Automation & Control Technician

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A great job-and a great future-awaits you at Smithfield Foods. We are an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. We’re looking for motivated people who want to join our team and grow lasting and meaningful careers with us.
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The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section.

Are you an experienced Electrical Automation Technician with a passion for cutting-edge technology? As a Senior Electrical Automation Technician, you will be at the forefront of enhancing and maintaining our facility's electrical control systems. In this role, you will be key in driving automation solutions, from initial setup and programming to ongoing maintenance and troubleshooting.

Collaborating closely with a dynamic automation team, you'll help shape and refine the long‑term technological roadmap for the plant, ensuring we continuously evolve and optimize our systems. Your responsibilities will include securing and maintaining the automation infrastructure, ensuring all software and programs are properly backed up and updated.

Utilizing your expertise in electrical controls and automation technologies, you'll provide innovative solutions that address real‑world manufacturing challenges, improving our processes and ensuring seamless operations on a daily basis.

The below statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned.

• Safety & Compliance: You’ll champion a culture of safety by adhering to best work practices, conducting monthly safety audits, and ensuring rigorous GMP compliance. Maintain spotless, sanitary conditions to protect product quality and uphold the highest food safety standards. Proactively identify and report any risks that could jeopardize food safety, product quality, or personnel well‑being, taking swift action to mitigate potential hazards.
  
  Be the guardian of regulatory compliance, ensuring every action meets or exceeds industry standards.

• Troubleshooting & Technical Support: Decode complex electrical schematics and user manuals to troubleshoot and maintain cutting‑edge equipment, keeping operations running smoothly. You’ll also solve automation and robotics software issues, applying advanced problem‑solving skills to optimize processes. Tackle hardware challenges head‑on by resolving PLC and touchscreen issues to minimize downtime and maximize efficiency. Use your expertise in network troubleshooting to diagnose and resolve control networking issues, keeping systems connected and reliable.
  
  Collaborate with IT to maintain and troubleshoot servers, ensuring smooth, uninterrupted operations.

• Process Improvement & Project Support: You’ll take the lead in identifying and driving automation improvements that elevate processes, making them faster, more efficient, and more reliable. Be a key partner to management and engineering teams, offering valuable insights and consulting on innovative projects that push the boundaries of what’s possible.

• Training & Documentation: Create engaging user manuals and training materials that empower the team to succeed and improve their technical skills. Inspire and mentor maintenance technicians, providing hands‑on training and guidance to help them excel in their roles. Take ownership of the facility’s electrical and automation documentation, organizing and backing up crucial files (programs, schematics, network info) for quick access and secure storage.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

• Associate…