Automation Technician

Russell Stover Chocolates; Iola (KS); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

GMP training

Climate-controlled environment

Protective gear provided

Job summary

Russell Stover Chocolates is hiring a Maintenance, Automation Technician in a fast-paced food manufacturing plant in the United States. You will maintain confectionery processing and high-speed packaging equipment with a focus on industrial controls.

Expect to troubleshoot PLCs, HMIs, and field networks to maximize equipment uptime. You will perform preventive and corrective maintenance, document activities in CMMS, and collaborate with engineering and production teams to meet safety, quality,

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 2+ years in a food manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of industrial controls and automation systems.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and PLC logic.
• Familiarity with sanitary design and food safety.
• Willingness to work rotating shifts and respond to emergencies.
• Excellent communication in English, written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on confectionery processing equipment and high-speed packaging systems.
• Troubleshoot and repair mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems.
• Diagnose and resolve control system issues including PLCs, HMIs, and SCADA.
• Modify and update control logic and ladder diagrams under supervision.
• Collaborate with engineering/production to improve uptime and process control.
• Document maintenance activities in CMMS with steps and parts used.
• Support installation, commissioning, and upgrades of automation equipment.
• Participate in root cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Adhere to GMP and FSQA training to maintain food safety and quality objectives.
• Report food safety hazards or deviations to the plant supervisor.

Skills

Industrial controls

Automation systems

Electrical troubleshooting

Read electrical schematics

English fluency

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

High school diploma or GED

Technical certification or associate degree in industrial maintenance/automation/mechatronics

Tools

PLCs (Allen-Bradley/Siemens)

HMIs/SCADA

Servo motors & drives

VFDs & MCCs

Sensors

Industrial Ethernet/fieldbus

Job description

At Russell Stover, not only do we love chocolate, but we love our jobs! Every day we go to work exhibiting our values of excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and collaboration. Working at Russell Stover you’ll be part of the leading manufacturer of boxed, seasonal, and sugar-free chocolates. For over 100 years, Russell Stover Chocolates, Whitman’s, and Pangburn’s have been crafted with the finest ingredients to bring happiness to generations. Today, we produce over 55 million pounds of chocolate annually, and our legacy brands can be found in 13 company-owned stores and over 9,000 wholesale accounts. Join our team and let’s continue making chocolate lovers happy!

As a Maintenance, Automation Technician, you will be responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing confectionary processing and automated packaging equipment, with a specialized focus on industrial controls and automation systems. You will also ensure equipment reliability and support production efficiency in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.

A day in the life…

What You Will Be Doing…

• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on confectionery processing equipment (e.g., mixers, cookers, depositors, enrobers) and high-speed packaging systems (e.g., flow wrappers, cartoners, case packers)
• Troubleshoot and repair mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems
• Diagnose and resolve issues with industrial control systems including:
• PLCs (Allen-Bradley, Siemens)
• HMIs and SCADA interfaces
• Servo motors and drives
• VFDs and motor control centers
• Sensors (photoelectric, proximity, temperature, etc.)
• Industrial Ethernet and fieldbus networks (e.g., Ethernet/IP, Profibus)
• Modify and update control logic and ladder diagrams under supervision or engineering guidance
• Collaborate with engineering and production teams to improve equipment uptime and process control
• Document all maintenance activities in CMMS, including troubleshooting steps and parts used
• Support installation, commissioning, and upgrades of automation and packaging equipment
• Participate in root cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives
• Adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure product quality and maintain compliance with food safety standards
• Complete and follow FSQA training and programs to comply with regulatory requirements, ensure consumer safety, and support the plant’s food safety and quality objectives
• Promptly report and take appropriate action on any observed or potential food safety hazards, process deviations, or non-conformities by notifying the designated plant supervisor, in accordance with your role and responsibilities
• Actively contributes to the continuous improvement of the company’s Food Safety Culture through engagement and actions aligned with your role

This job posting is not all inclusive and other duties may be assigned.

Do you have what it takes?

Basic Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required
• 2+ years of experience in a food manufacturing environment
• Strong understanding of industrial controls, automation systems, and electrical troubleshooting
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, and PLC logic
• Familiarity with sanitary design and food safety requirements in a manufacturing setting
• Ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team
• Willing to work rotating shifts, weekends, and respond to emergency calls as needed
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to speak, read, and write English fluently, with or without an accommodation

Do you stand above the rest?

Preferred Qualifications

• Technical certification or associate degree in industrial maintenance, automation, or mechatronics
• Experience in a food manufacturing environment, with confectionery or high-speed packaging equipment

Experience Life at Russell Stover Plants!

• Safety First: Your well-being is our top priority, and we’ve got you covered with protective gear. On day one, you’ll dive into Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) training, and we’ll keep you on your toes with daily safety tips to ensure you’re always in the know!
• Surroundings: Get ready to work alongside a variety of equipment like automated packing machines, forklifts, electric pallet jacks, and those irresistible chocolate candy banks/steels – it’s a dynamic environment where every day brings something new!
• Active & Engaging Work: Whether you’re on your feet for extended periods, moving around, climbing ladders, or lifting up to 50 lbs, there’s never a dull moment. This is a place where you’ll stay on the move!
• Comfortable Climate: In most roles, you will be comfortable year-round with our climate-controlled environment.
• Appealing Smells: The air is filled with sweet aromas of chocolate, and by the time your shift ends, you might just leave smelling like chocolate!
• Dress to Impress (Food Safety Style): A simple yet important dress code ensures safety and hygiene, following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to keep everything running smoothly.
• Allergens: You will be exposed to a variety of ingredients that may be considered food allergens.

At Russell Stover Chocolates, we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Russell Stover Chocolates is proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, military service, veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

Employment by Russell Stover Chocolates is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification, and satisfactory reference and background checks.

Make Happy. Work Happy.