Controls Technician

Vulcan Elements Inc.; North Carolina; On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Vulcan Elements Inc. in Durham, NC is seeking a Controls Technician to keep the pilot line reliable while making controls changes easier to execute and trace.

You will diagnose PLC/HMI issues, implement routine logic and tag changes, document changes with versions and test results, and coordinate with the Controls Engineer and production team. This role requires hands-on troubleshooting, reading electrical drawings, and the ability to work on the production floor in a fast-paced environment; US

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience troubleshooting PLC-controlled industrial equipment and reading ladder logic.
• High school diploma/GED.
• Experience making and testing PLC or HMI changes in a running production environment.
• Ability to trace faults across program logic, I/O, field devices, and operator displays using electrical schematics.
• Diligent change documentation and the judgement to recognize when proposed modifications require engineering review.
• Ability to use a digital multimeter and other electrical troubleshooting tools.
• Soldering and wiring.

Responsibilities

• Provide first-line controls support: diagnose PLC, HMI, I/O, drive, instrument, and industrial communication issues.
• Implement and test routine PLC logic, HMI screen, tag, recipe, and parameter improvements within an agreed scope; escalate larger design changes as needed.
• Document the reason for each change, its approval, the version installed, test results, and the updated as-is code or screen record.
• Read electrical drawings and controls documentation to support troubleshooting, then update affected I/O lists and controls records after changes.
• Coordinate change windows and return-to-service checks with the Controls Engineer and production team.
• Support the two electrical Controls Technicians with code-level diagnosis while drawing on their field wiring and instrumentation expertise.

Skills

PLC troubleshooting

Ladder logic

Digital multimeter

Soldering

Schematics reading

Change documentation

Education

High school diploma/GED

Tools

Rockwell Studio 5000

Siemens TIA Portal

Ignition/SCADA

Job description

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence and Integrity.

As a Controls Technician you will h elp keep Vulcan Elements’ running Durham pilot reliable while making its controls changes easier to execute and trace. You will troubleshoot PLC-controlled equipment and carry out routine logic, HMI, recipe, and parameter changes while working directly with the Pilot Operations Controls Engineer.

R esponsibilities:

• Provide first-line controls support: Diagnose PLC, HMI, I/O, drive, instrument, and industrial communication issues with the pilot controls team and equipment vendors.
• Implement and test routine PLC logic, HMI screen, tag, recipe, and parameter improvements/ changes within an agreed scope; escalation larger design changes as needed.
• Document the reason for each change, its approval, the version installed, test results, and the updated as-is code or screen record.
• Read electrical drawings and controls documentation to support troubleshooting, then update affected I/O lists and controls records after changes.
• Coordinate change windows and return-to-service checks with the Controls Engineer and production team.
• Support the two electrical Controls Technicians with code-level diagnosis while drawing on their field wiring and instrumentation expertise .

Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business.

Qualifications

• Hands‑on experience troubleshooting PLC-controlled industrial equipment and reading ladder logic; ability to work with structured text or learn it quickly.
• High school diploma/GED
• Experience making and testing PLC or HMI changes in a running production environment.
• Ability to trace a fault across program logic, I/O, field devices, and operator displays using electrical schematics and standard troubleshooting tools.
• Diligent change documentation and the judgment to recognize when proposed modification s need engineering review.
• Ability to use a digital multimeter and other electrical troubleshooting tools
• Soldering and wiring

Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.

Preferred q ualifications:

• Experience with Rockwell Studio 5000 or Siemens TIA Portal.
• Experience configuring HMI screens, tags, recipes, or operating parameters.
• Familiarity with Ignition or another industrial SCADA platform.
• Industrial panel wiring, instrument, or drive troubleshooting experience.
• Digital schematic generation and reading
• Networking infrastructure installations
• Experience with basic power tools

Physical and Environmental Requirements

The position requires regular presence on the production floor and the ability to navigate all areas of the facility. Candidates must be able to climb stairs, stand and walk for extended periods, and work in environments that may be hot, humid, or noisy. The role also requires the use of personal protective equipment, including respirators, and adherence to all applicable safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. Employees must be able to complete required fit testing, wear appropriate PPE for the duration of assigned tasks, and respond safely to changing conditions within the production environment.

This position requires access to information and technology that is subject to US Export Control. Vulcan Elements will use this information to determine if you are eligible to receive this information under US Law.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Vulcan Elements’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.