Control Systems Technician

Controls Technician

This position will be responsible for supporting & maintaining electrical and control systems throughout the facility; specific responsibilities scale with level. The list below covers the full scope of work performed by Controls Technicians at Creekstone. Lower levels perform a subset of these tasks under appropriate supervision; higher levels perform all of them independently.

Entry & Foundation Work (All Levels)

• Pulling, dressing, terminating, and labeling wire in panels and field junction boxes.
• Installing rigid conduit and EMT — cutting, bending, coupling, mounting.
• Replacing motors, contactors, overload relays, pushbutton devices, and basic field components.
• Using a digital multimeter for voltage, continuity, resistance, and current measurements.
• Completing all assigned work orders accurately with proper labor and parts entries.
• Performing preventive maintenance tasks per the schedule.
• Maintaining tool inventory, organization, and shop cleanliness.

Drives, Sensors & Field Instrumentation (Level 2+)

• Diagnosing and repairing faults on VFDs (Allen-Bradley PowerFlex preferred), soft starters, and motor control circuits.
• Troubleshooting 24VDC and 120VAC control circuits from prints — identifying open circuits, shorted coils, and failed contacts.
• Replacing and calibrating proximity sensors, photoeyes, encoders, and pressure or temperature transmitters.
• Troubleshooting 4–20mA analog signal loops and instrument calibration.

PLC, HMI & SCADA Work (Level 3+)

• Navigating Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix programs to diagnose faults — read ladder, function block, and structured text.
• Making minor, pre-approved program modifications under supervision.
• Diagnosing EtherNet/IP communication faults between PLCs, drives, and remote I/O.
• Performing first-response HMI troubleshooting on PanelView Plus terminals.
• Operating Ignition SCADA Designer and Gateway interfaces for verification and view-only configuration.

Mentorship & Documentation (Level 2+)

• Mentoring lower-level technicians during their work.
• Signing off OJT milestones for technicians at junior levels (LV3+).
• Authoring detailed maintenance reports and presenting findings during downtime debriefs (LV3+).

Continuing Development — All Levels

• Attending monthly Creekstone Controls Academy (CCA) training sessions — 4 hours per month at every level.
• Completing required external certifications and training appropriate to your level.
• Participating in all required safety training, drills, and refresher courses.

Qualifications

Required for All Levels

• High school diploma or GED.
• Comfortable working in a USDA-inspected food production environment.
• Reliable attendance and a safety-first attitude.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, climb ladders, work at heights, work in cold environments (28–40°F), and stand or walk for full 12-hour shifts.
• LOTO certification (current) — or willing to complete during onboarding.

Required by Level

• Entry Technician: No prior controls or industrial maintenance experience required. Mechanical aptitude and willingness to learn.
• Level 1: 3–6 months as Entry Technician at Creekstone, OR equivalent industrial maintenance experience. Comfortable with hand tools, multimeter, and basic conduit work.
• Level 2: 1+ year of industrial controls or maintenance experience. Comfortable with VFDs (any major brand), schematics, and 4–20mA loops.
• Level 3: 3+ years industrial controls experience. Demonstrated independent troubleshooting on Allen-Bradley PLCs (ControlLogix or CompactLogix).
• Level 4: All Level 3 qualifications plus LV4 credentials — Rockwell CCP299 Advanced Logix, Inductive Automation Ignition Core Certification, Rockwell RACT (Logix) or equivalent.

Preferred for All Levels

• Beef, pork, or poultry plant experience — you understand chain speed, CCPs, and one-way product flow without us having to explain it.
• OSHA 10 General Industry certification (we will sponsor if not yet held).
• Allen-Bradley PowerFlex drive experience (PF525, PF700, or similar).
• Inductive Automation Ignition SCADA experience (any version).
• HACCP awareness and food-safety mindset in a maintenance context.
• Vocational/technical school graduate or military electronics background.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• This position includes physical work throughout the facility. When inside the facility appropriate PPE is required such as hard hat, steel toed boots, safety glasses, ear plugs, hair net and beard net if applicable. Varying temperature exposure is normal and moderate noise.
• Regularly required to stand, walk, sit, climb stairs, use both hands and arms to handle, feel, reach, push and pull.
• Must be able to lift and/or move up to 25-50 pounds frequently, and occasionally up to 100 pounds.
• Must be able to bend, stoop, climb ladders, access any device that needs serviced.
• Must be able to stand for extended periods of time

Creekstone Farms Premium Beef LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer.