Automation & Controls Specialist

Johnson Controls, Inc.; York (York County); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary & bonus

Paid vacation/holidays/sick time

401K, medical, dental, and vision care

On-the-job/cross-training

Collaborative team environment

Zero Harm safety policy

Job summary

Johnson Controls, Inc. is seeking an Automation & Controls Specialist to bridge hands-on field work and office engineering. About 50% on the floor supporting equipment and controls, 50% programming and system improvements, with emphasis on reliability, safety, and documentation.

You will collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Engineering to identify automation opportunities and deploy solutions across the facility, while ensuring regulatory and company standards are met.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent with 2–3 years in automation.
• Hands-on troubleshooting PLCs, HMIs, robots, sensors, and vision systems.
• Ability to read electrical schematics and technical drawings.
• Strong communication and teamwork in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day operation, maintenance, and improvement of automated manufacturing equipment and control systems.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues involving PLCs, HMIs, robots, sensors, vision systems, and networks.
• Develop and modify PLC/HMI/robot programs to support operations and improvements.
• Document improvements, control logic, and electrical requirements for projects.
• Coordinate with Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering on automation initiatives.
• Assist in startup, commissioning, and acceptance testing of new equipment.

Skills

PLC troubleshooting

HMI troubleshooting

Robotics systems

Electrical schematics

Automation programming

Team collaboration

Education

Associate degree in Automation Technology

Job description

Automation & Controls Specialist

Build your best future with the Johnson Controls team!

Who we are:

Johnson Controls is global leader in smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings. Our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places, and the planet. Join a winning team that enables you to build your best future! Our teams are uniquely positioned to support a multitude of industries across the globe. You will have the opportunity to develop yourself through meaningful work projects and learning opportunities. We strive to provide our employees with an experience focused on supporting their physical, financial, and emotional wellbeing. Become a member of the Johnson Controls family and thrive in an empowering company culture where your voice and ideas will be heard – your next great opportunity is just a few clicks away!

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary and bonus
• Paid vacation/holidays/sick time
• Comprehensive benefits package including 401K, medical, dental, and vision care.
• On-the-job/cross-training opportunities
• Encouraging and collaborative team environment
• Dedication to safety through our Zero Harm policy

What you will do:

This role combines hands-on technical work on the production floor with office-based engineering and programming responsibilities. Approximately 50% of the role will be spent supporting equipment, troubleshooting controls systems, and executing automation projects in the field, while the remaining 50% will focus on controls programming, system improvements, documentation, project support, and development of automation and robotics requirements.

Working closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, and Operational Excellence teams, you will help identify opportunities for automation, develop practical solutions, and support the successful deployment of manufacturing technologies across the facility.

How you will do it:

• Support day-to-day operation, maintenance, and improvement of automated manufacturing equipment and control systems.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues involving PLCs, HMIs, industrial robots, sensors, vision systems, variable frequency drives, and industrial communication networks.
• Develop, modify, and maintain PLC, HMI, robot, and automation programs to support manufacturing operations and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Perform root cause analysis of equipment downtime and implement corrective actions to improve reliability and performance.
• Develop and document automation system improvements, including control logic, electrical requirements, equipment standards, and supporting technical documentation.
• Assist in the development of technical specifications, scope documents, and requirements for new automation, robotics, and manufacturing system installations.
• Support the evaluation, selection, and implementation of automation technologies, robotic systems, tooling, and manufacturing equipment.
• Work closely with external integrators, equipment suppliers, and contractors during system installation, startup, and commissioning activities.
• Coordinate contractor activities, including project planning, onboarding, safety compliance, and execution oversight.
• Support machine acceptance testing, commissioning, validation, and startup of new equipment and automation systems.
• Collect and review equipment and production performance data to support troubleshooting and continuous improvement activities.
• Collaborate with maintenance and production teams to schedule automation work while minimizing production disruptions.
• Participate in kaizen events, continuous improvement projects, cost reduction initiatives, and equipment modernization efforts.
• Maintain accurate documentation including control drawings, network architecture, program backups, operating procedures, and technical records.
• Provide technical coaching and support to operators, maintenance personnel, and production teams on automation systems and equipment.
• Ensure all work is completed in compliance with company safety standards, engineering practices, and applicable regulations.

Requirements:

• Associate degree, technical diploma, vocational training, or equivalent work experience in Automation Technology, Mechatronics, Electrical Technology, Industrial Maintenance, or a related technical field, with 2-3 years of experience supporting industrial automation and manufacturing systems.
• Hands-on experience troubleshooting and supporting PLCs, HMIs, industrial robots, sensors, machine vision systems, industrial networks, and related manufacturing equipment.
• Strong mechanical, electrical, and controls troubleshooting skills with the ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, technical drawings, and equipment documentation.
• Self-motivated team player with strong communication skills, capable of working independently and collaborating effectively with operations, maintenance, engineering, contractors, and equipment suppliers in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

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