Senior Controls and Automation Technician

ICON • Austin, TX

19h • Onsite

About The Position

ICON is seeking a Senior Controls and Automation Technician to join their team. This role involves developing and refining PLC logic, HMI screens, alarms, and automation sequences to enhance safety, uptime, and usability of industrial equipment. The technician will also be responsible for creating and maintaining controls documentation, diagnosing controls-related failures, integrating and testing various automation components, performing root cause analysis, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. The position requires a strong safety mindset and the ability to work in dynamic, field-like environments, with travel as needed for commissioning and support.

Requirements

• 4+ years supporting, troubleshooting, or commissioning industrial automation or electromechanical systems in production, field service, construction, robotics, or similar environments.
• Demonstrated hands-on controls troubleshooting across electrical systems: 24VDC controls, sensors, relays/contactors, VFDs/servos, encoders, and basic instrumentation.
• Experience with at least one PLC platform (or equivalent controls environment): Beckhoff/TwinCAT, Rockwell Studio 5000, Siemens TIA Portal, Codesys, or similar.
• Working knowledge of common industrial communications/networking (e.g., EtherNet/IP, Profinet, EtherCAT, Modbus TCP/RTU) and basic network troubleshooting.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and troubleshoot from drawings and update documentation with guidance.
• Willingness to work in dynamic, field-like environments and travel as needed for commissioning/support.
• Strong safety mindset and ability to follow structured troubleshooting and verification practices.

Nice To Haves

• Motion control experience (servo tuning, homing strategies, basic performance optimization).
• Functional safety familiarity (risk assessment concepts, safety circuits, ISO 13849 / IEC 61508 awareness).
• Experience with power quality issues, grounding/noise mitigation, generators, and field power distribution.
• Experience supporting hydraulic systems from a controls perspective (instrumentation, interlocks, HPU integration).
• Scripting or automation skills (Python, Bash) and familiarity with data logging/diagnostics.
• Experience with large-format robotics, gantry/CNC-like systems, or complex multi-subsystem industrial machines.
• Experience creating commissioning checklists, test procedures, and training materials for technicians/operators.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine PLC logic, HMI screens, alarms, interlocks, and automation sequences to improve safety, uptime, and usability.
• Create and maintain controls documentation: I/O lists, wiring and network diagrams, configuration baselines, commissioning checklists, and service/SOP procedures.
• Diagnose controls-related failures using logs, fault codes, instrumentation, and structured troubleshooting (power, I/O, comms, motion, safety).
• Integrate, test, and validate sensors, actuators, drives, VFDs/servos, pneumatics/hydraulics interfaces, and safety systems (E-stops, light curtains, safety relays, STO).
• Perform root cause analysis (RCA) and implement corrective actions; document findings and prevent recurrence.
• Follow configuration control and change management practices (ECO/ECN) for field updates and validated releases.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, software, and field teams to standardize architectures and implement reliability improvements.
• Support operator/technician training and develop clear diagnostic guides and troubleshooting playbooks.
• Commission, troubleshoot, and support automated industrial equipment in factory and field environments.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed