Downstream Automation Technician III

Downstream Automation Technician III

Job Category: Maintenance Requisition Number: DOWNS001438

Posted: February 25, 2026

Full-Time

On-site

Alpla Kansas City 1800 E 94th St Suite 300 Kansas City, MO 64131, USA

Description

Alpla is a global family-owned, privately held company that makes innovative, customized, recycled packaging for top companies such as P&G, Unilever, L'Oral, Pepsi, and more. Alpla values their employees, work-life balance, personal growth, compensation and sustainability.

What Can You Expect From Alpla

• Health and Wellness Care Program- Benefits
• Child Care Benefits
• Dependent Care Cost Savings Program
• Recognition programs; Promotional opportunities
• 401K Retirement Plan and excellent Matching Plan
• Medical, dental, vision plan
• Education assistance program/tuition reimbursement
• Short term, long term and life insurance paid by Alpla
• Paid vacation; paid holidays

What You Will Enjoy Doing

• Perform scheduled preventive and predictive maintenance tasks on assigned equipment.
• Execute advanced electrical, mechanical, and automation troubleshooting to diagnose complex system failures, interdependencies, and recurring downtime events. That includes communication between equipment.
• Responsible for setups and validations on assigned equipment and assist with setup and adjustments for product changeovers and validate machine startup and quality after changeover.
• Perform replacement, calibration, and functional validation of advanced and smart components including vision systems, motion devices, and intelligent sensors. Complete accurate maintenance records.
• Use analytics, trend data, and system diagnostics to support root cause analysis and long-term corrective actions.
• Provide maintenance techs and operators coaching for basic machine care and first-line troubleshooting.
• Maintain spare parts, tools, and housekeeping in automation areas.
• Support and mentor other technicians on advanced troubleshooting, system logic, and downstream optimization techniques.
• Secure equipment integrity by ensuring proper configuration, controlled changes, and compliance with automation and safety standards.
• Ensure full understanding and execution of equipment cycles, interdependencies, and documented restart procedures following downtime events.

What Makes You Great

• Technical degree, apprenticeship, or equivalent advanced training in Industrial Maintenance, Automation, Electrical Technology, or related discipline preferred
• Minimum 5+ years of experience in industrial or manufacturing maintenance with a focus on downstream automation and packaging systems

Skills

• Advanced knowledge of smart and automated components including function, replacement, calibration, and validation
• Advanced understanding of equipment cycles, interdependencies, and restart procedures
• Experience modifying and validating PLC code under controlled conditions
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use data and diagnostics for troubleshooting
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Experience supporting high-speed parts handling systems integrated with high-speed vision inspection and control devices.

Other Qualities

• Self-starter with strong ownership and accountability mindset
• Perfect alignment with safety and quality requirements
• Clear understanding of equipment performance goals and operational priorities

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job:
• The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms and very occasionally to climb or balance.
• The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to sit.
• The employee must regularly lift and/ or move up to 50 lbs.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
• Work performed in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with noise and moving equipment; PPE required.

It is required to act in a safe and environmentally responsible manner at all times by adhering to all Alpla policies and procedures and Safety Standards (OSHA).

Alpla is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind: Alpla is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Alpla are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Alpla will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.