Job Description:

Job: Controls Tech

Shift: Nights

Location: Mars Petcare – Aurora, Nebraska

Mars is looking to hire a Controls Tech for our state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Aurora, Nebraska! Being a Mars Associate is all about opportunity.  The opportunity to do challenging, exciting work that shapes the world’s best-loved brands.  To work with real purpose, supported by talented, friendly people from different backgrounds.  Access the tools, training, and experience you need to impact our business, the planet positively, and, most importantly, your career.  Being a Mars associate is more than a job.  It’s the opportunity to start your day tomorrow.

As part of our overall total compensation package, Mars Petcare offers a competitive benefits package to all associates which includes: Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance, Short & Long Term Disability, and 401k match. Associates are also immediately eligible (based on hire date) up to three weeks of vacation, 11 Paid Holidays per year, Sick Pay, Maternity & Parental Leave and annual bonus earning potential, plus many other ancillary benefits not listed here.

Controls Technicians are primarily responsible for the day-to-day support of the site's Instrumentation and electrical equipment and Factory Controls and IT systems. Additionally, they will help execute the strategy for the Factory Controls and IT Asset Health Check Program.

Responsibilities include supporting the Engineering Manager on Capital projects and developing Reliability Technicians. Key concepts of the role include, but are not limited to, developing control concepts, program design, coding and implementation, instrumentation selection, and operator interface development.

Additionally, the Controls Technician executes the modification and installation of control systems utilizing the Change Control process for assigned areas; transfers knowledge of control systems and electrical projects; and supports and maintains control networks for assigned areas, web servers, data historians, and operator interface systems.

Key Responsibilities

Delivery of Control & IT Solutions related ServicesAccountable for problem resolution for Instrumentation and Electrical equipment within assigned areaAccountable for problem resolution for Factory Controls & IT systems within assigned areaInteract with the Reliability department in order to solve problems and define improvementsSupports the Automation Roadmap Strategy & Cyber Security ComplianceSupport for Ops, IE’s, and Engineering Teams responsible for delivery of Factory Controls & IT InitiativesSupport, as directed, Engineering Projects by participating in the design and check-out of control systemsSupport the work activities of outside contractors, control technicians, and other associates with the installation of instrumentation, PLC-based control systems, and PC based operator interfacesPrepare job aids, user documentation, systems documentation, standard operating procedures, and training materials for plant automation systemsIdentify opportunities and recommend changes to improve plant performanceProvide input into site engineering standards for programming and systems designAssist in performing programming, testing, and debugging for new systems as well as for the enhancement of existing systemsModify systems including, but not limited to, Wonderware, Rockwell, Traksys applications to support engineering projectsSupport the plant with control technologies for Level I, Level II, Level III, and Factory IT control systemsProvide Strategy for Factory Control & IT Asset Health Check ProgramRecognize the current phase of the lifecycle for each Infrastructure Solution and Service and prepare an appropriate action planBusiness Engagement and Communication (for assigned areas)Support all topics related to Factory Controls & IT InfrastructureProvide the communication and marketing of Factory Controls & IT Infrastructure Solutions and Services to engineering, maintenance, and productionProficient in Factory Controls & IT, demonstrating a clear understanding of the problems and opportunities for business changeProficient in Instrumentation and Electrical equipmentCollaborate with shift-based production and maintenance teams to understand any breakdown or reliability issuesAchieve and maintain a high level of technical competencyTrain and support non-technical users on the use of plant floor automation systems

Minimum Qualifications

2-year Technical Degree/Certificate (Electrical/Electronic/Controls/Automation) or equivalent experience1 -2 years of Instrumentation & Electrical, Electronics, or Factory Controls & IT experience, including production system troubleshooting and problem resolutionPossess or can obtain an Operational Electrical Qualification Certificate (must be able to work independently on live electrical panels)

Preferred Qualifications

2-year Technical Degree (Electrical/Electronic/Controls/Automation)2 - 3 years of Instrumentation & Electrical, Electronics, or Factory Controls & IT experience, including production system troubleshooting and problem resolutionServer Administration, Virtual Infrastructure Administration, & Database Administration knowledgeCisco Equipment Architecture knowledgeKey Functional Competencies & Technical SkillsIn-depth contact with users must be maintained to gather information processing problems or requirementsDemonstrate the ability to analyze and test applications for Factory Control & IT systemsGood understanding of Operating Systems environments, including Microsoft Windows PC and Server Operating systems, Active Directory, other Microsoft technologies, and thin-client technologiesBasic knowledge of AutoCAD and SolidWorks PDMAbility to work well with user departments to provide operational support in the use of HMI terminals, including thin clients, along with software applications on Control SystemsBasic knowledge of databases such as Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, and database connectivity using ODBC and Wonderware automation softwareBasic knowledge of web application development, including basic web design, web connectivity, and database accessUnderstanding of networks including, but not limited to, Modbus +, Ethernet, Devicenet, and/or ProfibusAbility to troubleshoot programs residing in the plant's Rockwell Automation PLC Control Systems.

About Mars, Incorporated 

Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With almost $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, UNCLE BEN’S®, MARS DRINKS and COCOAVIA®. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD® Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl®, VCA® and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire its more than 100,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.