PLC Controls Technician — Industrial Automation Expert

NORLEE INVESTMENTS LLC; Hickory (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Norlee Group in Hickory, NC is seeking a PLC Controls Technician to install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair industrial control systems and automation equipment. The role requires hands-on experience with PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, and related electrical systems to keep manufacturing equipment operating safely and reliably.

You will diagnose issues, implement programming/configuration changes, review electrical drawings, and collaborate with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years' experience with PLC controls, industrial automation, or electrical control systems.
• Ability to read electrical schematics and control drawings.
• Experience troubleshooting HMIs, VFDs, sensors, relays, and control panels.
• Willingness to work overtime, weekends, and travel when required.

Responsibilities

• Install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair PLC-based control systems and industrial automation equipment.
• Diagnose electrical, control, communication, and programming issues affecting equipment performance.
• Connect to PLCs to monitor system operation, review logic, identify faults, and make authorized programming changes.
• Troubleshoot and configure HMIs, VFDs, motor controls, sensors, relays, instrumentation, and control devices.
• Install, terminate, test, and label control wiring, communication cables, instrumentation, and electrical components.
• Read and interpret electrical drawings, control schematics, ladder logic, panel layouts, process diagrams, and equipment manuals.
• Perform startup, commissioning, functional testing, and validation of new or modified control systems.
• Assist with PLC, HMI, and VFD programming, configuration, backups, and documentation.
• Troubleshoot industrial communication networks and connectivity between control-system components.
• Identify root causes of equipment failures and recommend corrective or preventive actions.
• Document programming changes, equipment settings, service activities, and completed repairs.
• Maintain current backups of PLC programs, HMI applications, and equipment configurations in accordance with company procedures.
• Coordinate work with customers, supervisors, project managers, engineering teams, electricians, and other trades.
• Provide onsite and remote technical support when required.
• Follow all company, customer, OSHA, NFPA 70E, lockout/tagout, and jobsite safety requirements.
• Participate in scheduled maintenance, emergency service, and after-hours support when needed.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Skills

PLC programming

Ladder logic

HMI troubleshooting

VFD setup

Motor controls

Industrial electrical

Instrumentation

Schematic reading

Root-cause analysis

Technical documentation

Customer communication

Education

Journeyman Electrician license

Controls certification

Technical degree/certification in automation

Tools

Allen-Bradley/Rockwell

Siemens

Schneider Electric

Mitsubishi

AutomationDirect

Rockwell Studio 5000

RSLogix 500

FactoryTalk View

Siemens TIA Portal

Job description

Norlee Group in Hickory, NC is seeking a PLC Controls Technician to install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair industrial control systems and automation equipment. The role requires hands-on experience with PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, and related electrical systems to keep manufacturing equipment operating safely and reliably.

You will diagnose issues, implement programming/configuration changes, review electrical drawings, and collaborate with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams.