Automation Technician

Cencora, Inc.; Kansas City (MO); Remote; USD 45,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative company is seeking a Feed Mill Automation Technician to ensure the timely feeding of cattle through the installation and support of a complex batching system. This role involves real-time troubleshooting, extensive travel, and training diverse teams in using specialized software. If you're passionate about agriculture and technology and thrive in dynamic environments, this opportunity will allow you to make a significant impact on the industry. Join a forward-thinking team dedicated to improving the lives of both people and animals through cutting-edge solutions.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision care

Paid parental leave

Professional development resources

Mentorship programs

Employee resource groups

Volunteer activities

Backup dependent care

Adoption assistance

Infertility coverage

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Animal Science or related field preferred.
• Experience with agricultural businesses is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Install, service, and support the PCB system for feed mills.
• Troubleshoot software and hardware issues under pressure.
• Train staff and manage on-site installations and updates.

Skills

Valid driver’s license

Working knowledge of PCs

PLCs

Operating systems

Databases

Software engines

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Ability to be a self-starter

Bi-lingual (Spanish)

Education

Bachelor or Associate college degree in Animal Science

Two years of formal training in a technical field

Tools

Micro Technologies Pro Control Batching system

PLC systems

Network equipment

Flow meters

Tablets

Job description

Our team members are at the heart of everything we do. At Cencora, we are united in our responsibility to create healthier futures, and every person here is essential to us being able to deliver on that purpose. If you want to make a difference at the center of health, come join our innovative company and help us improve the lives of people and animals everywhere. Apply today!

Job Details

The Feed Mill Automation Technician is responsible for installing, servicing, and supporting the Micro Technologies Pro Control Batching (PCB) system. No other system at Micro has a higher liability or urgency to be fixed; if anything goes wrong, cattle must be fed in a timely manner, and mis-feeding either macro or micro ingredients has very significant negative consequences for both Micro and the customer.

Location: This is a remote position based out of Kansas or Texas and does require travel up to 50% of the time.

• Having a full understanding of the PCB software that has been customized to automate over 250 unique customer configurations. This learning curve is steep.

• Real-time troubleshooting problems that cover the gamut: software, hardware, human mistakes and misunderstandings, power outages, mill equipment failure, electrical malfunctions, etc. This learning curve is even steeper, and there is almost always a time factor that increases the pressure to do this quickly, especially in early morning hours.

• Testing, configuration, and installation of the components that we supply that interact with the customer’s equipment in the feed mill. Our hardware is very diverse: PLCs, computers, outdoor displays, flow meters, valves, scale indicators, serial port servers, network equipment, tablets, UPS, etc. This on-site process often requires long hours.

• Testing of new or updated software configurations before they’re installed in the field. This includes being able to fully understand design and development notes and ask good questions about how to best test the software.

• Training managers, consultants, partner vendors, mill managers, and feed crew members (some of whom speak no English) in how to use PCB.

• Consulting with managers and consultants to develop best solutions.

• Post-installation travel to the customer site to diagnose problems, replace defective hardware, and perform special training.

• Setting up, in conjunction with other teams, our Micro Weigh System (MWS) to discharge into each batch in a way that ensures that: (a) the correct micro rations are properly assigned to each batcher ration, (b) micro ingredients are optimally introduced into the feed at the right point in the batch sequence, (c) micros have adequate time to be fully mixed into the feed, and (d) the introduction of the micro slurry doesn’t affect the accuracy of any macro ingredients dispensed during this discharge process. This is critical.

• Updating individual PCB systems on a regular basis for both application and operating system software to ensure best performance and optimal cyber-security.

• Performing regular checks with customers to ensure that PCB is functioning optimally. This includes a wide variety of metrics, including scale and flow meter calibration checks, and monitoring inventories.

• Fully understanding and supporting our interfaces with feed management systems, including our own AccuTrac system and those from partner vendors. This includes knowing how ration/ingredient integration works and being able to improvise if batching responsibilities need to temporarily move from PCB to the feed management system.

• Having a good understanding of network concepts, working with our IT team to set up PCB equipment properly and diagnose any network-related problems.

• Participation in gathering information in advance of new installations or upgrades to existing systems. This is very important to ensure that PCB is properly configured.

• Participation in a weekly on-call rotation to support all PCB systems outside of normal business hours. This also includes Tier-1 support for incoming MWS calls, screening these and directing them to the right support member.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor or Associate college degree, preferably in Animal Science, Feedlot Management, Animal Nutrition, or Electrical Engineering.

• Alternately, two years of formal training in a technical field.

Skills & Knowledge:

• Valid driver’s license, frequent travel in the United States.

• Working knowledge of PCs, PLCs, operating systems, databases, software engines, and other related software is very desirable.

• Experience with cattle feeding or other agricultural businesses is also very desirable.

• Overnight travel required, some periods as much as 50% of the time, typically less.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to be a self-starter, but work well with a team.

• Bi-lingual (primarily Spanish) is a big plus.

• Willing to participate in an on-call rotation which is currently every 7 weeks.

What Cencora offers

We provide compensation, benefits, and resources that enable a highly inclusive culture and support our team members’ ability to live with purpose every day. In addition to traditional offerings like medical, dental, and vision care, we also provide a comprehensive suite of benefits that focus on the physical, emotional, financial, and social aspects of wellness. This encompasses support for working families, which may include backup dependent care, adoption assistance, infertility coverage, family building support, behavioral health solutions, paid parental leave, and paid caregiver leave. To encourage your personal growth, we also offer a variety of training programs, professional development resources, and opportunities to participate in mentorship programs, employee resource groups, volunteer activities, and much more. For details, visit https://www.virtualfairhub.com/cencora.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Cencora is committed to providing equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or membership in any other class protected by federal, state, or local law.

The company’s continued success depends on the full and effective utilization of qualified individuals. Therefore, harassment is prohibited and all matters related to recruiting, training, compensation, benefits, promotions, and transfers comply with equal opportunity principles and are non-discriminatory.

Cencora is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the employment process which are consistent with legal requirements. If you wish to request an accommodation while seeking employment, please call 888.692.2272 or email [e-mail]. We will make accommodation determinations on a request-by-request basis. Messages and emails regarding anything other than accommodations requests will not be returned.

Affiliated Companies

Affiliated Companies: MWI Veterinary Supply Company