Controls Technician

UNC Dairy; Town of West Seneca (NY); On-site; USD 41,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

UNC Dairy’s West Seneca plant is seeking a Controls Technician to ensure reliable, efficient production by installing, maintaining, and repairing electrical and automation systems. You will program PLCs (Allen-Bradley), create HMIs, calibrate sensors, and uphold safety and quality standards.

You will work across shifts, collaborate with engineers and maintenance staff, and train operators on basic control-system troubleshooting.

Qualifications

• Associates degree with 3–5 years of experience or equivalent.
• Technical degree or certification in electrical or controls field preferred.
• Proficiency in PLC programming and HMI development.
• Strong knowledge of electrical systems and instrumentation.
• Familiarity with HACCP/GMP is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine inspections, preventive maintenance, and repairs on electrical and control systems.
• Develop, modify, and troubleshoot PLC programs for production equipment.
• Create and update HMI screens for operator interaction.
• Calibrate sensors, transmitters, and instrumentation devices.
• Install and repair electrical wiring and components following safety standards.
• Collaborate with engineers to identify process improvements.
• Maintain records of maintenance activities and electrical drawings.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.
• Provide training on safe operation and basic troubleshooting of control systems.
• Lead troubleshooting on shifts and coordinate crew resources.

Skills

PLC troubleshooting

Allen-Bradley

VFDs

Electrical power distribution

HMI development

Industrial controls

Safety compliance

Root cause analysis

Team collaboration

Education

Associates degree in electrical/controls

Electrical/controls certification

Tools

RSLogix 5

RSLogix 500

RSLogix 5000

FactoryTalk

WonderWare

Job description

West Seneca Plant (UNC)
West Seneca, NY 14224, USA

Description

Job Summary:

The Controls Technician ensures the reliability and efficiency of production processes by installing, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing electrical and automation systems. This role also involves minor design, programming, and maintenance of PLC systems, including Allen Bradley. The position includes diagnosing equipment issues, making necessary repairs, and upholding high technical standards, safety, and quality.

Must have holiday and weekend availability. Must also be available to work all shifts (1st,2nd,3rd).

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform routine inspections, preventive maintenance, and repairs on electrical and control systems to minimize downtime and ensure optimal performance.
• Develop, modify, and troubleshoot Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) programs to control production equipment and processes.
• Create and update Human-Machine Interface (HMI) screens for operator interaction and process monitoring.
• Calibrate and maintain sensors, transmitters, and other instrumentation devices used in production processes.
• Install, troubleshoot, and repair electrical wiring, circuits, and components in accordance with safety standards.
• Collaborate with engineers and production teams to identify opportunities for process improvement and automation.
• Maintain accurate records of maintenance activities, equipment manuals, and electrical drawings.
• Ensure that all work is performed in compliance with relevant safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.
• Provide training and guidance to production personnel on the safe operation and basic troubleshooting of control systems.
• Installs, troubleshoots, repairs the following systems: PLC’s, HMI’s, VFD Drives, Vision Systems, Motor Control Centers, Power Distribution Centers, Motors (DC, AC, Stepper, Servo, etc.), Three Phase/Single Phase - power and control circuits, Control Panel layout and component installation.
• First responder to troubleshooting activities, leading, and assigning crew members and utilizing all available resources to correct controls issues and/or equipment/system breakdowns in an expedient manner.
• Works with Maintenance Mechanics on shift to trouble shoot root cause of problems and puts preventative controls in place to mitigate further issue.
• Collaborate with all business partners to maintain an ongoing, uninterrupted operation to produce high quality products, while maintaining the department in an acceptable manner.
• Proactively evaluate obsolete equipment within the plant making recommendations for repair and/or replacement.
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience & Education Required:

• Associates degree with 3-5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Technical degree or certification in electrical or controls-related field preferred.
• Proficiency in PLC programming (e.g., Allen-Bradley, Siemens) and HMI development.
• Strong knowledge of electrical systems, industrial controls, and instrumentation.
• Familiarity with food safety regulations (e.g., HACCP, GMP) is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Commitment to safety and adherence to safety protocols.
• Flexibility to work off-hours and weekends when necessary for maintenance and emergencies.

Knowledge & Skills - Required

• Proficient in troubleshooting PLC-based control systems; preferably Rockwell Software.
• Competence in digital and analog temperature, pressure, flow, speed, and weight measurement.
• Familiarity with discrete sensors.
• Skilled in process loop calibration and equipment.
• Proficient in configuring industrial control networks like Ethernet, Device Net, and DH+.
• Experienced in working with 480V 3-phase power distribution.
• Capable of working with Allen Bradley motor controls and VFDs.
• Proficient in using electrical test equipment.
• Prior manufacturing experience with PLCs and automation controls.
• Possesses a working knowledge of electrical schematics, power distribution and controls, motor and motor controls, PLC logic controls, HMIs, and other industrial controls.
• Must be a minimum of 18 years of age.

Preferred

• Dairy and/or food processing expertise, particularly in Mixing & Blending, Retort operations, automatic packaging, system and equipment mechanics, and sanitation and safety.
• Proficiency in setting IP addresses using BOOTP and familiarity with software programs such as RSLogix 5, RSLogix 500, RSLogix 5000, Factory Talk for programming PLCs, HMIs, and Drive. Experience with WonderWare is a bonus.

Confidentiality

• The Controls Technician is exposed to and entrusted confidential information relative to production methods, customers and company strategy.

Management Responsibility

• The Controls Technician is an individual contributor role that operates under the general direction of the Maintenance Manager.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts, high speed and processing equipment; is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and toxic or caustic chemicals; is frequently exposed to moderate to high noise levels in the work environment.
• Must be able to see, grasp hold, walk, climb, bend, and stretch, lift up to 40 lbs.
• Will spend significant time in the production environment where temperatures fluctuate, floors may be wet, and noise is a constant factor.

Pay: $30-$45/hr.*

*The salary range indicated in this posting represents the minimum and maximum of the salary range for this position. Actual salary will vary depending on factors including, but not limited to, budget available, prior experience, knowledge, skill and education as they relate to the position’s qualifications, in addition to internal equity. The posted salary range reflects just one component of our total rewards package. Other components of the total rewards package may include participation in group health and/or dental insurance, retirement plan, wellness program, paid time away from work, and paid holidays.

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.