PLC Technician II - 1st Shift

Refresco Brand; Modesto (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Refresco Brand is seeking a skilled PLC technician to join our team in Modesto, CA. The role focuses on diagnosing and repairing automation equipment, maintaining PLC programs, and upgrading drives and controls to support efficient beverage production.

You will work with RSLogix on diverse PLC platforms, read electrical schematics, and troubleshoot HMI/PLC interactions. This on-site role emphasizes safety, accuracy, and collaborative problem solving.

Qualifications

• Proficient in RSLogix family and online diagnostics across multiple PLC platforms.
• Ability to interpret electrical schematics and P&ID symbols.
• Strong diagnostic skills with multimeter and control panels up to 480VAC.
• Understand PLC tagging conventions and online layout references.
• Familiar with AOI/UDT/Arrays and advanced PLC concepts.
• Experience replacing/configuring Powerflex and Yaskawa VFDs.

Responsibilities

• Adhere to health and safety policies and PPE requirements.
• Lead troubleshooting during equipment failures with production team collaboration.
• Maintain, test, and upgrade production equipment and test modules.
• Diagnose PLC and automation issues, including wiring faults.
• Calibrate and test equipment to ensure spec compliance.
• Assist PLC system upgrades and improve production efficiency and safety.
• Modify PLC programs for new requirements or safety improvements.
• Maintain records of maintenance, repairs, and programming changes.
• Train team members on basic PLC functions and troubleshooting.
• Participate in continuous improvement and cost-reduction efforts.

Skills

RSLogix 5000/500/5

ControlLogix/CompactLogix/PLC5 online

Electrical schematics

Multimeter usage

P&ID symbols

AOI/UDT/Arrays

AB Powerflex 40/400/525 VFDs

Yaskawa V1000/P1000 VFDs

PLC tagging/online layout references

PLC programming concepts

Tools

AB Powerflex 40/400/525 VFDs

Yaskawa V1000/P1000 VFDs

RSLogix tooling

Job description

Our vision is both simple and ambitious: to put our drinks on every table.

We are the leading global independent beverage solutions provider. We serve a broad range of national and international retailers as well as Global, National and Emerging (GNE) brands. Our products are distributed worldwide from our production sites in Europe, North America, and Australia. Although our own branding may not appear on the labels of the beverages we produce, there is a good chance you are reading this while sipping one of our drinks.

Our ambition is to continually improve and it’s what keeps us at the top of our game.We are solutions-based.We are innovative. We seek out new challenges and conquer them. This is our company ethos, but it’s our people’s too:Refresco is at the cutting edge of a fast-moving industry because we have passionate people pushing the boundaries of what’s best.

Stop and think: how wouldYOUput our drinks on every table?

Essential Job Functions:

• Adhere to all health and safety policies/procedures, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and wear the required personal protective equipment (PPE) while working.
• Responsible to adhere to food quality and food safety as per quality standards and/or Safe Quality Food requirements.
• Lead and participate in troubleshooting activities during equipment failures, collaborating with the production team to analyze, resolve, and prevent issues through investigation, testing, and follow-up.
• Maintenance, testing and upgrading of all production equipment. Installation and testing of new food manufacturing, packaging and processing equipment. Interface with machine tools and special equipment or test modules, troubleshoot existing equipment for electrical or electronics failures and change or modify machines to improve or update.
• Diagnose and troubleshoot PLC and automation issues, including faulty components and wiring.
• Calibrate and test equipment to ensure accurate performance and compliance with specifications.
• Assist with PLC system upgrades and improvements to optimize production efficiency and safety.
• Modify existing programs for system optimization, new process requirements, or enhanced safety protocols.
• Maintain accurate records of maintenance, repairs, programming changes, and upgrades.
• Train other team members on basic PLC functions and troubleshooting as needed.
• Preventative maintenance and repair when required in addition to planned mechanical maintenance duties.
• Participate in a continuous improvement culture while following safe workplace practices.
• Develop positive and respectful interactions with managers, supervisors, maintenance technicians, and machine operators.
• Identify and suggest process improvements to enhance system reliability and reduce costs.

Required Skills:

• Proficient in using RS Logix 5000, RS Logix 500, and RS Logix 5 software for machine troubleshooting, with the ability to go online with Control Logix, Compact Logix, SLC500, or PLC5 systems via Ethernet I/P, DH+, or RS232, and download PLC programs as needed.
• Must be able to read and understand electrical schematics.
• Must be able to use a multimeter and work in control panels with up to 480VAC.
• Understands symbols on P&ID’s and tag references online layout drawing.
• Able to follow information between controllers and components (MSG, AOP’s…etc.)
• Understands advanced programming concepts such as AOI’s, UDT’s, Arrays…etc.
• Should be able to replace and configure AB Powerflex 40, 400, and 525 VFDs (Variable Frequency Drives) and Yaskawa V1000 and P1000 VFDs.
• Knowledgeable of different PLC tag types/tag references on online layout drawing.
• Able to decipher more complex PLC logic (possibly without descriptive tag names, motor speed control/analog value manipulation, indirect addressing).
• Use RSLogix information to help understand/troubleshoot devices connected to the PLC.
• Understands how to setup different PLC tasks and different ways to write PLC code (FB diagram,