Process Automation Technician

Company: Specialty Minerals Inc., a Minerals Technologies company, is the largest supplier and global leader in providing Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) and Ground Calcium Carbonate (GCC) specially designed for customers' application needs.

Location: Lucerne Valley, CA

Compensation: $41.00 - $45.00 per hour

Responsibilities: The Process Automation Technician, under limited supervision, is responsible for maintaining the field instruments, motor controls, smart sensors, and input-output electronics that comprise our process automation system. Must be skilled in multi-trades to handle emergencies and perform routine maintenance work. Skills may include electrical work, instrumentation repair, mechanical work, etc. Works safely and actively promotes the safety culture and philosophy of MTI in all work activities.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities: Adds, replaces and programs smart motor controls, such as variable frequency drives and soft starts. Adds, replaces, programs and calibrates smart field instruments and sensors, such as pressure/temperature/level/speed sensors. Leads the repair and upgrade of L and M Packers' automation system, including programming of the PLC to modify timing and sequence. Maintains the electronics, networks, and sensors on these automated packaging lines. Assists with upgrades to the control system including installation of new instrumentation and programming of new motors. Maintains the plant's camera & intercom systems. Reads and interprets equipment manuals and electrical/instrumentation schematics to perform required maintenance and service. Inspects, diagnoses, and troubleshoots problems associated with the input & output electronics and networking that communicate with the plant's PLCs. Must be able to use a multimeter for 4-20 loops and 120V troubleshooting. Identifies required parts from equipment drawings. Performs advanced electrical/instrumentation skills and basic mechanical skills including, but not limited to, process control, computer automation systems analysis, electrical control, and troubleshoots and repairs plant equipment/systems as needed. Communicate with others internal and external to the organization to obtain/provide information regarding equipment/system issues as needed. Assumes a leadership role by promoting a positive work environment/attitude.

Other Duties & Responsibilities: Trains others in job duties/skills. Coordinates improvement opportunities with Mill and Maintenance Departments. Performs other duties as assigned.

OE/Lean: Actively participates in the implementation of sustainable improvement processes, such as 5S, Kaizen, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Daily Management Control, Standard Work and Problem Solving.

Note: Management reserves the right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Qualifications: Qualifications/Requirements The requirements listed in the sections that follow are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to perform the duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions (primary duties) of the job. Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Knowledge of the English language, electrical/instrumentation skills, industrial equipment/systems, and basic mechanical skills are required. Knowledge of computer components including circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware/software applications and programming required. Must have the ability to learn all the processes in the plant. Must be able to diagnose, troubleshoot, and repair electrical/instrumentation/computer automation systems effectively, read wiring schematics/diagrams. Must have the ability to acquire and use electrical and mechanical skills/knowledge such as use of pipe threading machines, bandsaw, drill press, and hand tools. Ability to learn these skills will be considered but must have basic knowledge of how to use a multimeter. Being under general supervision, the employee is expected to be self-directed, take initiative and be persistent when appropriate to accomplish necessary duties and complete required work without prompting from the supervisor. Additionally, the employee is expected to be adaptable/flexible to changing work assignments, perform multiple tasks at once, have a high level of integrity, dependability and self control to maintain composure, learn and memorize procedures, prioritize work, manage time effectively and efficiently, meet established deadlines, display a cooperative attitude, read, understand and follow all company, job specific and safety policies/procedures, and attend/use all required training.

Education: High School Diploma required. Incumbents should possess a thorough knowledge of electrical/instrumentation trades and formal, specialized, process control/computer training beyond four years of high school. Formal education or technical training is preferred; programmer certifications are also preferred.

Experience: A minimum of 5 years' experience in Process Automation is strongly preferred. Additional years of progressive experience with industrial equipment and processes may be considered as a substitute.

Work Hours: Must have ability to work the shift/number of hours in which duties need to be accomplished, including overtime, holidays and weekends, as necessary. Call-ins may occur as needed.

Working Conditions: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly conducting work in a controlled office environment, sitting at a desk. On a frequent basis, there may be exposure to plant areas, which include exposure to outside weather conditions as well as loud noise from equipment and dust from production processes. Primarily, works alone but may work as part of a team, working in close proximity to others and works in proximity with equipment and electricity. Safety Equipment: Safety equipment typically required while performing the duties of this job includes a personal lockout/tagout lock, ANSI approved hard-hat and safety glasses with sideshields, FR clothing, safety shoes/boots with steel toe protection. Additional safety equipment is available for use if a situation arises where it becomes required depending on the assignment or if it is simply desired by the employee. Safety Training: A new employee hired to perform the duties of this position is to be provided with New Employee Training by a qualified individual, which consists of eight hours of classroom training and 16 hours of on-the-job training. It will include, but is not limited to, the following: forklift/mobile equipment operation and certification/licensing, hazard communication, hearing conservation, respiratory protection, electrical safety, ARC Flash, lock out/tag out, personal protective equipment, blood borne pathogens, fire fighting/extinguishers, machine safety, confined spaces, reporting of hazardous conditions, accidents, injuries, near-miss and property damage incidents, evacuation/emergency procedures, first aid, back injury prevention, and job/work area procedures. Upon transferring to perform the duties of this position for the first time an employee is to be provided with New Task Training by a qualified individual until the employee adequately understands the contents of the training, which include job/work area procedures and related topics. Additionally, an employee must be provided with further training if a job duty/task has changes that will affect the health and safety aspects of that employee's position. Additional refresher safety training will be required as management deems it appropriate or as dictated by MSHA regulations and company requirements.