Controls Technician

As employees of a farmer-owned cooperative, we come to work every day trying to honor the tireless effort and care these farming families put in every day, all day, 365 days a year. Our farmer-owners tend to think in generations, with some of our farms being run by the same families for over a century. We carry this approach into our business, knowing that each and every one of us makes a difference in allowing these generational traditions to continue, taking pride in knowing that we nourish our friends, neighbors, nation, and even the world with healthy and delicious dairy products. Our products include milk, flavored milk, yogurt, dip, sour cream, cottage cheese, Italian cheese, and ice cream mix marketed under the Upstate Farms, Bison, Milk for Life, and Intense Milk brands.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Installs, troubleshoots, repairs the following systems: PLC's, HMI's, VFD Drives, Vision Systems, Motor Control Centers, Power Distribution Centers, Motors (DC, AC, Stepper, Servo, etc.), Three Phase/Single Phase - power and control circuits, Control Panel layout and component installation.

• Carry out the departmental production plans and to jointly establish objectives.

• First responder to troubleshooting activities, leading, and assigning crew members and utilizing all available resources to correct controls issues and/or equipment/system breakdowns in an expedient manner.

• Works with Maintenance Mechanics on shift to trouble shoot root cause of problems and puts preventative controls in place to mitigate further issue.

• Communicate daily activity of work order status with business partners and coordinate shift-to-shift handoff.

• Document all modifications to equipment, systems, and respective documentation.

• Report to the Supervisor all operation issues during the shift, or as they become available. Investigate all events and provide full details of facts leading to the event, along with conclusions, and recommendations. Communicate openly to all other O-AT-KA Supervisor/Management staff, sharing problems and solutions.

• Assist with developing and modifying SOP's for processes within the department.

• Collaborate with all business partners to maintain an ongoing, uninterrupted operation to produce high quality products, while maintaining the department in an acceptable manner.

• Proactively evaluate obsolete equipment within the plant making recommendations for repair and/or replacement.

• Other duties as assigned.

Experience & Education Required:

• Associates degree with 3-5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge & Skills - Required:

• Experience in troubleshooting PLC based control systems, Rockwell Software desired.

• Experience with digital & analog temperature, pressure, flow, speed and weight measurement.

• Experience with discrete sensors.

• Experience with process loop calibration and equipment.

• Experience with industrial control networks and configuration such as Ethernet, Device Net, DH+

• Experience working with 480v 3 phase power distribution.

• Experience with Allen Bradley motor controls and VFDs.

• Experience using electrical test equipment.

• Proven ability to work well independently and in a collaborative team environment

• Manufacturing experience with PLC's and automation controls.

• Working knowledge of electrical schematics, power distribution and controls, motor and motor controls, PLC logic controls, HMI's, and other industrial controls.

Preferred:

• Dairy and/or food processing knowledge, especially Mixing & Blending, Retort operations, automatic packaging, mechanics of systems and equipment and sanitation and safety a plus

• Ability to set IP addresses using BOOTP with working knowledge of various software programs (or ability to learn) to include: RSLogix 5, RSLogix 500, RSLogix5000, Factory Talk to program PCLs, HIMs and Drive. WonderWare experience a plus.

Confidentiality

The Controls Technician is exposed to O-AT-KA customer and product information on a consistent basis.

Management Responsibility

The Controls Technician is an individual contributor role that operates under the general direction of the Controls Supervisor.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts, high speed and processing equipment; is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and toxic or caustic chemicals; is frequently exposed to moderate to high noise levels in the work environment. Must be able to see, grasp hold, walk, climb, bend, and stretch, lift up to 40 lbs. Will spend significant time in the production environment where temperatures fluctuate, floors may be wet, and noise is a constant factor.

Starting Pay: $30/hour.

• The salary range indicated in this posting represents the minimum and maximum of the salary range for this position. Actual salary will vary depending on factors including, but not limited to, budget available, prior experience, knowledge, skill and education as they relate to the position's qualifications, in addition to internal equity. The posted salary range reflects just one component of our total rewards package. Other components of the total rewards package may include participation in group health and/or dental insurance, retirement plan, wellness program, paid time away from work, and paid holidays.

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.