Automation Maintenance Technician - Food Packaging & PLCs

TASTY BRANDS LLC; Owensboro (KY); On-site; USD 41,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Tasty Brands LLC in Owensboro, KY is seeking an Automation Maintenance Technician to maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize highly automated food processing and packaging equipment. You will collaborate with Production, Quality, Engineering, and Maintenance teams to maximize uptime and OEE.

This full-time role requires 3–5 years of automated manufacturing maintenance experience, PLC/HMI troubleshooting, and knowledge of major PLC platforms.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years in a highly automated manufacturing environment.
• Experience with automated food packaging equipment.
• Demonstrated PLC-controlled machinery troubleshooting.
• Advanced electrical troubleshooting: motor controls, 3-phase power, VFDs, servo systems, sensors, control panels.
• Experience with Siemens, Allen‑Bradley, Schnider, Beckhoff or similar PLC platforms.
• Experience with HMI systems (PanelView/Siemens Comfort Panels).
• Ability to read electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic schematics.
• Experience with Ethernet/IP, DeviceNet, ProfiNet or similar networks.
• Strong problem-solving and teamwork in a refrigerated environment.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot and repair automated food packaging equipment (thermoformers, tray sealers, conveyors, slicers).
• Diagnose electrical and controls issues in PLCs, HMIs, servo drives, VFDs, and sensors.
• Perform preventive/predictive maintenance on automation and electrical systems.
• Read and modify electrical and control schematics and documentation.
• Support commissioning and startup of new equipment.
• Assist with programming and optimization of PLCs and machine controls.
• Maintain machine vision and inspection systems.
• Investigate downtime to improve reliability and throughput.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, GMP, SQF, OSHA and RTE standards.

Skills

PLC troubleshooting

Electrical troubleshooting

HMI systems

Industrial networks

Packaging systems

Pneumatic systems

Read schematics

Refrigerated environment

Education

Associate degree or technical certification in Industrial Maintenance, Mechatronics, Electrical Technology, Automation

Tools

CMMS

Job description

Tasty Brands LLC in Owensboro, KY is seeking an Automation Maintenance Technician to maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize highly automated food processing and packaging equipment. You will collaborate with Production, Quality, Engineering, and Maintenance teams to maximize uptime and OEE.

This full-time role requires 3–5 years of automated manufacturing maintenance experience, PLC/HMI troubleshooting, and knowledge of major PLC platforms.