Controls Technician

Job Description

Job Description

Aerotek is hiring a Controls Technician for a manufacturing facility in Jonesboro, AR. This is a contract to hire opportunity paying $38-$46/hr (depending on experience). Shifts available: 2nd 3PM - 11:15PM or 3rd 11PM - 7:15AM.

If interested and qualified, please apply for immediate consideration.

Job Description

The Controls Technician troubleshoots, maintains, and optimizes industrial automation and electrical control systems to support reliable, high-speed manufacturing operations. This role focuses on Allen-Bradley/Rockwell PLCs, HMIs, drives, instrumentation, and industrial networks, ensuring equipment performance, safety, and compliance with quality and environmental standards. The Controls Technician also leads and supports continuous improvement initiatives, capital projects, and cross-functional collaboration to enhance equipment reliability and overall production efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot, maintain, and optimize Allen-Bradley/Rockwell PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, servo systems, SCADA interfaces, remote I/O, and machine control systems to support stable and efficient production.
• Diagnose and resolve PLC logic, instrumentation, sensor, actuator, safety circuit, communication, and HMI-related faults in a timely manner to minimize equipment downtime.
• Maintain and manage backups of automation programs, HMI applications, drive parameters, and critical controls documentation to ensure system recoverability and configuration integrity.
• Execute controls and automation changes in line with established change management, validation, documentation, and communication procedures to maintain compliance and traceability.
• Perform calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of process instrumentation, including pressure, temperature, flow, level, pH, conductivity, load cells, analyzers, transmitters, and control valves.
• Support equipment reliability by identifying recurring automation, instrumentation, and electrical control issues through data analysis, production feedback, and systematic investigation.
• Lead and participate in root cause investigations, 5-Why analyses, and continuous improvement initiatives to eliminate chronic equipment failures and improve system performance.
• Implement and sustain corrective actions through improved standards, preventive maintenance programs, procedures, training, and documentation for controls and instrumentation systems.
• Troubleshoot industrial electrical systems, including motor controls, starters, VFDs, MCCs, control panels, and machine wiring, using electrical schematics, ladder logic, loop diagrams, I/O lists, network drawings, and OEM technical documentation.
• Safely isolate, test, repair, replace, and recommission electrical and controls equipment while adhering to lockout/tagout, NFPA 70E, arc-flash, and permit-to-work requirements.
• Support operational technology (OT) systems, industrial networks, PLC/HMI communications, managed switches, manufacturing PCs, and production data systems to maintain connectivity and data integrity.
• Assist with automation capital projects, equipment installations, modernization efforts, system integration, commissioning, startup, FAT/SAT activities, and equipment handovers.
• Collaborate with contractors, OEMs, operations, maintenance, engineering, and IT teams to support reliable manufacturing operations and effective project execution.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, GMP, and environmental standards while maintaining accurate records of controls changes, calibrations, troubleshooting activities, and corrective actions.
• Contribute to improving equipment reliability, overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), and production performance through disciplined documentation, analysis, and follow-through on improvement actions.
• Act as a technical resource to production and maintenance teams by providing coaching, training, and support on automation and controls systems.

Essential Skills

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• 3–5 years of industrial controls, automation, instrumentation, or electrical maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably supporting FMCG, packaging, processing, or high-speed manufacturing operations.
• Strong troubleshooting capability with PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, sensors, actuators, instrumentation, motor controls, electrical controls, and machine safety circuits.
• Working knowledge of Allen-Bradley/Rockwell platforms, including Studio 5000/RSLogix, FactoryTalk, PanelView HMIs, ControlLogix/CompactLogix, drives, and related automation tools.
• Ability to interpret electrical schematics, control drawings, loop diagrams, P&IDs, I/O lists, and OEM technical documentation.
• Understanding of analog and digital signals, control loops, measurement transmitters, control valves, pneumatics, and packaging/process equipment interfaces.
• Strong commitment to safety practices, including adherence to NFPA 70E, arc-flash, lockout/tagout, and permit-to-work requirements.
• Demonstrated focus on quality, GMP, environmental compliance, documentation discipline, communication, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, including operations, maintenance, engineering, IT, OEMs, and contractors.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Two-year technical degree in Electrical Technology, Industrial Automation, Mechatronics, Instrumentation, or a related field preferred.
• Experience using structured problem-solving methods such as root cause analysis (RCA), 5-Why, breakdown analysis, and TPM/WCM preferred.
• Arkansas electrical license, NFPA 70E training, Rockwell certification, or other recognized industrial electrical, instrumentation, or automation certifications demonstrating competency in industrial controls systems preferred.
• Experience with CMMS/SAP, downtime tracking systems, OEE/OLE tools, historian data, dashboards, and manufacturing data systems preferred.
• Hands-on experience with hydraulics, pneumatics, and mechanical systems in an industrial environment.
• Experience in quality control within manufacturing or packaging operations.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to use data to identify trends, recurring issues, and opportunities for improvement.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to clearly document controls changes, calibrations, and troubleshooting activities.

Why Work Here?

You join a collaborative team environment that values coaching, knowledge sharing, and supporting production success. There is clear opportunity to grow into leadership, including progression into supervisory roles, as you develop your technical and problem-solving capabilities. The workplace promotes healthy work-life balance and offers strong benefits designed to support your well-being. Your contributions directly impact team performance and help achieve quarterly bonuses, giving you tangible recognition for the value you add.

Work Environment

You work in a clean, cool, temperature-controlled manufacturing facility designed to support safe and comfortable operations around industrial automation and electrical systems. The environment includes modern PLCs, HMIs, drives, instrumentation, industrial networks, and production data systems, with access to tools and equipment needed for troubleshooting, calibration, and maintenance activities. You collaborate closely with operations, maintenance, engineering, IT, OEMs, and contractors on the production floor and in control areas, following established safety procedures and standards.