Lead Technician, Controls

andersonsinc; Upper Sandusky (OH); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Andersons in North America is seeking a Lead Technician, Controls to support industrial controls and instrumentation across multiple facilities, with a strong focus on PLC/HMI programming, troubleshooting, and system reliability.

This role leads complex controls troubleshooting, supports installations and project execution, and provides hands-on technical guidance while working with Allen-Bradley and other industrial control systems.

Qualifications

• Broad and advanced knowledge of industrial controls gained through extensive job-related training and experience.
• Handles the most complex troubleshooting, assignments, and technical decisions within the controls technician discipline.
• Works independently within established policies and objectives and determines the appropriate technical approach for new or non-routine assignments.
• Serves as a recognized technical resource across multiple facilities and leads through expertise and influence.
• Leads standards, technical work coordination, and project execution without necessarily having direct reports.
• Identifies systemic reliability and process-improvement opportunities and drives solutions through implementation and sustained use.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate safety leadership by following site safety requirements, identifying hazards, stopping unsafe work, and supporting incident investigations and corrective actions.
• Maintain, calibrate, test, troubleshoot, and repair low-voltage plant instrumentation and control systems to support safe, reliable, and efficient operations.
• Lead advanced troubleshooting and root-cause analysis for complex or recurring controls issues across assigned facilities; develop and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Serve as the technical escalation point for PLCs, HMIs, instrumentation, telemetry, telecommunications, meters, transmitters, variable frequency drives, and related control equipment.
• Program, modify, test, and document PLC logic and HMI applications in accordance with approved change-management, safety, and operating practices.
• Lead or coordinate the installation, commissioning, and startup of control systems and instrumentation, including collaboration with operations, maintenance, engineering, integrators, and vendors.
• Establish, maintain, and promote controls standards, system architecture, documentation practices, backups, naming conventions, spare-parts strategies, and lifecycle plans across supported locations.
• Evaluate and recommend new or revised controls procedures, systems, and equipment; contribute technical scope, estimates, and execution support for capital and continuous‑improvement projects.
• Interpret, develop, and modify drawings, blueprints, schematics, loop diagrams, network drawings, and process documentation.
• Provide technical guidance, education, and hands‑on training to technicians, operators, supervisors, and managers to improve system use, troubleshooting capability, productivity, and reliability.
• Maintain accurate documentation and records of system configurations, changes, testing, incidents, and operating activities; prepare reports as needed.
• Provide controls support across three or more facilities and travel to supported locations as business needs require.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI programming

Troubleshooting

Industrial controls

Safety leadership

Root-cause analysis

Project collaboration

Tools

Allen-Bradley

Industrial control systems

Job description

As a North American leader in agribusiness and renewable fuels, The Andersons operates in a unique space, bringing together agriculture, energy, and global markets. From the farm to customers around the world, we help move food, feed, and fuel where it's needed most. Our business spans the full value chain, which means the work we do directly supports farmers, customers, and communities every day. Whether it's helping producers succeed, delivering essential products, or advancing more sustainable energy solutions, our impact is both local and global.

What truly sets us apart is how we work together. We are a performance-driven, people-powered organization where employees are owners, sharing in our success and helping shape our future. We invest in our team through development opportunities, meaningful career paths, and a culture that encourages growth, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

At the core of everything we do is our Statement of Principles. We are committed to providing extraordinary service to our customers, helping our employees improve, supporting our communities, and increasing the value of the company for our shareholders.

Position Overview

The Lead Technician, Controls serves as a senior technical resource supporting industrial controls and instrumentation across multiple facilities, with a strong focus on PLC/HMI programming, troubleshooting, and system reliability. This role leads complex controls troubleshooting, supports installations and project execution, and provides hands‑on technical guidance while working with Allen‑Bradley and other industrial control systems. The ideal candidate brings strong industrial controls experience, advanced PLC programming and troubleshooting skills, and a collaborative, hands‑on approach to solving technical challenges. This is a multi‑site role that requires regular travel between supported facilities to provide hands‑on controls support, troubleshoot critical issues, and partner with plant teams based on operational needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Demonstrate safety leadership by following site safety requirements, identifying hazards, stopping unsafe work, and supporting incident investigations and corrective actions.
• Maintain, calibrate, test, troubleshoot, and repair low‑voltage plant instrumentation and control systems to support safe, reliable, and efficient operations.
• Lead advanced troubleshooting and root‑cause analysis for complex or recurring controls issues across assigned facilities; develop and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Serve as the technical escalation point for programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human‑machine interfaces (HMIs), instrumentation, telemetry, telecommunications, meters, transmitters, variable frequency drives, and related control equipment.
• Program, modify, test, and document PLC logic and HMI applications in accordance with approved change‑management, safety, and operating practices.
• Lead or coordinate the installation, commissioning, and startup of control systems and instrumentation, including collaboration with operations, maintenance, engineering, integrators, and vendors.
• Establish, maintain, and promote controls standards, system architecture, documentation practices, backups, naming conventions, spare‑parts strategies, and lifecycle plans across supported locations.
• Evaluate and recommend new or revised controls procedures, systems, and equipment; contribute technical scope, estimates, and execution support for capital and continuous‑improvement projects.
• Interpret, develop, and modify drawings, blueprints, schematics, loop diagrams, network drawings, and process documentation.
• Provide technical guidance, education, and hands‑on training to technicians, operators, supervisors, and managers to improve system use, troubleshooting capability, productivity, and reliability.
• Maintain accurate documentation and records of system configurations, changes, testing, incidents, and operating activities; prepare reports as needed.
• Provide controls support across three or more facilities and travel to supported locations as business needs require.

What is Expected of You and Others at This Level

• Has broad and advanced knowledge of industrial controls gained through extensive job‑related training and experience.
• Handles the most complex troubleshooting, assignments, and technical decisions within the controls technician discipline.
• Works independently within established policies and objectives and determines the appropriate technical approach for new or non‑routine assignments.
• Serves as a recognized technical resource across multiple facilities and leads through expertise and influence.
• Leads standards, technical work coordination, and project execution without necessarily having direct reports.
• Identifies systemic reliability and process‑improvement opportunities and drives solutions through implementation and sustained use.

Competencies Expected of You and Others at This Level

• Collaborates - Build