Automation and Controls Technician

Job Type:

People are at the heart of our success. Our culture encourages collaboration, transparency, and accountability in order to generate value and achieve sustainable results. Being part of the team means committing to an environment where everyone’s impact truly matters.

At Agropur, accountability means owning challenges and taking concrete action to achieve results.

An environment that empowers you to take action:

• Starting Pay: $36.56/hour
• Annual Performance Incentive up to $1,000
• Shift Premium: Additional $1.50/hour
• ⁠ Relocation assistance up to $5,000*; certain conditions apply.
• Schedule: Monday through Friday, 2:00 PM–10:00 PM
• Training: Flexibility to train on day shift during your first few months
• Pay Growth: Two pay increases within your first year, totaling up to an additional $1.00/hour
• Sunday Pay: Double time
• Paid Time Off: 3 weeks of PTO starting on day one prorated
• 401(k): Up to 7% company contributions
• Comprehensive Insurance: Medical, dental, vision, life, short-term disability, and long-term disability
• Additional Paid Time Off: Paid holidays plus 2 floating holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Career Advancement Opportunities
• Programs and benefits that support your physical, financial, and emotional well-being

• Once fully trained, this position participates in a mandatory on-call rotation.

What you’ll be responsible for each day:

The Automation Technician I uses knowledge of electronics, mechanics and computers to troubleshoot and repair instrumentation and computer-controlled systems.

Automation & Controls

• Monitor and troubleshoot automated equipment, PLCs, HMI systems, and plant controls
• Diagnose and resolve system faults and equipment issues
• Make adjustments and modifications to existing PLC programs as needed
• Install, test, inspect, maintain, and modify automation equipment and systems
• Support continuous improvements that help production equipment operate more efficiently

Electrical & Instrumentation

• Troubleshoot electrical circuits, motors, equipment controls, and related systems
• Install and maintain electrical circuits
• Perform equipment checks, preventive maintenance, and calibrations
• Calibrate plant instrumentation and use electrical testing equipment, including multimeters, process meters, and HART calibration equipment

Maintenance & Production Support

• Perform scheduled and preventive maintenance
• Complete assigned work orders and required maintenance documentation
• Provide technical troubleshooting support to production operators and managers
• Perform basic mechanical maintenance as needed
• Use Maximo to support maintenance activities and documentation
• Work closely with production to improve equipment reliability and minimize downtime

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Follow all company safety policies and procedures
• Identify, correct, and report potential safety hazards
• Follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
• Comply with Quality Assurance requirements and immediately report potential food safety concerns

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as management may deem necessary from time to time.

The individual who will own this Automation Technician role:

Education Required:

• Associate’s or Technical Degree in Electrical Technology or related field required.
• Equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be considered.

Experience Required:

• Minimum one (1) year of related experience required.
• Experience with reading mechanical drawings and electrical schematics including knowledge of redlining schematics for updates required.
• Experience with wiring electrical control panels or equipment remote actuators and inputs and outputs as well plumbing equipment, pneumatic or/and hydraulic lines required.
• Experience planning, selecting, testing, installing and maintaining equipment and other types of systems required.

Skills Required:

• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with executives, managers, colleagues and individuals inside and outside the organization.
• Demonstrate attention to detail and accuracy in work.
• Ability to apply logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions.
• Result driven, bottom-line orientated, strives to exceed goals, and motivates self and others to achieve positive outcomes.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision, adapt to a changing environment quickly, and think independently.
• Demonstrate excellent organizational skills, establish priorities, ability to multitask, and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrate functional and technical knowledge, ability to learn new skills quickly, and achieve a high level of accomplishment.
• Ability to make decisions in a timely manner, sometimes with incomplete information and under tight deadlines and pressure.
• Accurately scopes out length and difficult of tasks and projects, sets objectives and goals, breaks down work into the process steps, develops schedules and assignments, anticipates and adjusts for problems or roadblocks, measures performance against goals, evaluates results.
• Intermediate math skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, comparative analysis, measurements, statistical analysis).
• Intermediate computer skills with Microsoft Excel, Power Point, Word, Outlook and field-specific software.
• Exhibit a professional manner in dealing with others and works to maintain constructive working relationships.

Where you’ll be working:  

• Our Little Chute, WI, plant is home to about 140 employees. This facility is a top manufacturer of IQF sticks that are supplied to the appetizer industry. Next to the plant is our well-known Simon’s Specialty Cheese store, which has about 20 employees. Simon’s is a Wisconsin-themed store, with everything from meats and cheese to clothing and craft spirits. 
• Agropur’s US operations produce 1 billion pounds of quality, award-winning cheese each year. We create more than 20 different varieties and provide whey protein and dry ingredients which are by-products of the cheesemaking process. As one of the world’s largest dairy producers, Agropur partners with some of the most recognizable food, beverage and nutrition brands to help feed the world. Better Dairy. Better World. Agropurus.com 

An environment that values engagement and encourages everyone to take initiative.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Agropur welcomes people from all backgrounds and origins. We are proud to be an employer with a diverse community and are committed to providing a respectful and inclusive experience for all employees and applicants. We will work with candidates who request accommodation. Please note that an adequate knowledge of French is required for positions in Quebec.  Agropur uses artificial intelligence technology to assist our recruiters in screening, assessing, or selecting applicants for this position.

In this text, the use of the masculine gender to designate persons is intended only to lighten the text.