Field PLC Specialist

About the Job

Frontmatec, a Fortifi company, is a world leader in automation solutions for the food processing industry, delivering complex, large-scale turnkey projects across North America. To strengthen the controls capability of our growing field service team in Kansas City, MO, we are creating the role of Field PLC Specialist — a hands-on field position that combines field service expertise with advanced PLC and automation skills.

Position Summary

The Field PLC Specialist is an Ambassador of Frontmatec, providing advanced controls expertise to internal and external customers. The incumbent diagnoses, troubleshoots, programs, and optimizes PLC-controlled equipment, conveyor systems, and machinery in food processing environments — bridging the gap between mechanical field service and controls engineering, and serving as the escalation point for complex automation issues in the field. The role also helps customers maximize equipment performance by applying application knowledge, identifying yield-improvement opportunities, and channeling field observations back to Engineering to support product and documentation improvements.

Key Responsibilities

• Diagnose and resolve complex controls issues on PLC-controlled equipment, drives, and HMIs at customer facilities, both on site and through remote support.
• Program and modify PLCs, variable frequency drives, operator interfaces, and related automation components (Allen-Bradley and Siemens platforms) during service interventions, upgrades, and retrofits.
• Support installation and commissioning of new equipment, including I/O checkout, startup, tuning, and optimization of systems under real production conditions.
• Provide emergency/unscheduled and scheduled maintenance and repairs of equipment at customer facilities.
• Read and interpret equipment manuals and electrical and pneumatic schematics; redline drawings and feed corrections back to Engineering.
• Act as second-level technical escalation and mentor for Field Service Technicians on controls-related topics.
• Comply with all Frontmatec and client health and safety programs and applicable standards (including OSHA), and participate in equipment risk analyses.
• Provide accurate, detailed reports after completion of installation and/or service jobs, and give feedback to After Sales teams regarding customer needs.
• Communicate effectively with customers, sales teams, and partners to ensure customer needs are understood and met, and actively develop customer relations.
• Support Engineering, Production, and QA on new product development, factory testing, and product quality.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of customer and internal training programs on controls topics.
• Partner with customers to maximize output, improve use of application features, and identify yield-improvement opportunities under real production conditions.
• Help and train customers on equipment operation, application best practices, machine configuration setup, and controls-related functions, adapting communication to the customer’s skill level.
• Capture customer feedback and field observations, then report actionable improvement opportunities to the Engineering team to support equipment, software, and documentation enhancements.
• Improve customer-facing and internal documentation so equipment operation, troubleshooting, application setup, and product improvements are easier for customers and internal teams to understand.
• Self-managed: responsible for booking travel and accommodations; complete weekly expense and hours reports.

Required Knowledge & Skills

• PLC programming and troubleshooting on Allen-Bradley and Siemens platforms.
• Studio 5000 / RSLogix 5000, FactoryTalk View, and TIA Portal.
• Configuration and troubleshooting of VFDs, servo/motion components, and HMIs.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics; AutoCAD Electrical an asset.
• Strong analytical, logical troubleshooting, and organizational skills; resourcefulness and creativity under production pressure.
• Professionalism and strong customer-facing communication; acts as an Ambassador of Frontmatec.
• Application-oriented mindset with the ability to translate customer process needs into practical equipment, controls, recipe, and documentation improvements.

Updated sections highlighted for review

• Interest in, or basic knowledge of, industrial vision systems is considered an asset, including Sick, Allied Vision, LMI, or similar vision platforms.
• Fluent English (oral and written).

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or automated production engineering, or a technical diploma in industrial electronics (or equivalent experience).
• 3–5+ years of experience programming and troubleshooting PLCs in an industrial environment.
• Field service or commissioning experience in food processing or another sanitary manufacturing environment an asset.
• Experience supporting customer training, application optimization, or yield-improvement initiatives in production environments is an asset.
• Project coordination experience on electrical or automation scopes an asset.

Job Requirements

• Ability to travel extensively across the United States and Canada (up to approximately 70%).
• Valid passport and driver’s license.
• Ability to work in food processing environments (cold, wet, sanitary conditions) in full compliance with safety and hygiene requirements.

What We Offer

• Competitive hourly wage with overtime.
• Medical, Dental, Vision, STD/LTD with company contribution toward your benefits.
• 401(k) options.
• Vacation, sick and personal time off, 8 paid company holidays, and yearly increases.
• Per diem and mileage reimbursement.
• Uniforms, PPE, and tools provided.