Controls Technician

Vulcan Elements
Research Triangle Park, NC
On-site

Who this role is best for

A natural match if you have hands-on PLC and HMI experience in a production environment. This role favors candidates with attention to detail and a background in industrial controls, working closely with engineers in a U.S. manufacturing setting.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with hands-on PLC and HMI experience in a production environment
    — “Experience making and testing PLC or HMI changes in a running production environment.”
  • Individuals who can trace faults across multiple systems using schematics
    — “Ability to trace a fault across program logic, I/O, field devices, and operator displays using electrical schematics and standard troubleshooting tools.”
  • Professionals with a background in industrial panel wiring and instrumentation
    — “Industrial panel wiring, instrument, or drive troubleshooting experience.”

Things to consider

  • Must be a U.S. citizen due to export-controlled information access requirements
    — “Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.”
  • The role involves working in potentially harsh production environments
    — “work in environments that may be hot, humid, or noisy.”

How to stand out

  • Highlight your ability to document changes and follow approval processes thoroughly
    — “Document the reason for each change, its approval, the version installed, test results, and the updated as-is code or screen record.”
  • Emphasize your experience with ladder logic and troubleshooting PLC-controlled systems
    — “Hands-on experience troubleshooting PLC-controlled industrial equipment and reading ladder logic.”
  • Showcase your collaboration experience with engineers and production teams
    — “Coordinate change windows and return-to-service checks with the Controls Engineer and production team.”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • reliable pilot operations
  • efficient change management
  • accurate documentation
Typical background
industrial controls experienceelectrical engineering

Skills & requirements

Required

PLC TroubleshootingHMI ConfigurationIndustrial CommunicationElectrical Troubleshooting

Preferred

Rockwell Studio 5000Siemens TIA PortalIgnition Scada

Stack & domain

PLCHMIRockwell Studio 5000Siemens TIA PortalIgnitionDigital MultimeterSolderingWiring

About the role

Original posting from Vulcan Elements via Greenhouse

About Vulcan Elements 

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence and Integrity.

As a Controls Technician you will help keep Vulcan Elements’ running Durham pilot reliable while making its controls changes easier to execute and trace. You will troubleshoot PLC-controlled equipment and carry out routine logic, HMI, recipe, and parameter changes while working directly with the Pilot Operations Controls Engineer. 

Responsibilities: 

Provide first-line controls support: Diagnose PLC, HMI, I/O, drive, instrument, and industrial communication issues with the pilot controls team and equipment vendors. 

Implement and test routine PLC logic, HMI screen, tag, recipe, and parameter improvements/changes within an agreed scope; escalate larger design changes as needed. 

Document the reason for each change, its approval, the version installed, test results, and the updated as-is code or screen record. 

Read electrical drawings and controls documentation to support troubleshooting, then update affected I/O lists and controls records after changes. 

Coordinate change windows and return-to-service checks with the Controls Engineer and production team. 

Support the two electrical Controls Technicians with code-level diagnosis while drawing on their field wiring and instrumentation expertise. 

Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business. 

Qualifications 

Hands-on experience troubleshooting PLC-controlled industrial equipment and reading ladder logic; ability to work with structured text or learn it quickly. 

High school diploma/GED 

Experience making and testing PLC or HMI changes in a running production environment. 

Ability to trace a fault across program logic, I/O, field devices, and operator displays using electrical schematics and standard troubleshooting tools. 

Diligent change documentation and the judgment to recognize when proposed modifications need engineering review. 

Ability to use a digital multimeter and other electrical troubleshooting tools 

Soldering and wiring 

Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities. 

Preferred qualifications: 

Experience with Rockwell Studio 5000 or Siemens TIA Portal. 

Experience configuring HMI screens, tags, recipes, or operating parameters. 

Familiarity with Ignition or another industrial SCADA platform. 

Industrial panel wiring, instrument, or drive troubleshooting experience. 

Digital schematic generation and reading 

Networking infrastructure installations 

Experience with basic power tools 

Physical and Environmental Requirements 

The position requires regular presence on the production floor and the ability to navigate all areas of the facility. Candidates must be able to climb stairs, stand and walk for extended periods, and work in environments that may be hot, humid, or noisy. The role also requires the use of personal protective equipment, including respirators, and adherence to all applicable safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. Employees must be able to complete required fit testing, wear appropriate PPE for the duration of assigned tasks, and respond safely to changing conditions within the production environment. 

Source: Vulcan Elements careers (Greenhouse)

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