Controls Technician - Nights

Mars•Fort Smith, AR

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Mars Petcare is hiring a Controls Technician for its manufacturing plant in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The role provides day-to-day support for site instrumentation and electrical equipment, Factory Controls and IT systems, and the Factory Controls and IT Asset Health Check Program. The technician contributes to the design and implementation of control concepts, including programming, coding, instrumentation selection, and operator interfaces. The position modifies and installs control systems through the Change Control process, maintains control networks and related systems, and transfers knowledge about control systems and electrical projects. It also supports capital and engineering projects, helps develop Reliability Technicians, and works with production, maintenance, engineering, and outside contractors to resolve problems and improve plant performance.

Requirements

A two-year technical degree or certificate in electrical, electronic, controls, or automation, or equivalent experience.
1–2 years of instrumentation and electrical, electronics, or Factory Controls and IT experience, including production-system troubleshooting and problem resolution.
Possess or be able to obtain an Operational Electrical Qualification Certificate; must be able to work independently on live electrical panels.
Ability to gather user information about processing problems or requirements.
Ability to analyze and test applications for Factory Control and IT systems.
Good understanding of operating-system environments, including Microsoft Windows PC and Server operating systems, Active Directory, other Microsoft technologies, and thin-client technologies.
Basic knowledge of AutoCAD and SolidWorks PDM.
Ability to support user departments in using HMI terminals, including thin clients, and software applications on control systems.
Basic knowledge of databases such as Microsoft Access and Microsoft SQL Server, database connectivity using ODBC, and Wonderware automation software.
Basic knowledge of web application development, including web design, web connectivity, and database access.
Understanding of networks including Modbus+, Ethernet, DeviceNet, and/or Profibus.
Ability to troubleshoot programs in the plant’s Rockwell Automation PLC control systems.
Proficiency in Factory Controls and IT and instrumentation and electrical equipment.

Nice To Haves

A two-year technical degree in electrical, electronic, controls, or automation.
2–3 years of instrumentation and electrical, electronics, or Factory Controls and IT experience, including production-system troubleshooting and problem resolution.
Knowledge of server administration, virtual infrastructure administration, and database administration.
Knowledge of Cisco equipment architecture.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day support and problem resolution for instrumentation and electrical equipment and Factory Controls and IT systems in assigned areas.
Work with the Reliability department to solve problems and define improvements.
Support the Automation Roadmap Strategy and Cyber Security Compliance.
Support operations, industrial engineers, and engineering teams delivering Factory Controls and IT initiatives.
Participate in the design and checkout of control systems for engineering projects.
Support the installation of instrumentation, PLC-based control systems, and PC-based operator interfaces, including coordinating the work of contractors, control technicians, and other associates.
Prepare job aids, user and systems documentation, standard operating procedures, and training materials for plant automation systems.
Identify opportunities and recommend changes to improve plant performance.
Provide input into site engineering standards for programming and systems design.
Program, test, and debug new systems and enhancements to existing systems.
Modify Wonderware, Rockwell, and Traksys applications to support engineering projects.
Support control technologies for Level I, Level II, Level III, and Factory IT control systems.
Develop strategy for the Factory Controls and IT Asset Health Check Program; assess the lifecycle phase of infrastructure solutions and services and prepare appropriate action plans.
Support topics related to Factory Controls and IT infrastructure and communicate and promote its solutions and services to engineering, maintenance, and production.
Collaborate with shift-based production and maintenance teams to understand breakdowns and reliability issues.
Maintain technical competency and train and support non-technical users on plant-floor automation systems.
Support the Engineering Manager on capital projects and develop Reliability Technicians.
Modify and install control systems using the Change Control process for assigned areas; maintain control networks, web servers, data historians, and operator interface systems.