Industrial Electrician & Controls Technician

The Controls Technician / Electrician plays a key role in maintaining the electrical and control systems that support production and safety operations at the steel drum reconditioning plant. This position combines hands-on electrical maintenance, PLC troubleshooting, and instrumentation work to ensure efficient operation of cleaning, coating, and reconditioning equipment, as well as auxiliary plant systems.

Key Responsibilities

Electrical Maintenance

• Install, maintain, and repair electrical systems including motors, drives, panels, sensors, and power distribution.
• Diagnose and troubleshoot electrical faults in production and facility systems.
• Perform preventive maintenance on electrical equipment to minimize downtime.
• Ensure all electrical work complies with NEC standards and plant safety policies.

Controls & Automation

• Troubleshoot and maintain PLC-controlled systems (e.g., Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar).
• Modify or update control logic as directed by engineering to optimize production.
• Maintain and calibrate instrumentation such as temperature, pressure, and level sensors.
• Assist in integrating new automated equipment and control systems into existing processes.

Plant Systems

• Support the operation of process lines for cleaning, reconditioning, painting, and drying of steel drums.
• Maintain electrical components of conveyors, ovens, burners, pumps, and wash stations.
• Collaborate with production and maintenance teams to minimize downtime and improve reliability.
• Participate in energy efficiency and equipment improvement initiatives.

Safety & Documentation

• Follow and enforce all plant safety, lockout/tagout, and environmental procedures.
• Maintain accurate maintenance logs, schematics, and documentation of electrical/control changes.
• Support root cause analysis and continuous improvement activities.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or GED required; technical or trade school certificate preferred.
• Journeyman Electrician license or equivalent experience preferred.
• Minimum 35 years of experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Experience with PLCs, VFDs, sensors, and control wiring required.
• Familiarity with 3-phase systems, motor controls, and panel building.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong troubleshooting and diagnostic skills (electrical and controls).
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and wiring diagrams.
• Knowledge of industrial automation, instrumentation, and control theory.
• Excellent safety awareness and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a cross-functional team.
• Basic mechanical aptitude a plus (pneumatics, hydraulics, etc.).

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Work performed in a heavy industrial environment with exposure to heat, noise, and moving machinery.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs, climb ladders, and work in elevated or confined spaces as needed.
• May require shift work or on-call availability for maintenance emergencies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in metal or drum reconditioning, coating, or similar process industries.
• Familiarity with hazardous location wiring (Class I, Div 1/2).
• Understanding of industrial communication protocols (Ethernet/IP, Modbus, etc.).
• Experience with preventive maintenance software (CMMS).