Maintenance Controls Technician

Thorne

Summerville (SC)

On-site

USD 90,000 - 120,000

Full time

4 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Medical insurance

Disability insurance

401k plan

Gym membership

Supplement allowance

Paid time off

Training & development

Job summary

Thorne is seeking a Maintenance Controls Technician to join the Maintenance department in Summerville, SC. The role focuses on industrial controls, automation, and electrical systems, providing hands-on expertise to resolve complex issues and improve system reliability.

The position requires senior-level experience with PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, and servo systems, plus a proactive approach to equipment uptime and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

Associate degree or technical diploma in Industrial Automation, Electrical Technology, Mechatronics, or related discipline.
Experience troubleshooting PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, and related controls in a manufacturing setting.
Strong electrical troubleshooting, instrumentation, and fault-diagnosis skills.
Proficient in reading electrical schematics, ladder logic, and P&IDs.
Experience with CMMS and documentation of maintenance actions.
Background in cGMP environments is a plus.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary technical resource for PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, servo systems, and other controls in automated production lines.
Lead advanced troubleshooting during downtime and support controls-related projects.
Review programs, alarms, interlocks, and safety circuits to identify root causes and implement fixes.
Maintain accurate backups, documentation, and change-control compliant modifications.

Skills

Industrial automation

Electrical troubleshooting

PLC troubleshooting

HMI troubleshooting

VFDs/servo systems

CMMS usage

Education

Associate degree or technical diploma in Industrial Automation or related

Tools

CMMS (eMaint)

Programming software

Electrical drawings

Test equipment

Networking protocols

Job description

Maintenance Controls Technician

Department: Maintenance

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Summerville, SC

Description

At Thorne, we work to deliver high-quality, science-backed solutions to empower individuals to take a proactive approach to their well-being. Each day begins with a mission to help others discover and achieve their best health. We count on our team members to challenge and push the boundaries to make that happen. At Thorne, you’ll be joining a team of more than 750 passionate individuals committed to our cause of providing superior health solutions at every age and life stage.

The Maintenance Controls Technician serves as a senior technical resource within Thorne’s Maintenance Department, specializing in industrial controls, automation, electrical systems, and advanced equipment troubleshooting. This role provides hands-on technical expertise to resolve complex equipment issues, improve system reliability, reduce manufacturing downtime, and support the continued development of Thorne’s automated manufacturing operations.

Working closely with Maintenance Technicians, Maintenance Tech Leads, Maintenance Supervisors, Engineering, and other cross-functional partners, the Maintenance Controls Technician leads advanced troubleshooting efforts, supports controls-related projects, and provides technical guidance to strengthen the maintenance team's capabilities.

This position plays a key role in maintaining and improving programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human-machine interfaces (HMIs), variable-frequency drives (VFDs), servo systems, industrial networks, instrumentation, machine safety systems, and other automated manufacturing technologies.

The ideal candidate is a highly experienced industrial controls and automation professional with exceptional electrical troubleshooting skills, strong technical judgment, and the ability to independently diagnose complex equipment failures. This individual combines hands-on technical expertise with a proactive approach to equipment reliability, continuous improvement, and developing the technical capabilities of others.

This is a senior technical individual contributor position. While the Maintenance Controls Technician provides technical direction and mentorship, responsibility for daily work assignments, shift management, attendance, performance management, and disciplinary matters remains with the Maintenance Supervisor.

Work Schedule

This position follows a rotating 2-2-3 overnight schedule, working 12-hour shifts from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. The schedule alternates between two days on, two days off, and three days on, followed by two days off, two days on, and three days off. This rotation provides every other weekend off.

Employees must be available to work their assigned schedule and provide additional support for critical equipment failures, planned shutdowns, startups, and projects as business needs require.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Serve as the primary Maintenance Department technical resource for PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, servo systems, motion controls, industrial networks, sensors, instrumentation, machine safety systems, and automated manufacturing equipment.
Provide advanced technical support to Maintenance Technicians, Maintenance Tech Leads, and Maintenance Supervisors.
Review PLC and HMI programs, machine sequences, alarms, interlocks, inputs, outputs, and safety circuits to identify equipment failure root causes.
Connect to, monitor, and troubleshoot PLC, HMI, VFD, servo, and other control systems using approved software and procedures.
Perform approved programming and parameter changes in accordance with Thorne's change control, Quality, Validation, IT, and documentation requirements.
Maintain current and secure backups of PLC, HMI, VFD, servo, robotics, vision system, and other critical equipment programs and parameters.
Support the configuration, installation, replacement, and commissioning of controls components, including PLC processors, I/O modules, HMIs, VFDs, sensors, encoders, servomotors, power supplies, safety relays, and communication devices.
Troubleshoot industrial communication networks and protocols used throughout Thorne's manufacturing operations.
Develop and maintain controls standards for hardware, software, programming, naming conventions, backups, system access, spare parts, and technical documentation.
Identify obsolete controls hardware and software and recommend appropriate upgrades or migration strategies.

