Controls Technician
La Terra Fina
Date: 3 weeks ago
City: Union City, California
Contract type: Full time
Description
The Controls Technician plays a critical role in maintaining the reliability, safety, and efficiency of automated systems that drive production. By ensuring optimal performance of PLCs, HMIs, and control networks, the technician minimizes downtime, supports continuous improvement, and directly contributes to the organization’s productivity, product quality, and compliance with regulatory standards. This position bridges the gap between engineering and operations, ensuring that automated equipment performs at peak capacity to meet production goals.
Requirements
PLC & HMI systems
Associate’s degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, Automation, Industrial Maintenance, or a
related field (Bachelor’s preferred).
Minimum 5 years of experience as a Controls or Automation
Technician in a food manufacturing environment.
Strong working knowledge of Allen-Bradley PLC
programming and troubleshooting using RSLogix 5000 / Studio 5000.
Experience with HMI development, industrial Ethernet/IP networking, and SCADA systems.
Familiarity with food safety and regulatory requirements (GMP, SQF, HACCP).
Proficient in reading electrical schematics, control drawings, and wiring diagrams.
Capable of using multimeters, oscilloscopes, and other
diagnostic tools.
Self-starter with excellent problem-solving and communication skills.
Willingness to work rotating shifts, weekends, or on-call support as needed.
Physical Requirements
Frequently requires standing, lifting, walking, reaching, stooping, bending, smelling,
listening, speaking, and seeing to perform the essential job duties.
Work conditions vary, working time will vary based upon work / project needs, and
flexibility is critical. Temperatures range from 5 to 90 F degrees in processing
departments.
Exposure to potentially dangerous machinery and equipment are present in the plant.
Potential electrical, mechanical, and chemical, hazards are also present. The noise level is
high and constant. Floors are damp and slick.
Must be able to bend, stoop, pull and lift up to 25 lbs. to stand for long periods of time
Close visual acuity to view a computer terminal, analyze reports, manage data and detail
Salary Description
$43.00 to $55.00
The Controls Technician plays a critical role in maintaining the reliability, safety, and efficiency of automated systems that drive production. By ensuring optimal performance of PLCs, HMIs, and control networks, the technician minimizes downtime, supports continuous improvement, and directly contributes to the organization’s productivity, product quality, and compliance with regulatory standards. This position bridges the gap between engineering and operations, ensuring that automated equipment performs at peak capacity to meet production goals.
Requirements
PLC & HMI systems
- Program, maintain, and troubleshoot Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) – primarily
- Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar platforms.
- Update, modify, and backup existing HMI (Human Machine Interface) systems.
- Interpret ladder logic, function block diagrams, and Structured Text to resolve issues and optimize processes.
- Diagnose and repair faults in electrical control systems, motor controls, VFDs, and safety circuits.
- Maintain sensors, actuators, relays, and instrumentation to minimize downtime.
- Perform routine testing and inspections to identify potential failures.
- Assist in the design, layout, and installation of new equipment and control systems.
- Support engineering teams with system upgrades and capital projects.
- Participate in equipment commissioning, start-ups, and validations.
- Perform Electrical/Controls training events with technical personnel on an annual basis.
- Assists the Maintenance Management Team with creating a training schedule based on
- individual tech needs.
- Leads RCA’s and Kaizens with other maintenance and production personnel
- Collaborate with production staff to identify areas of process improvement.
- Stay updated on emerging automation technologies and best practices.
- Maintain and update control system schematics, wiring diagrams, and PLC program backups.
- Ensure all work complies with safety codes, NEC standards, and internal policies.
- Support internal and external audits by providing accurate documentation and technical explanations. 6) Performs other duties as required
- Role-based Competencies
- PLC Programming & Troubleshooting
- HMI/Scada Systems
- Root Cause Analysis
- Systematic Troubleshooting
Associate’s degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, Automation, Industrial Maintenance, or a
related field (Bachelor’s preferred).
Minimum 5 years of experience as a Controls or Automation
Technician in a food manufacturing environment.
Strong working knowledge of Allen-Bradley PLC
programming and troubleshooting using RSLogix 5000 / Studio 5000.
Experience with HMI development, industrial Ethernet/IP networking, and SCADA systems.
Familiarity with food safety and regulatory requirements (GMP, SQF, HACCP).
Proficient in reading electrical schematics, control drawings, and wiring diagrams.
Capable of using multimeters, oscilloscopes, and other
diagnostic tools.
Self-starter with excellent problem-solving and communication skills.
Willingness to work rotating shifts, weekends, or on-call support as needed.
Physical Requirements
Frequently requires standing, lifting, walking, reaching, stooping, bending, smelling,
listening, speaking, and seeing to perform the essential job duties.
Work conditions vary, working time will vary based upon work / project needs, and
flexibility is critical. Temperatures range from 5 to 90 F degrees in processing
departments.
Exposure to potentially dangerous machinery and equipment are present in the plant.
Potential electrical, mechanical, and chemical, hazards are also present. The noise level is
high and constant. Floors are damp and slick.
Must be able to bend, stoop, pull and lift up to 25 lbs. to stand for long periods of time
Close visual acuity to view a computer terminal, analyze reports, manage data and detail
Salary Description
$43.00 to $55.00
See more jobs in Union City, CA