PLC and Controls Electronics Technician

Job Title: PLC and Controls Electronics Technician

Reports To: Director of Maintenance and Engineering

Summary: The PLC & Controls Technician is responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, programming, and improving automated production and packaging equipment within a chocolate manufacturing facility. This position supports production operations by ensuring the reliability and efficiency of PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, servo systems, instrumentation, and industrial networks. This role will support chocolate processing operations as well as a variety of packaging systems, including die-fold wrapping machines, flow wrapping machines, tempering units, molding tunnels, tape machines, thermal transfer printers, and other related packaging equipment.

A PLC and controls Electronics Technician will play a critical role in maximizing equipment reliability, minimizing downtime, and ensuring compliance with safety, food safety, and quality standards by doing so they support Chocolove’s mission of quality products, made safely, by and for our families/customers.

Responsibilities:

• Troubleshoot and repair PLC-controlled manufacturing and packaging equipment, in some cases with no supporting documentation.
• Modify, maintain, and document PLC programs and maintain a library of programs.
• Configure and support HMIs, industrial PCs, VFDs, servo drives, sensors, and instrumentation.
• Perform preventive and predictive maintenance on automated chocolate processing and packaging equipment.
• Support industrial networks including Ethernet/IP, DeviceNet, Modbus, and Profinet.
• Participate in automation upgrades, equipment startups, and continuous improvement projects.
• Maintain compliance with GMP, HACCP, SQF, OSHA, and LOTO requirements.
• Diagnose equipment failures, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions to reduce downtime and improve reliability.
• Support equipment installations, startups, commissioning activities, and production line improvements.
• Maintain maintenance records, equipment histories, and work order documentation using CMMS Limble.
• Support efforts to improve machine safety, production efficiency, product quality, and operational reliability.
• Ability to use Ignition software for programming our SCADA system.
• Additional tasks and responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements/Qualifications:

• Associate degree in Industrial Automation, Electrical Technology, Mechatronics or related field or equivalent industrial controls experience may be substituted.
• Minimum 5 years automation and controls experience in manufacturing.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation systems.
• Ability to read electrical schematics and technical drawings.
• Ability to troubleshoot controls wiring without drawings or supporting schematics.

Preferred qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics Engineering or Automation Engineering
• Rockwell Automation ControlLogix Certification
• Siemens SIMATIC PLC Certified
• Allen-Bradley PLC Programming Certification

Job setting/environment/equipment used: This work will be performed in a high-paced food manufacturing environment which consists of large manufacturing and packaging equipment as well as industrial equipment like air compressors and boilers, all of which make noise, some of them are loud and require hearing protection when exposed to them for extended periods of time. There are also areas where hot temperatures of more than 100° can be expected, specifically our chocolate melt room and boiler rooms although prolonged exposure is prohibited. This role will also utilize the maintenance and machine shop, which has mills, saws, grinders, welders, drills, presses, plasma cutters, lathes, sanders, and other various powered tools which all require some level of PPE, respectively.

Physical Requirements and Mental Demands: A technician will have Lift, Carry, Move, Transport, Push, Pull, Stack, Load, Unload items that may weigh up to 100 lbs. you must also stand, Walk, Move through facility, Climb, Descend, Navigate, Reach, Bend, Stoop, Kneel, Crouch, Squat, Twist, Turn, Work in various temperatures, Work around moving machinery, Work in a noisy environment, Work around dust, chemicals, manufacturing materials, Wear PPE

CHOCOLOVE is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Pay: $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person