Lead advanced troubleshooting efforts during significant, complex, or recurring equipment downtime.
Apply systematic troubleshooting methodologies using equipment symptoms, alarms, machine sequences, electrical drawings, program logic, historical work orders, and previous corrective actions.
Identify technical root causes rather than relying on repeated component replacement or temporary corrective measures.
Partner with Maintenance leadership to determine when Engineering, IT, equipment manufacturers, system integrators, or other external resources should be engaged.
Provide assigned after-hours or on-call technical support for critical equipment failures, shutdowns, startups, and projects.
Ensure equipment is returned to service safely and in accordance with applicable Quality, Validation, Production, and cGMP requirements.
Communicate significant equipment failures, controls risks, safety concerns, and extended downtime promptly to Maintenance leadership.
Maintain accurate troubleshooting, repair, modification, and preventive maintenance records within eMaint.
Support effective shift transitions by documenting equipment conditions, troubleshooting completed, corrective actions, and outstanding follow-up requirements.

Serve as a technical mentor and resource for Maintenance Technicians, Maintenance Tech Leads, and Maintenance Supervisors.
Provide technical direction during controls-related troubleshooting and repair activities.
Help develop the team's capabilities in electrical troubleshooting, controls systems, equipment operation, root cause analysis, and safe diagnostic practices.
Support Maintenance Supervisors in evaluating repair complexity, technical requirements, safety risks, resources, and estimated repair durations.
Assist Maintenance leadership in assessing technician controls and electrical troubleshooting capabilities and recommending development opportunities.
Promote consistent troubleshooting, repair, and documentation standards across maintenance shifts.
Share technical lessons learned and best practices to improve team effectiveness.
Provide recommendations to the Maintenance Manager regarding equipment risks, controls obsolescence, critical spare parts, and improvement priorities.

Lead or support root cause analysis for major and recurring equipment failures.
Develop lessons learned and apply structured problem-solving methodologies, including 5 Whys, to identify and address recurring equipment issues.
Analyze downtime data, CMMS history, PLC information, alarms, equipment trends, and technician observations to identify improvement opportunities.
Support reliability initiatives, equipment criticality assessments, failure mode analysis, and preventive maintenance optimization.
Partner with Production, Engineering, Quality, Validation, IT, EHS, and other stakeholders on equipment reliability and continuous improvement initiatives.
Improve controls-related preventive and predictive maintenance activities to strengthen equipment safety, reliability, maintainability, availability, and operational performance.
Support improvements in preventive maintenance completion, mean time between failures (MTBF), mean time to repair (MTTR), equipment availability, and planned and unplanned downtime.

Review and verify preventive maintenance procedures for electrical, instrumentation, and controls systems.
Create and maintain troubleshooting guides, technical work instructions, inspection checklists, standard equipment settings, and controls documentation.
Maintain accurate electrical drawings, control panel drawings, I/O lists, network diagrams, manuals, program backups, and related technical records.
Document work performed, time spent, materials used, failure symptoms, troubleshooting steps, root causes, corrective actions, equipment settings, and follow-up recommendations.
Partner with Maintenance Supervisors and storeroom personnel to maintain appropriate controls-related spare parts inventory.
Evaluate spare parts requirements based on equipment criticality, failure history, obsolescence, cost, and lead time.

Support new equipment installations, controls upgrades, system integrations, equipment relocations, and capital projects.
Participate in project design reviews and provide technical recommendations regarding controls standards, component selection, maintainability, equipment access, safety, documentation, and spare parts.
Participate in Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), commissioning, startup, qualification, and performance verification as required.
Review vendor controls designs and verify receipt of required programs, backups, passwords, software licenses, electrical drawings, manuals, parameter lists, and technical documentation.
Maintain required programming software, communication cables, test equipment, licenses, and controls troubleshooting tools.
Verify that controls modifications are appropriately reviewed, risk-assessed, tested, approved, backed up, and documented before implementation.
Provide technical support during planned shutdowns and equipment improvement projects.

