Lead Controls Technician (Nights)
About The Position
SunOpta delivers customized supply chain solutions and innovation for top brands, retailers, and foodservice providers across a broad portfolio of beverages, broths, and better-for-you snacks. With over 50 years of expertise, SunOpta fuels customers’ growth with high-quality, sustainability-forward solutions distributed through retail, club, foodservice, and e-commerce channels across North America. Job Summary: The Lead Automation Controls Technician serves as the senior technical authority for plant automation and control systems. This role provides hands-on advanced troubleshooting, leads automation support activities, and mentors controls technicians while partnering closely with engineering, maintenance, and operations. The Lead Technician ensures system reliability, standardization, and continuous improvement across automated equipment.
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED required
- Associate degree or technical certification in Automation, Electronics, Mechatronics, or related field preferred
- 6–10+ years of experience in industrial automation, controls, or electrical maintenance
- Advanced knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, servos, and industrial control systems
- Proven ability to troubleshoot complex automation and network issues independently
- Strong understanding of electrical schematics, control panel design, and standards
- Experience leading or mentoring technical staff
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. and work in industrial environments
- Ability to climb ladders, work in panels, and access equipment safely
- Willingness to support off-shift work, startups, and emergency call-ins as needed
- Use of PPE including arc-flash equipment as required
Nice To Haves
- Expert-level experience with PLC platforms (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, etc.)
- HMI/SCADA development and system integration experience
- Industrial networking (EtherNet/IP, Profinet, DeviceNet, Modbus, etc.)
- Robotics or motion control experience
- Root cause analysis and reliability engineering exposure
- Strong communication and leadership skills
Responsibilities
- Lead troubleshooting and resolution of complex PLC, HMI, motion, safety, and network issues
- Own advanced diagnostics of control systems, including intermittent, systemic and production-critical failures
- Review, modify, and implement PLC logic, HMI applications, and control strategies
- Serve as escalation point for Controls Technician I & II
- Ensure PLC programs, backups, and documentation are current and standardized
- Maintain and enforce change-control, security best practices, and system access control
- Lead or support automation upgrades, retrofits, and new equipment installations
- Participate in FAT/SAT, commissioning, and production startups
- Identify reliability risks and drive corrective and preventive actions
- Support continuous improvement, safety, and efficiency initiatives
- Collaborate with Controls Engineers on system architecture and standards
- Participate in controls design reviews, risk assessments, and equipment specifications
- Mentor, train, and develop Automation Controls Technicians
- Provide technical guidance during downtime and critical production events
- Assist with work prioritization, scheduling, and technical decision-making
- Promote and enforce safety standards, electrical codes, and LOTO compliance
- Act as technical liaison between maintenance, engineering, operations, and vendors/contractors/consultants
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
High school or GED
