Automation & Controls Specialist

Hill's Pet Nutrition

Tonganoxie, KS

Pay: $64,000-$80,000/yr

Shift: Full time

No Relocation Assistance Offered

Job Number #176505 - Tonganoxie, Kansas, United States

**Who We Are**

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!

Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all.

**Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis and must not require the Company's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States.**

At Hill’s we have a purpose to transform the lives of millions of pet families through pioneering innovation, science-led nutrition, and the best and brightest people. If you’re interested in work that matters, fueled by passion for pets, we invite you to apply.

Founded more than 75 years ago with an unwavering commitment to pet nutrition, Hill’s mission is to help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets. Our decades of science and research guide us in creating nutrition that’s a step ahead so pets and pet parents can enjoy every day together. As the US #1 Veterinarian recommended pet food brand, knowledge is our first ingredient with 220+ veterinarians, PhD nutritionists and food scientists working to develop breakthrough innovations in pet health.

**3rd shift (11:00 PM to 7:30 AM)**

The **Automation & Controls Specialist** is responsible for providing hands-on technical support, continuous maintenance, and expert troubleshooting of plant floor electrical, automation, and control systems. This role focuses directly on the physical repair, calibration, and commissioning of field instrumentation, sensors, motors, Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), electrical distribution circuits, and PLC systems utilizing ladder logic.

Additionally, this position is responsible for supporting, troubleshooting, and optimizing the facility's Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) and Laser Guided Vehicle (LGV/AGV) fleets. Beyond technical execution, this role serves as a key technical mentor for Tier 1 and Tier 2 maintenance engineers, elevating the site's overall technical capability.

**Key Responsibilities**

**AMR & LGV Fleet Support**

• **Robotics Fleet Maintenance:** Support, troubleshoot, perform diagnostics, electrician and mechanical repair, and maintenance for the plant's Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) and Laser Guided Vehicle (LGV/AGV) fleets.
• **System Integration:** Maintain and troubleshoot collaborative and industrial robotic cells, vision systems, and safety interlocks integrated with automated guided vehicles.

**Hands-On Repair, Motors, VFDs & Electrical Systems**

• **Drives & Motors:** Commission, perform preventative maintenance on, and troubleshoot Variable Frequency AC Drives (VFDs), 3-phase motor starters, and servo motors and drives.
• **Electrical Diagnostics:** Read and interpret electrical schematics and P&ID prints to diagnose and repair 3-phase 480 VAC power circuits, 120 VAC control loops, and 24 VAC/VDC systems in compliance with NEC regulatory standards.
• **Sensor & Instrumentation Calibration:** Perform hands-on replacement, adjustment, and calibration of discrete and analog sensors (pressure, level, temperature), flow meters, load cells, photoelectric sensors, solenoids, control valves, metal detectors, container fill detectors, and vacuum detection systems.

**PLC & Ladder Logic Automation**

• **Ladder Logic Troubleshooting:** Program, maintain, and troubleshoot Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and GuardLogix PLCs utilizing ladder logic programming, Sequencer programming, and Add-On Instruction (AOI) blocks.
• **Hardware & I/O Maintenance:** Power up electrical control panels, configure hardware per application specifications, and maintain control system I/O structures including Flex IO and Point IO modules.
• **System Backups & Integrity:** Follow strict software/hardware backup procedures for PLCs, Panelview operator interfaces, programmable switches, and VFDs while documenting all modifications made to electrical schematics.

**Technical Mentorship & Tier 1/2 Support**

• **Mentorship & Coaching:** Act as a hands-on technical mentor to Tier 1 and Tier 2 maintenance engineers, technicians, and system operators to build shift-level competency in electrical diagnostics, ladder logic, and robotic systems.
• **Training Content Creation:** Conduct technical training using written SOPs, digital flow tools, and audiovisual content covering control systems, electrical troubleshooting, and plant safety s