Automation Technician - Night Shift

Peco Foods • West Point, MS

2d

About The Position

The Automation Technician is responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, and improving automated production and processing systems within the poultry processing plant. This role supports plant uptime, food safety, and production efficiency by ensuring PLC-controlled equipment, robotics, sensors, and control systems operate safely and reliably. The Automation Technician works closely with Maintenance, Engineering, Operations, and Sanitation teams to minimize downtime and drive continuous improvement.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED
• 3+ years of experience working with industrial automation in a manufacturing or food processing environment
• Strong knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, sensors, and industrial networking
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and control diagrams
• Experience troubleshooting electrical and control systems in a fast-paced production environment
• Strong safety awareness and commitment to food safety standards

Nice To Haves

• Associate degree or technical certification in Automation, Electrical Technology, or Industrial Maintenance
• Experience in poultry, food, or USDA-regulated processing facilities

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot, repair, and maintain PLC-controlled equipment, HMIs, VFDs, servos, sensors, and automated production lines
• Diagnose and resolve electrical, instrumentation, and controls-related issues to minimize downtime
• Support startup, commissioning, and optimization of new automation equipment and process improvements
• Modify and maintain PLC programs under engineering or management guidance
• Perform preventative maintenance on automation and control systems
• Work with Maintenance Manager to identify recurring automation issues and recommend long-term solutions
• Ensure all automation work complies with food safety, OSHA, USDA, and company safety standards
• Collaborate with production and sanitation teams to support changeovers and sanitation requirements
• Maintain accurate documentation for PLC programs, electrical schematics, and control system changes
• Train maintenance technicians and operators on basic automation system operation and troubleshooting
• Support continuous improvement, yield optimization, and efficiency initiatives

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees