Maintenance Technician (Controls Specialist)

Cornerstonebuildingbrandscareers; Rocky Mount (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

PTO & holidays

401k

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development

Job summary

Cornerstone Building Brands is seeking a Sr. Maintenance Controls Specialist in Rocky Mount, VA to lead automation and controls across the facility. You will diagnose failures, implement PLC/HMI programming, and drive reliability improvements on complex equipment.

You will also design control upgrades and guide modernization efforts while working largely independently. You will mentor maintenance technicians, collaborate on capital projects, and ensure safe, reliable operation of the

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of industrial maintenance, automation, or related manufacturing experience.
• Strong PLC/HMI programming and electrical troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to independently troubleshoot, modify, and develop PLC programs.
• Ability to commission and support industrial automation systems.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose and repair complex automation and control system failures.
• Read, interpret, troubleshoot, modify PLC programs across platforms.
• Develop PLC logic, HMI applications, and machine control strategies.
• Troubleshoot electrical circuits, sensors, drives, and motion systems.
• Commission and start up new or modified automation systems.
• Create and update electrical schematics and control drawings.
• Maintain backups of PLC, HMI, drive, servo, and robot programs.
• Train maintenance and operations personnel on control systems.
• Lead modernization projects and manage external contractors when needed.

Skills

PLC programming

Electrical troubleshooting

Automation systems

HMI development

Diagnostics

System commissioning

Maintenance planning

Education

Assoc degree in Electrical/Mechatronics

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs

Siemens PLCs

Industrial networks

Job description

The Sr. Maintenance Controls Specialist is a senior-level electro-mechanical and industrial automation position responsible for the reliability, maintenance, troubleshooting, design, modernization, and implementation of manufacturing equipment control systems. This role serves as the facility's primary technical resource for automation, controls, and machine integration while also maintaining strong hands-on mechanical troubleshooting and repair capabilities.

The Sr. Maintenance Controls Specialist is responsible for supporting manufacturing operations through advanced diagnostics, PLC/HMI programming, electrical troubleshooting, machine reliability improvements, and controls modernization projects. This position is expected to independently evaluate aging and obsolete equipment, develop replacement control system specifications, create project scopes and budgets, implement control system upgrades, and commission new systems with minimal reliance on outside contractors.

The individual must possess strong electrical, automation, and mechanical skills and be capable of working independently on complete machine systems when additional technical resources are not available.

Controls & Automation

• Diagnose and repair complex automation and control system failures on manufacturing equipment.
• Read, interpret, troubleshoot, modify, document, and develop PLC programs across multiple platforms and generations of technology.
• Develop new PLC logic, HMI applications, recipes, and machine control strategies.
• Troubleshoot and repair electrical control circuits, sensors, encoders, photo eyes, safety devices, VFDs, soft starters, servo systems, motion control systems, and industrial networks.
• Commission and start up new or modified automation systems.
• Create, maintain, and update electrical schematics, control drawings, panel layouts, and documentation.
• Maintain backups of PLC, HMI, drive, servo, and robot programs.
• Train maintenance and operations personnel on control systems.

Equipment Modernization & Capital Projects

• Evaluate obsolete control systems and develop long-term modernization strategies.
• Maintain a controls obsolescence roadmap and prioritize modernization efforts.
• Research and specify replacement PLCs, HMIs, drives, instrumentation, communication systems, and electrical hardware.
• Develop project scopes, bills of materials, cost estimates, and technical specifications.
• Lead controls retrofit and modernization projects from concept through startup.
• Design, install, configure, program, test, and commission replacement control systems with minimal outside contractor support.
• Manage contractors, vendors, and system integrators when utilized.

Maintenance, Troubleshooting & Reliability

• Diagnose and repair complex electro-mechanical problems.
• Perform setup, calibration, and adjustment of equipment.
• Troubleshoot and repair pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, and mechanical systems.
• Perform preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance.
• Perform root cause failure analysis and develop permanent corrective actions.
• Implement reliability improvements that reduce downtime.
• Enter completed work and documentation into the CMMS system.

Leadership & Technical Development

• Serve as the facility primary technical expert for automation and controls systems.
• Mentor and train maintenance technicians.
• Provide technical guidance during equipment failures, startups, and major maintenance events.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Associate degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics, Industrial Automation, Controls Technology, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• Minimum 7-10 years of industrial maintenance, automation, controls, or related manufacturing experience.
• Demonstrated ability to independently troubleshoot, modify, and develop PLC programs.
• Demonstrated ability to commission and support industrial automation systems.
• Advanced knowledge of industrial electrical systems and motor controls.
• Strong mechanical troubleshooting skills including pneumatics, hydraulics, conveyors, bearings, drives, and machine alignment.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision on both controls and mechanical issues.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley ControlLogix, CompactLogix, PLC-5, SLC-500, and MicroLogix preferred.
• Experience with Siemens, Omron, Mitsubishi, Modicon, GE, and legacy PLC platforms preferred.

Why work for Cornerstone Building Brands?

Our teams are at the heart of our purpose to positively contribute to the communities where we live, work and play . Full-time* team members receive** medical, dental and vision benefits starting day 1. Other benefits include PTO, paid holidays, FSA, life insurance, LTD, STD, 401k, EAP, discount programs, tuition reimbursement, training, and professional development. You can also join one of our Employee Resource Groups which help support our commitm

Address: 433 N. Main St. Rocky Mount Virginia 24151