Lead Technician, Controls

Andersons Inc.; Upper Sandusky (OH); On-site; USD 39,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

The Andersons, Inc. is seeking a Lead Technician, Controls to provide senior technical support for industrial controls and instrumentation across multiple facilities.

You will focus on PLC/HMI programming, troubleshooting, and ensuring system reliability, traveling between sites to assist plant teams. Ideal candidates have strong PLC/HMI skills, advanced troubleshooting abilities, and experience reading electrical drawings.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required; Associate degree in electrical, electronics, industrial automation, instrumentation, or related field preferred.
• 5–7 years of relevant industrial instrumentation and controls experience.
• Advanced experience troubleshooting and programming PLC and HMI systems in an industrial environment.
• Ability to read and modify electrical drawings, control schematics, loop diagrams, and process documentation.
• Experience leading complex controls troubleshooting, multi-site technical support, and installations.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate safety leadership by following site safety requirements and supporting investigations.
• Maintain, calibrate, test, troubleshoot, and repair low-voltage plant instrumentation and control systems.
• Lead advanced troubleshooting and root-cause analysis for complex controls issues; implement corrective actions.
• Serve as escalation point for PLCs, HMIs, instrumentation, and related control equipment.
• Program, modify, test, and document PLC logic and HMI applications per change-management practices.
• Lead or coordinate installation, commissioning, and startup of control systems with various teams.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI

Troubleshooting

Industrial automation

Electrical drawings

Travel willingness

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate degree preferred

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLC

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 - Builds partnerships and works cooperatively with others to achieve shared objectives
• Ensures Accountability - Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments
• Being Resilient - Rebounds from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations
• Customer Focus - Builds strong customer relationships and delivers customer centric solutions
• Values Differences - Recognizes the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization
• Optimizes Work Processes - Knows the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement
• Instills Trust - Gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity

Minimum Qualifications & Skills

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent required; Associate degree in electrical, electronics, industrial automation, instrumentation, or a related technical field preferred.
• 5-7 years of relevant industrial instrumentation and controls experience required.
• Advanced experience troubleshooting and programming PLC and HMI systems in an industrial environment required.
• Ability to read and modify electrical drawings, control schematics, loop diagrams, and process documentation required.
• Experience leading complex controls troubleshooting, installations, commissioning, or multi‑site technical support required.
• Ability to travel regularly among supported facilities and respond to critical controls needs as required.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. It does not include all responsibilities and skills required of the job and may be changed at any time. All responsibilities must be completed in compliance with all safety protocols, policies, procedures and consistent with the spirit and philosophy of The Andersons’ Statement of Principles.

Disclaimer

The Andersons, Inc. is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment and consider candidates without regard to any status protected by law, including race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability. We also prioritize a safe and healthy workplace. The Company maintains a drug‑free work environment and may require drug, alcohol, and/or medical testing depending on the role. To ensure a consistent hiring process, The Andersons, Inc. does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies that do not have a formal agreement in place and is not responsible for any related fees. Finally, we want to help you stay informed and safe during your job search. Please note that The Andersons only uses company email addresses, which contain “@andersonsinc.com” or"@theandersons.com", to communicate with candidates via email. If you are contacted by someone about an open job at The Andersons, please verify the domain of the sender’s email address. If something seems unusual, we encourage you to verify communications and report any concerns through [e-mail]

The Andersons, Inc., is a North American agriculture and renewable fuels company that conducts business in the agribusiness and renewables sectors.

Guided by its Statement of Principles, The Andersons is committed to providing extraordinary service to its customers, helping its employees improve, supporting its communities, and increasing the value of the company.

For more information, please visit www.andersonsinc.com