Instrumentation and Controls Technician
About The Position
The Automation and Controls Technician 1 safely installs, programs, calibrates, troubleshoots, repairs, commissions, and maintains industrial control systems, instrumentation, automation equipment, production systems, building control systems, and plant utility controls in support of Turlock Plant goals. The role supports production equipment, PLC/HMI systems, VFDs, process instrumentation, HVAC controls, ventilation systems, fans, building automation, utility control systems, and critical process analytical equipment such as metal detectors, weigh scale feeders, and electronic sorting machines. The technician works with Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, contractors, and vendors to minimize downtime, improve reliability, support capital projects, and ensure compliance with food safety, quality, environmental, and safety requirements. The position supports equipment startup, commissioning, shutdown work, facility improvements, troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, and documentation.
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED required.
- Minimum 3 years of controls, instrumentation, industrial electrical, or automation maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment.
- Working knowledge of PLC programming, troubleshooting, configuration, and industrial communication networks.
- Experience with Allen-Bradley platforms, HMI systems, VFDs, motor controls, instrumentation calibration, and electrical troubleshooting.
- Ability to troubleshoot HVAC controls, building automation, fans, facility systems, and utility control equipment.
- Good computer skills, including Microsoft Office and CMMS usage.
- Ability to work overtime, weekends, holidays, and shutdowns as required by business needs.
- May be required to successfully complete a PLC/electrical assessment.
- Ability to move throughout the facility, including climbing stairs, ladders, elevated platforms, and catwalks, and working in tight access areas.
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, crawl, reach, and work around industrial equipment for extended periods.
- May be required to lift, push, pull, or carry up to 50 pounds as needed.
- Ability to work at a desk or computer as needed for troubleshooting, documentation, programming, and reporting.
- Ability to work in a plant environment exposed to dust, high noise, temperature and humidity extremes, electrical hazards, moving equipment, chemicals, fumes, poor lighting, and wet operating conditions; work may occur indoors, outdoors, on elevated platforms, in confined or tight spaces, and around production, utility, and facility systems.
Nice To Haves
- Technical certificate or associate degree in Electrical Technology, Instrumentation, Industrial Automation, Mechatronics, or a related field.
- Food, beverage, CPG, agricultural processing, or high-speed manufacturing experience.
- Experience with FactoryTalk, Wonderware/InTouch, Ignition, Siemens, RSLogix/Studio 5000, industrial Ethernet, and building automation platforms.
- Experience supporting boilers, chillers, air compressors, wastewater systems, refrigeration, HVAC, dust collection, and energy management systems.
- Strong troubleshooting, documentation, communication, and continuous improvement skills.
- Ability to explain technical issues clearly to team members with varying levels of technical knowledge.
Responsibilities
- Troubleshoot, repair, program, and maintain PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, servo systems, industrial networks, SCADA systems, and process control equipment.
- Install, calibrate, commission, and maintain pressure, temperature, flow, level, analytical, weight, and process control instrumentation.
- Diagnose and repair electrical and control systems associated with manufacturing equipment, production processes, motor controls, control panels, and safety circuits.
- Maintain and support building automation, HVAC, utility control systems, and related facility infrastructure.
- Read and interpret electrical schematics, PLC logic, P&IDs, loop diagrams, blueprints, manuals, and technical documentation.
- Communicate modifications to control logic, HMI screens, parameters, and system settings to improve safety, reliability, product quality, uptime, and operational efficiency.
- Support equipment startup, commissioning, shutdown work, capital projects, and facility improvement projects.
- Use CMMS to document work performed, equipment history, corrective actions, parts used, and preventive maintenance activities.
- Participate in root cause analysis and implement corrective actions to reduce recurring failures and unplanned downtime.
- Maintain backups of PLC, HMI, SCADA, and building control programs and keep related documentation current.
- Provide technical guidance and troubleshooting support to contractors, vendors, operators, and maintenance team members.
- Follow GMPs and procedures related to food safety, food security, food quality, environmental compliance, Lockout/Tagout, electrical safety, and plant safety.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned or required by the supervisor.
Benefits
- Free training and career advancement opportunities
- Safe and collaborative team environment
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
High school or GED
