Automation & Controls Technician

ZipRecruiter; North Kingstown (RI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A staffing agency seeks an Automation & Controls Technician to help centralize and modernize control systems. The role requires hands-on experience with PLCs and industrial automation, contributing to system documentation, backup, and future control platform planning.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience with PLCs (Allen-Bradley), HMIs, and VFDs.
• Strong understanding of industrial networking (EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP).
• Proficient in tools for program upload/download and backup.

Responsibilities

• Conduct audits of automation and control equipment across the facility.
• Document device make, model, network status, and communication protocols.
• Collaborate with teams to map network topology.

Skills

Industrial automation systems

PLC programming

Industrial networking

Documentation skills

Tools

Studio 5000

RSLogix

TIA Portal

Job description

Job Description

RexSraffing is seeking a skilled Automation & Controls Technician to support our initiative to centralize, document, and modernize control systems across our facility. Reporting directly to the General Manager, this role will serve as a key technical resource in identifying, mapping, and backing up all PLCs, drives, and related controls. Additionally, the technician will assist with laying the groundwork for a future plant-wide Building Management System (BMS) or central control system.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct a comprehensive audit of all automation and control equipment (PLCs, HMIs, drives, sensors, etc.) across the facility.
• Document each device’s make, model, location, current program version, and network status.
• Identify and catalog communication protocols and networking capabilities of each device.
• Backup control programs, ensuring secure and organized file storage.
• Assess existing network infrastructure and provide recommendations for integrating non-networked devices into a unified system.
• Collaborate with IT and maintenance teams to map out current and future network topology.
• Support preliminary planning and recommendations for a future centralized BMS/control platform.
• Assist with troubleshooting, wiring, and minor reconfiguration as needed to access devices or collect data.
• Provide weekly status updates to the General Manager and key stakeholders.

Qualifications:

• 3+ years of hands-on experience with industrial automation systems, including PLCs (Allen-Bradley), HMIs, and VFDs.
• Strong understanding of industrial networking (EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, etc.).
• Proficient in using tools for program upload/download and backup (e.g., Studio 5000, RSLogix, TIA Portal, etc.).
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and panel layouts.
• Familiarity with industrial control panels and safe lockout/tagout procedures.
• Experience working with diverse makes and models of legacy and modern controls is a plus.
• Strong documentation and organizational skills.
• Able to work independently and communicate effectively with cross-functional teams.

Additional Qualifications:

• Experience supporting BMS or SCADA integration projects.
• Prior experience in food manufacturing or a regulated production environment.

Schedule & Compensation:

• Full-time, onsite position (Monday–Friday, with some flexibility available).
• Compensation to be determined based on experience.

If you’re a detail-oriented technician with a passion for industrial automation and system optimization, we’d love to hear from you!

Company Description

REX Staffing is a full-service staffing agency with nineteen years of experience. We handle the light industrial side of manufacturing, production, assembly, and clerical. We also manage temp-to-hire placements and industry-specific candidates. In addition to traditional in-house recruiting, we leverage a network of professionals to locate passive candidates, providing our clients with a diverse pool of talent.