Controls Technician

Saft America, Inc.•Jacksonville, FL

About The Position

The Controls Technician (ICT) maintains production equipment under minimal supervision. Duties include repairs, preventive maintenance of controls, calibrations, electrical work, and troubleshooting. The role works with engineering, maintenance, and approved vendors to install complex electronic equipment, including automatic, machine, and process controls; Allen-Bradley PLCs; HMI platforms; robots; camera systems; and network communication systems. Work supports the policies, procedures, goals, and objectives of the plant engineering/facilities department and the Company. The position reports directly to the Engineering Manager. The technician provides hands-on technical support to manufacturing, maintains equipment and repair materials, supports engineering projects and equipment upgrades, and ensures control-system programs and software versions are backed up and current. Other duties may be assigned as needed.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience in a Controls Technician role, with progressive levels of responsibility.
Associate degree in Electronics or equivalent workforce experience of 5 years desired.
Experience with electrical and electronic controls and the ability to understand and modify programmable-controller programs.
Interpersonal skills to interact with a wide range of facility personnel.
Analytical and troubleshooting skills for PLCs, automation equipment, and electromechanical equipment.
Ability to troubleshoot AC and DC control systems.
Ability to program HMI panels, mainly Allen-Bradley types.
Knowledge of setting up and programming servo drives.
Basic knowledge of OSHA standard practices and industrial safety standards for PPE.
Electrical panel-building skills, including calculating basic power loads and power drops and building regulated and unregulated panels.
AutoCAD skills for creating electrical schematics.
Ability to use oscilloscopes and various electronic testing equipment.
Ability to read and understand electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic schematic diagrams and mechanical component drawings.
Working knowledge of the fundamentals of the National Electrical Code.
Must provide a basic complement of tools needed to repair machinery.
Ability to use and properly read calipers, micrometers, dial indicators, levels, volt-ohm meters, amp meters, and pressure gauges.
Familiarity with and ability to safely operate electric drills, saber saws, band saws, pedestal grinders, and belt sanders.
Familiarity with and ability to safely work with electrical voltages from 24 VDC to 600 VAC, air pressure up to 150 PSI, and hydraulic pressure up to 2000 PSI.
Ability to work without close supervision on day-to-day assignments and special projects.
Ability to see and differentiate colors and pass a color blindness test.
Ability to pass full-face respirator certification and wear a respirator as needed.
Ability to work on standard ladders or operate a power lift if needed.
Hands-on experience programming and troubleshooting PLCs.
Knowledge of robot operation or programming and hands-on knowledge of Allen-Bradley programming in 500, controls logic, and RS Logic.
Ability to read, write, and communicate in English.
A moderate degree of visual effort is necessary when working with precision equipment requiring close tolerances.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree in Electronics or equivalent workforce experience of 5 years is desired.
Knowledge of robot operation or programming.

Responsibilities

Perform hands-on complex repairs and adjustments.
Provide technical support to manufacturing by troubleshooting and repairing equipment with older controls and installing new controls.
Back up and store machine programs in the ICT database.
Support engineering with special projects, equipment failures, and machine upgrades.
Maintain equipment used to perform job duties in good working order and manage materials used for repairs and special projects.
Communicate with mechanics, supervisors, engineering personnel, quality control, and managers.
Troubleshoot equipment and make repairs as necessary, including replacing gears, cams, chain drives, and other components.
Perform electrical repairs, including replacing switches, fuses, relays, and motors, working with voltages from 24 VDC up to 600 VAC.
Maintain the latest software versions supporting factory-floor PLCs and ensure equipment software revisions are current; change requests should come by email from Maintenance, engineers, managers, or the coordinator.
Perform other duties as assigned.