledge of industrial networking (Ethernet/IP, Profinet, Modbus, etc.).
• Experience with safety PLCs, machine safety circuits, and risk assessments.
• Familiarity with robotics integration, vision systems, and advanced motion control.
• Experience standardizing control components and developing preventive maintenance strategies.

• Humility (lacks ego, team agenda, transparent, trainable, servant orientation)
• Hungry (extra mile, internally driven, self‑starter, excellence, passionate, change agent)
• People Smart (interpersonal, group dynamics, influential, self‑aware, motivating)
• Competent (knows and can accomplish the task at hand – job, challenges, requirements)
• Integrity (honest, reliable, transparent, strong character, loyal, righteous)

Job Type
:
Full‑time, Direct Hire

Equal Opportunity Employer