Controls Technician

Job Title:

Controls Technician

Job Description

The Controls Technician role is a hands-on position in a highly automated food manufacturing facility, focused on troubleshooting PLCs, maintaining and repairing instrumentation, and supporting daily plant operations. This position blends project-based automation work with responding to equipment issues, with approximately 75% of time spent on the production floor and 25% in the office. The technician plays a key role in ensuring reliable, safe operation of production equipment, assisting with new automation installations, and contributing to continuous improvement of maintenance programs and practices.

• Troubleshoot and support PLC systems, including Allen-Bradley, Wonderware, and some Siemens platforms, to ensure reliable operation of automated equipment.

• Maintain, calibrate, and repair instrumentation used in a food manufacturing environment to support accurate and consistent process control.

• Perform electrical systems support and troubleshooting on plant equipment, following technical manuals, work orders, and established procedures.

• Conduct preventive and predictive maintenance activities on production equipment and company assets to reduce downtime and extend equipment life.

• Diagnose and repair industrial mechanical issues, including fabricating repair parts as needed to restore equipment to safe and efficient operation.

• Respond to equipment breakdowns on the production floor, quickly assessing issues and implementing effective solutions to minimize production interruptions.

• Assist with new automation installations, including setup, testing, and integration of control systems into existing plant operations.

• Partner closely with maintenance leadership to improve maintenance programs, practices, and documentation, contributing ideas for process and reliability improvements.

• Support daily plant operations by ensuring that all production equipment operates safely, efficiently, and in compliance with food manufacturing standards.

• Participate in an on-call rotation, providing remote and on-site support for equipment issues according to the established schedule.

• Follow all safety procedures and guidelines while working on electrical, mechanical, and automation systems in a food production environment.

• Collaborate with the maintenance team and automation lead to share knowledge, troubleshoot complex issues, and support major automation projects planned for the facility.

• At least 2 years of instrumentation experience in an industrial environment.

• At least 2 years of PLC troubleshooting experience in an industrial environment.

• Hands‑on experience with Allen‑Bradley PLCs and control systems.

• Experience working with Wonderware and some Siemens automation technologies.

• Strong electrical systems support and troubleshooting skills.

• Proven ability to perform preventive and predictive maintenance on plant equipment.

• Industrial mechanical troubleshooting and repair experience, including fabrication of repair parts.

• Two‑year technical degree or equivalent Industrial Electrician experience, with a desire to work in automation.

• Mechanical aptitude and the ability to work with both electrical and mechanical systems.

• Previous experience working in a food manufacturing environment (for example, USDA‑regulated or large food producers).

• Ability and willingness to live within approximately 45 minutes of Dubuque, Iowa to meet on‑call requirements.

• Ability to work second or third shift and progress toward preferred shifts based on seniority.

• Capability to work effectively in a highly automated facility and adapt to changing technologies and processes.

• Experience in electrical, mechanical, or industrial technology, supported by a two‑year technical degree or comparable hands‑on experience.

• Experience in food production environments such as USDA‑regulated facilities or large‑scale food manufacturers.

• Interest in and aptitude for automation engineering, with potential to grow into automation engineer roles.

• Willingness to participate in maintenance trades apprenticeship programs and progress toward journeyman‑level roles.

• Strong…