PLC Technician

Classic Salads•Salinas, CA

47d•$25 - $36

About The Position

The PLC Technician programs, updates, tests, and troubleshoots industrial control systems for manufacturing or processing equipment. The role works primarily with Opto 22 PAC Control, groov EPIC, and SNAP PAC controllers, and also supports Allen-Bradley PLCs. It includes maintaining HMI screens, alarms, operator messages, and accurate backups; making program changes on running lines while avoiding unplanned downtime; and setting up VFDs, sensors, and scales. The technician reads schematics and I/O drawings, builds and wires control panels and field devices, runs conduit and cable, checks wiring before energizing equipment, and documents drawing changes. The position also installs and tests safety devices, responds to line-down calls, records repairs in the maintenance system, recommends lasting solutions to recurring issues, and performs scheduled inspections. The technician follows lockout/tagout, NFPA 70E, GMP, SQF, and sanitation requirements and trains operators and maintenance staff on common faults and recovery procedures. Work takes place in wet, cold (34–45°F), loud production areas. The job requires standing and walking for most of the shift, lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, and bending, kneeling, reaching overhead, working in tight spaces, climbing ladders, working from lifts, and entering permitted confined spaces. Required PPE includes hearing protection, arc-flash gear, and food-safety garments.

Requirements

At least 3 years of hands-on PLC work in a manufacturing or processing plant.
Opto 22 programming experience with PAC Control, groov EPIC, or SNAP PAC, or strong PLC programming experience and the ability to learn Opto 22.
Ability to read schematics and I/O drawings and wire control panels and field devices.
NFPA 70E / arc-flash training, or ability to complete it within 60 days of hire.
LOTO-qualified, or ability to become qualified within 30 days of hire.
High school diploma or GED.
Availability for overtime, weekends, callouts, and on-call rotation, especially during harvest season.

Nice To Haves

Allen-Bradley RSLogix 500 / Studio 5000 experience.
groov View, Ignition, or other HMI/SCADA experience.
VFD setup experience.
Food, beverage, or fresh-cut processing experience.
Technical degree or certificate in automation, electronics, or a related field.
Bilingual English/Spanish.

Responsibilities

Write, modify, and test Opto 22 PAC Control programs, including flowcharts and OptoScript, for groov EPIC and SNAP PAC controllers.
Support and troubleshoot Allen-Bradley PLCs using RSLogix 500 or Studio 5000.
Update HMI screens, alarms, and operator messages using groov View or PAC Display.
Load and start up program changes on operating lines while avoiding unplanned downtime.
Maintain current, labeled backups of every controller and HMI program, and correct mismatches with running programs.
Set up and tune VFDs, sensors, and scales.
Read schematics and build, wire, and terminate control panels and field devices.
Run conduit and cable to plant and food-safety standards, and verify wiring against drawings before powering up.
Mark up drawings when field wiring differs and submit the changes.
Install and test safety devices, including e-stops, light curtains, and safety relays.
Respond to line-down calls, identify electrical, mechanical, or logic causes, and restore production.
Record causes and fixes in the maintenance system and recommend permanent fixes for recurring problems.
Complete scheduled inspections of panels, drives, and sensors.
Follow lockout/tagout, NFPA 70E arc-flash rules, GMPs, SQF, and sanitation rules.
Train operators and maintenance staff on common faults and recovery steps.