Junior Controls Technician - PLC & Automation (Dairy)

Upstate Niagara Cooperative; Town of West Seneca (NY); On-site; USD 37,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Group health insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

Upstate Niagara Cooperative’s West Seneca Plant in West Seneca, NY is seeking a Junior Controls Technician to support PLCs, HMIs, sensors, and electrical panels. You will read schematics, assist in installation, and contribute to reliability and safety in a fast-paced dairy processing facility.

The role involves working with senior technicians to troubleshoot, maintain, and improve automation systems while adhering to plant safety and LOTO requirements.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or technical certification in Electrical Technology, Automation, Mechatronics, Industrial Controls, or related field.
• Basic understanding of electrical systems, PLCs, HMIs, and industrial automation.
• Ability to read electrical prints and schematics.
• Familiarity with troubleshooting electrical circuits using multimeters and testing equipment.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Assist with troubleshooting electrical and control system issues on manufacturing equipment.
• Support installation, testing, and commissioning of PLC-controlled equipment and automation systems.
• Perform preventive and predictive maintenance on control panels, sensors, drives, motors, and instrumentation.
• Read/interpret/revise electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and technical manuals.
• Maintain and update control system documentation and maintenance records.
• Assist with programming modifications to PLCs, HMIs, and VFDs under supervision.
• Install and terminate wiring for control panels and field devices.
• Calibrate sensors, transmitters, and instrumentation equipment.
• Support continuous improvement and automation projects.
• Follow all plant safety procedures, lockout/tagout (LOTO) requirements, and electrical safety standards.
• Coordinate with production, maintenance, and engineering teams to minimize downtime.
• Maintain inventory of spare parts and control system components.

Skills

Electrical troubleshooting

Automation systems

Technical documentation

Preventive maintenance

Communication and teamwork

Safety awareness

Education

Associate degree or technical certification in Electrical/Automation

Tools

Allen-Bradley

Siemens

Mitsubishi

Schneider Electric

Job description

Upstate Niagara Cooperative’s West Seneca Plant in West Seneca, NY is seeking a Junior Controls Technician to support PLCs, HMIs, sensors, and electrical panels. You will read schematics, assist in installation, and contribute to reliability and safety in a fast-paced dairy processing facility.

The role involves working with senior technicians to troubleshoot, maintain, and improve automation systems while adhering to plant safety and LOTO requirements.