If you're the person people call when a production problem goes beyond the obvious fix, this role puts that expertise to work.
Clemens Food Group is looking for an experienced Controls & Automation Technician to help design, troubleshoot, commission, and continuously improve the automation systems behind our manufacturing operations.
This isn't a position focused solely on keeping existing equipment running. You'll work across PLCs, HMIs, drives, servo systems, motion control, robotics, SCADA, electrical controls, and data acquisition, while partnering closely with Maintenance, Production, Engineering, Operations, vendors, and contractors.
Your work has a clear purpose: reduce downtime, improve reliability, remove production bottlenecks, and make our automated systems perform better.
When equipment fails or an automation system isn't performing as expected, production needs more than a temporary fix.
You'll help identify the root cause.
You'll investigate production errors, equipment failures, and controls issues; test and debug systems; and make improvements designed to prevent problems from recurring.
You'll also support new and modified automation systems through startup, commissioning, and testing—giving you the opportunity to influence equipment performance from implementation through ongoing operation.
Success in this role means helping create safer, more reliable, more efficient manufacturing processes with less unplanned downtime.
You'll design, program, test, troubleshoot, and improve PLC and HMI systems supporting manufacturing operations. You'll work with DC drives, VFDs, servo systems, motion-controlled equipment, robotics, SCADA, and data-acquisition systems.
You'll also take on the electrical side of automation: developing layouts, selecting components, calculating electrical power requirements, and maintaining electrical drawings and control schematics.
Beyond programming and troubleshooting, you'll:
You won't be limited to one technology. The role crosses PLC/HMI programming, electrical design, motion control, drives, robotics, SCADA, and manufacturing data systems.
You'll solve meaningful technical problems. Some days will involve planned automation work; others will require digging into a difficult equipment failure where the root cause isn't immediately obvious.
You'll see the impact of your work. The systems you're improving directly influence equipment reliability, production efficiency, bottlenecks, and downtime.
You'll be a technical resource for others. This role supports higher-level technical challenges and helps build automation capability within the Maintenance and Production teams.
We're looking for someone with 10+ years of related experience working with automation systems, controls, and computerized production equipment.
You'll need strong working knowledge of:
PLC programming and HMI systems | Motion control | VFDs and DC drives | Servo systems and controllers | Robotics | SCADA | Machine troubleshooting | Electrical controls and schematics | Hydraulics and pneumatics
Experience with Allen-Bradley and/or Siemens controls is preferred.
You'll also need the ability to read, interpret, and create electrical schematics and technical documentation, along with experience testing, debugging, and improving machine performance.
Experience with robotics integration, data-acquisition systems, automation validation/change control, or food, regulated, or high-speed manufacturing would add value.
Technical depth matters here, but so does how you approach a problem.
We need someone who can move beyond identifying what failed and systematically determine why it failed.
You'll need to balance urgent production requests with project work and changing priorities, communicate effectively with both technical and operational partners, and translate complex automation issues into practical solutions.
We're looking for someone who brings a strong focus on problem solving, safety, equipment reliability, business results, and continuous improvement—and who is comfortable sharing their knowledge with Maintenance and Production teams.
This role offers the opportunity to become a trusted technical resource within our manufacturing operation while working across a broad automation technology stack.
You'll have opportunities to solve complex controls problems, improve existing equipment, commission new or modified systems, integrate automation technology, and strengthen the technical capabilities of the teams around you.
Clemens Food Group does not accept unsolicited resumes from search or staffing firms. All resumes submitted by search or staffing firms to any employee at Clemens Food Group via email, the Internet, or directly without a valid written search agreement for this role, and without having been asked to participate in this by Talent Acquisition, will be deemed the sole property of Clemens Food Group, and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired. Firms not authorized to submit candidates will not be eligible for any fee or ownership claim.
It is the policy of Clemens Food Group to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. All employees are subject to a pre-employment screening process including a background check and drug screen. In addition, we will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing the application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to your recruiter.
Founded in 1895, Clemens Food Group is a sixth-generation, family-owned vertically coordinated pork production operation, with sister organizations that include feed milling, farming, processing, transportation, and logistics. As the fifth largest fresh pork processing company in the U.S., Clemens Food Group focuses on supplying the highest quality products to our partners via a responsive and sustainable system, while also providing advanced solutions that simplify our partners’ operations. Founded on the family values of ethics, integrity and stewardship, Clemens Food Group is deeply committed to animal care, our team members and the communities in which we operate.
For more information, visit https://clemensfoodgroup.com.
