Controls Specialist Maintenance Professional

Controls Specialist Maintenance Professional

Chicago, IL

$36.10 to $47.30 per hour

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled, hands-on Maintenance Technician with strong electrical, controls, and automation experience to support a fast-paced manufacturing operation. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys troubleshooting complex equipment issues, working directly on production lines, mentoring technicians, and driving equipment reliability improvements.

The successful candidate will play a key role in maintaining highly automated production equipment, supporting the commissioning of a new production line, and serving as a technical resource for controls, electrical, and mechanical troubleshooting.

Key Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot, diagnose, and repair production equipment to minimize downtime.
• Work extensively with Allen-Bradley PLCs, including troubleshooting inputs and outputs, reading ladder logic, and making program modifications as needed.
• Support and troubleshoot VFDs, motor controls, sensors, HMIs, and automation systems.
• Create, modify, and test PLC and communication programs for equipment and process improvements.
• Troubleshoot and repair 240V and 480V electrical systems.
• Perform mechanical repairs including conveyors, motors, gearboxes, bearings, chains, sprockets, and pneumatic systems.
• Participate in the commissioning, startup, and optimization of new manufacturing equipment.
• Assist with root cause analysis and implement corrective actions to improve equipment reliability.
• Support preventive and predictive maintenance activities.
• Mentor and train less-experienced technicians while fostering a strong team environment.
• Partner with operations and engineering teams to improve safety, productivity, and equipment performance.
• Maintain a strong presence on the production floor and remain actively involved in hands-on maintenance activities.

Required Qualifications

• Strong experience troubleshooting Allen-Bradley PLC systems.
• Ability to read, understand, and edit ladder logic programs.
• Experience tracing inputs and outputs to diagnose equipment faults.
• Advanced VFD troubleshooting and replacement experience.
• Experience with AutomationDirect PLCs and controls preferred.
• Strong electrical troubleshooting skills on 240V and 480V systems.
• Ability to troubleshoot both electrical and mechanical equipment failures.