Automation Technician

Tasty Brands•Owensboro, KY

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Automation Maintenance Technician is responsible for the mechanical/electrical maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, and optimization of highly automated food processing and packaging equipment. This role serves as the primary technical resource for electrical controls, PLCs, HMIs, automation systems, drives, sensors, mechanical, pneumatic, and packaging line integration. The successful candidate will work closely with Production, Quality, Engineering, and Maintenance teams to maximize uptime, improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), and support continuous improvement initiatives throughout the facility.

Requirements

Minimum 3-5 years of maintenance experience in a highly automated manufacturing environment.
Strong hands-on experience with automated food packaging equipment.
Demonstrated experience troubleshooting PLC-controlled machinery.
Advanced electrical troubleshooting skills, including: Motor controls, Three-phase power systems, VFDs, Servo systems, Sensors and instrumentation, Electrical control panels
Experience with Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Schnider, Beckhoff or similar PLC platforms.
Experience with HMI systems such as PanelView, Siemens Comfort Panels, or equivalent.
Ability to read and interpret electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and process control schematics.
Experience with industrial communication networks such as Ethernet/IP, DeviceNet, ProfiNet, or similar.
Strong understanding of automated packaging systems, conveyors, and integrated production lines.
Experience troubleshooting pneumatic systems and electro-mechanical equipment.
Excellent problem-solving and root cause analysis skills.
Strong communication and teamwork skills.
Ability to work in a refrigerated food manufacturing environment.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree or technical certification in Industrial Maintenance, Mechatronics, Electrical Technology, Automation, or related fields.
Experience in Ready-to-Eat (RTE), USDA, or FDA-regulated food manufacturing environments.
Experience with robotics, machine vision systems, and automated case packing equipment.
PLC programming/troubleshooting experience.
HVAC and refrigeration experience.
Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, TPM, and OEE improvement methodologies.
Experience with CMMS maintenance software.

Responsibilities

Troubleshoot and repair automated RTE food packaging equipment, including Thermoformers, tray sealers, conveyors, slicers, case packers, and pick-and-place automation systems.
Diagnose and resolve electrical and controls issues involving PLCs, HMIs, servo drives, VFDs, motor controls, safety circuits, sensors, and industrial networks.
Perform preventative and predictive maintenance on automation and electrical control systems.
Read, interpret, and modify electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, control drawings, and equipment documentation.
Troubleshoot Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Schnider, Beckhoff or similar PLC-controlled equipment.
Support commissioning, startup, and validation of new packaging and automation equipment.
Assist with programming, configuration, and optimization of PLCs, HMIs, servo systems, and machine controls.
Maintain and troubleshoot machine vision, barcode verification, and automated inspection systems.
Investigate recurring downtime events and implement corrective actions to improve reliability and throughput.
Collaborate with the Maintenance Supervisor and Management team to recommend control system upgrades and automation improvements.
Ensure all maintenance activities comply with food safety, GMP, SQF, OSHA, and RTE manufacturing requirements.
Maintain accurate maintenance records, work orders, and troubleshooting documentation.
Perform general mechanical maintenance as required, including pneumatics, hydraulics, motors, gearboxes, and conveyors.
Participate in emergency repairs and production support during critical situations.