Automation Controls Technician

Job Summary

Driving productivity, efficiency, quality, safety and cost improvements across bakery manufacturing, with a strong focus on troubleshooting, programming, and improving pick-and-place robotics and automated equipment — partnering with Production, Maintenance, Engineering and Quality to diagnose issues, implement fixes and track results.

Key Responsibilities

● Troubleshoot and repair pick-and-place robotic cells (FANUC, ABB, Yaskawa or similar), including end-of-arm tooling, vacuum/gripper systems and vision-guided picking

● Diagnosing and correct PLC-level faults (Allen-Bradley ControlLogix/CompactLogix, Siemens S7) affecting robot cycle time, pick accuracy and line integration

● Read, write, and modify ladder logic and structured text in Studio 5000 or TIA Portal to resolve faults, optimize performance, and implement approved process changes

● Develop, test, and document new or revised PLC logic for equipment upgrades, changeovers, and continuous improvement projects, following change-control procedures

● Troubleshoot machine vision systems (Cognex or similar) used for pick verification, defect detection and product orientation

● Diagnose servo drive and motion control faults (position, torque, following-error) on robotic and pick-and-place axes

● Analyze production data and KPIs — cycle time, pick success rate, fault frequency — to identify trends and improvement opportunities

● Lead and support continuous improvement projects from planning through implementation

● Identify opportunities to reduce waste, downtime, rework, labor costs and production inefficiencies

● Perform root cause analysis on recurring equipment issues (mechanical, electrical, or program-level) and implement or escalate corrective logic/programming changes as appropriate

● Develop and maintain KPI dashboards and reports to measure operational and equipment performance (OEE, downtime by fault code, pick accuracy)

● Support installation, changeovers and startup of new or modified robotic/automated equipment

● Support Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Kaizen and other continuous improvement initiatives

● Maintain accurate maintenance records, work orders, parts usage logs, program backups, and fault/downtime documentation in CMMS

● Follow all safety, LOTO and GMP procedures, including robot safety zones, light curtains and interlocks

● Share successful improvement practices across departments

● Travel to other company facilities as needed for installs, troubleshooting or knowledge-sharing

● Perform all other duties as assigned

Qualifications

● 3+ years of experience in process improvement, industrial maintenance, manufacturing or related field, with hands-on robotics/automated equipment troubleshooting

● Proficient in Allen-Bradley (RS Logix 5000/Studio 5000) and/or Siemens (TIA Portal, Step 7) PLC platforms — able to read, write, and modify ladder logic and structured text programs, not just monitor and trend

● Experience developing, testing, and documenting new or revised PLC programs under formal change control

● Experience troubleshooting industrial robots (FANUC, ABB, Yaskawa, KUKA or similar) — teach pendant navigation, fault recovery, calibration and basic offset/frame adjustments

● Familiarity with machine vision systems (Cognex, Keyence or similar) for pick verification and quality checks

● Understanding of servo motors, VFDs and motion control fundamentals

● Ability to read schematics, robot I/O maps, and technical manuals

● Strong analytical, problem-solving and data analysis skills

● Proficient with Excel and KPI dashboards/data reporting tools

Preferred / Certifications

● Associate degree in Electrical, Mechatronics, or Industrial Technology preferred

● Food or bakery manufacturing experience preferred

● FANUC or ABB robot certification/training a plus

● Allen-Bradley or Siemens PLC programming certification/training a plus

● Lean/Continuous Improvement methodology experience (Six Sigma, Kaizen) preferred

● NFPA 70E / electrical safe work practices familiarity a plus

Pay: $36.00 - $46.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person