Confectionery Automation Technician — Packaging & PLCs

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

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,