Industrial Automation Controls Technician

Job Description

Job Description

Industrial Automation Controls Technician

Terrell, TX & Surrounding Areas
$35–$45/hour (DOE) | Full-Time | Overtime Available

Express Employment Professionals in Terrell is partnering with top manufacturers across Rockwall, Kaufman, and Van Zandt counties to hire a controls-focused technician who thrives in fast-moving production environments. If you live for diagnosing PLCs, navigating HMIs, and keeping automated lines running, this is your lane.

A day in the life

You walk onto a busy plant floor and the line is down. Within minutes you’re deep into ladder logic, scanning I/O, and tracing a VFD fault that’s tripping a 480V circuit. You tweak the program, verify sensor signals, and the conveyor roars back to life. Later, you assist with a servo axis alignment and make a small HMI modification to streamline an operator task. Mechanical work pops up occasionally, but your true impact is in controls and automation uptime .

Core responsibilities

• Troubleshoot and repair PLC-controlled equipment in live production
• Work confidently with Allen-Bradley, Siemens, and Mitsubishi PLCs
• Diagnose via HMI tools, ladder logic, and I/O analysis
• Modify and support PLC programs when needed
• Resolve electrical issues (motors, VFDs, sensors, relays, 480V)
• Pitch in on mechanical repairs as needed—while keeping your primary focus on controls

What you bring

• Hands-on PLC troubleshooting/diagnostics expertise
• Fluency in electrical schematics and ladder logic
• Experience with VFDs, servo motors, and integrated automation
• Background in industrial/manufacturing maintenance
• Independent, quick problem-solver

Preferred qualifications

• Ability to edit or create PLC programs
• Robotics exposure (e.g., Fanuc, ABB )
• Electrical certifications or formal technical training
• Experience commissioning/installing new equipment

Compensation & employment path

• $35–$45/hour based on experience
• Overtime opportunities available
• Temp-to-hire and direct hire options
• Long-term, stable opportunities with growing companies

Proficiencies we value

• PLC Troubleshooting Skills
• Creating Preventive Maintenance Plans
• Machine Building/Assembling
• 120/208/240/480 Voltage Systems
• CNC Machine Repair
• Commercial Electrical Expertise
• PLC Programming Experience
• Programming Machine Vision Systems
• PLC Wiring Experience
• Boiler Troubleshooting
• Boiler Operation
• CNC Machine Setup & Changeover
• Machine Safety Inspections
• Machine Setups for Production Runs
• Troubleshooting CNC Machines

Tech you’ll touch

• Variable Frequency Drives (VFD)
• Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) (Fanuc, Allen Bradley, Mitsubishi, Omron, Siemens, Panasonic, B&R Industrial Automation, Modicon, Beckoff, Schneider Electric, Sigmatek)
• Conveyor Systems (Swisslog, Dematic, Körber, Hytrol, Pentanova, Alba, Riantics, Wulftec)
• Servo Motors

This role is built for technicians who specialize in automation and controls—not basic maintenance. Ready to keep critical lines humming?