Perform all work in accordance with Thorne's safety policies, Lockout/Tagout procedures, electrical safety requirements, and applicable OSHA and NFPA 70E standards.
Ensure machine safety circuits, guards, emergency stops, safety interlocks, and protective devices remain operational and are not bypassed without an approved, documented process.
Identify and promptly report safety incidents, near misses, unsafe conditions, and equipment hazards.
Follow applicable SOPs, cGMP requirements, change control procedures, and documentation standards when working in production and controlled environments.
Ensure contractors performing controls or electrical work comply with applicable safety, Quality, documentation, and technical requirements.
Maintain controls work areas, maintenance tools, programming equipment, and control panels in accordance with cleanliness and 5S standards.
Support continuous improvement in workplace safety, environmental practices, equipment reliability, operational processes, and waste reduction.

WHAT YOU NEED

Associate degree or technical diploma in Industrial Automation, Electrical Technology, Mechatronics, Instrumentation, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
7+ years of industrial maintenance experience, including at least 5 years of advanced controls and automation troubleshooting within a manufacturing environment
Demonstrated experience troubleshooting PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, control power, instrumentation, industrial networks, and machine electrical systems to root cause.
Experience reading and interpreting electrical schematics, ladder logic, P&IDs, sequence-of-operations documentation, and technical manuals.
Experience using a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) and maintaining accurate electronic technical records.
Previous experience within cGMP nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or food manufacturing preferred.
Experience with reliability methodologies, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) preferred.
Experience with high-speed encapsulation equipment is a plus.

Advanced knowledge of industrial automation, electrical controls, and automated manufacturing equipment.
Strong troubleshooting expertise across PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, servo systems, motion controls, industrial networks, instrumentation, and machine safety systems.
Ability to interpret and troubleshoot PLC ladder logic, equipment sequences, alarms, interlocks, I/O signals, and electrical control circuits.
Knowledge of controls hardware installation, configuration, replacement, commissioning, and approved programming modifications.
Understanding of industrial communication networks and protocols.
Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, P&IDs, control panel drawings, network diagrams, and technical manuals.
Knowledge of controls software backups, version management, equipment parameters, and technical documentation practices.
Understanding of preventive and predictive maintenance principles, equipment reliability, and structured troubleshooting methodologies.
Working knowledge of electrical safety requirements, Lockout/Tagout, OSHA, NFPA 70E, and machine safety systems.
Understanding of cGMP, change control, equipment qualification, and validation requirements within regulated manufacturing.
Proficiency with CMMS systems, including accurate documentation of maintenance activities, equipment history, and corrective actions.
Ability to use programming software, diagnostic equipment, test instruments, and technical tools required for industrial controls troubleshooting.

Advanced Technical Expertise: Demonstrates deep knowledge of industrial controls, automation, and electrical troubleshooting.
Root Cause Problem Solving: Uses systematic diagnostic methods to identify and resolve complex equipment failures.
Technical Leadership: Provides guidance, mentorship, and technical support to maintenance teams without direct supervisory authority.
Equipment Reliability: Proactively identifies opportunities to reduce downtime, prevent recurring failures, and improve equipment performance.
Safety & Compliance: Maintains high standards for electrical safety, machine protection, cGMP compliance, and controlled equipment modifications.
Analytical Thinking: Interprets complex equipment data, program logic, alarms, trends, and technical documentation to make informed decisions.
Communication: Clearly communicates technical findings, equipment risks, corrective actions, and recommendations to technicians, supervisors, and cross-functional partners.
Collaboration: Builds effective working relationships across Maintenance, Engineering, Production, Quality, Validation, IT, and external technical partners.
Accountability: Takes ownership of technical troubleshooting and follows complex issues through to sustainable resolution.
Judgment & Escalation: Recognizes significant equipment, controls, safety, or operational risks and escalates concerns appropriately.
Organization & Documentation: Maintains accurate technical records, equipment documentation, program backups, and troubleshooting information.
Continuous Improvement: Identifies opportunities to strengthen equipment reliability, maintenance processes, technical standards, and team capabilities.
Adaptability: Effectively responds to changing manufacturing priorities, critical equipment failures, and evolving automation technologies.
Initiative: Works independently with minimal direction while maintaining strong communication and alignment with Maintenance leadership.

The physical requirements described below are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Ability to remain stationary and move throughout manufacturing, maintenance, warehouse, and administrative environments as required.
Ability to safely access and inspect manufacturing equipment, electrical panels, controls systems, and related machinery.
Ability to operate diagnostic equipment, programming tools, and other technical equipment required for assigned responsibilities.
Ability to communicate effectively with employees, supervisors, contractors, and cross-functional stakeholders.
Ability to read and interpret detailed electrical schematics, technical manuals, equipment documentation, and electronic displays.
Ability to work in manufacturing environments with moderate noise levels.
Ability to work the assigned 12-hour overnight rotating 2-2-3 schedule, from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., and provide additional technical support as business needs require.

WHAT WE OFFER