Automation Maintenance Technician; Bacon

Automation Technician

Department: Bacon Maintenance

Location: Ottumwa

As an Automation Multi Craft Technician in a fast‑paced world‑class bacon processing facility you will maintain, troubleshoot, optimize high‑speed food processing equipment, high‑speed packaging equipment, industrial smokehouses and chillers, and automated rail systems.

Multi Craft Automation Technician duties include maintaining, troubleshooting, optimizing, installing, upgrading, calibrating and repairing electronic, electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic equipment and components. Equipment involved includes, but is not limited to, conveyors, motors, meters, instrumentation, high‑speed slicing/packaging equipment, control panels, PLC/PAC control systems, variable frequency drives, high‑speed vision systems, robotics, scales, production printers, computers, and more. The role requires fabricating, installing, adjusting, calibrating, repairing, replacing parts, dismantling, and rebuilding electrical equipment/instruments to correct problems per schematics and work instructions.

Work involves AC and DC electrical systems with voltages ranging from 10 to 480 volts, 4–20 mA, 0–10 Vdc, and other communication protocols.

This position requires the candidate to read and understand electrical schematics and technical manuals to perform job duties. Utility involves using digital multimeters and diagnostic software, operating forklifts and scissors lifts. The Technician must be safety conscious, identifying hazards, utilizing PPE, and maintaining Electrical Arc Flash awareness with compliance to Iowa OSHA, NEC, NFPA, and company guidelines. Additionally, the Technician must ensure HACCP, SOPs, work instructions, and Food Safety Quality requirements are in compliance with all regulations.

The role demands accurate work logs, proper documentation, and reporting to support preventive and predictive maintenance programs. It requires collaboration across maintenance, production, and management personnel during optimization, troubleshooting, modification, installation, and repair of plant equipment and processes.

Responsibilities include working without direct supervision to perform assigned tasks, potentially on rotating or fixed shifts, extended hours, short‑notice overtime, weekends, and holidays. The technician may work in cold and hot environments, at heights greater than 10 feet, and lift over 50 lbs., while crouching, crawling, and kneeling as necessary.

• High School Diploma/GED and equivalent work experience in a technical field is required.
• 5–10 years of proven food processing/manufacturing experience in electrical, electronics, mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatics is required.

• Associate’s degree in a technical field or at least two (2) years of vocational/formal training in a maintenance field.
• Experience troubleshooting and problem‑solving in a manufacturing/food processing environment.
• Four (4) years of PLC/control system troubleshooting, programming, and repairing experience.
• Self‑motivated, team‑oriented, and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Experience with Allen Bradley controls, Siemens, Schneider, Beckhoff, and various drive technologies.

We offer a full range of benefits including health care, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan.

JBS Prepared Foods is an equal‑opportunity employer. EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled