Process Instrumentation Technician

Century Aluminum is seeking a highly skilled and safety-conscious Process & Instrumentation Technician to join our Mt. Holly team! Located in Goose Creek, SC, this on-site role is critical in ensuring the reliable operation of plant instrumentation, electrical components, and PLC control systems. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in industrial electrical systems, troubleshooting, and maintenance with a commitment to safety, efficiency, and continuous improvement. If you thrive in a dynamic environment and enjoy problem solving, we invite you to apply. Responsibilities:Ensure that EHS is a number one priority by adhering to the plants safety and environmental objectives, attending safety meetings, and insisting that all safety rules are followed.Ensure all work adheres to National Electrical Code and the Electrical Safety Orders of OSHA.Performs PMs, inspections, modifications, responds to breakdowns and trouble calls, requests for information and coordinates with supervision, Planning, and/or external customers for the scheduling of downtime as needed to maintain assigned systems.Performs maintenance on assigned instrumentation, computers, microprocessors and PLC-based equipment, human machine interfaces, and their remote hardware and interface equipment, calibrates, maintains, repairs, modifies, designs, constructs, troubleshoots, and installs plant metering systems, gas systems, instrumentation, continuous and stationary weighing systems, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, communication equipment, plant fire protection systems, plant alarm systems, plant security systems, radio remote control systems, AC and DC drive, and other instrumentation and devices. Maintain the potline process and PLC Remote I/O to provide continuous operational support to the potlines.Analyze and install new or modified instrumentation, electrical components, and PLC control systems by referring to blueprints, circuit diagrams, handbooks, manuscripts, drawings, and technical manuals. Analyze instrumentation or PLC system breakdowns and implement changes or recommend modifications, as appropriate, to prevent recurrence.Perform check-out and functionality tests on new or modified instrumentation or PLC control systems.Maintains records, makes reports as required, updates prints, manuals, diagrams, and makes recommendations on assigned systems.Record, maintain and retrieve calibration records related to ISO and Title V compliance. Have a clear understanding of the potential impacts regarding these standards.Read and work from blueprints, sketches, charts, manuals, wiring and schematic diagrams and other information and instructions.Have familiarity with the safe and efficient use of electrical maintenance tools and equipment including the following electronic, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic testing and measuring equipment: oscilloscopes, frequency counters, signal generators, relays, amplifiers, multimeters, radios, transistor testers, power supplies, soldering equipment, vibration analyzers, gas analyzers, infrared equipment, optical pyrometers, human machine interface (HMI), drives, computers, (operating system, DOS base applications), conduit bending and threading equipment, ladders, scaffolding, trucks, forklifts, cranes, hoisting and rigging equipment, hand and power tools common to the trade, and others that may become necessary through technological advances.Stay abreast of new technology in PLCs and work with specialists to identify the need for replacement of outdated equipment or systems.Assist in the design, analysis, and implementation of hardware and software additions necessary for upgrading or modifying existing systems. Maintain current versions of Instrument/PLC/HMI/Drive development software applications.Assist Engineering with development and implementation on R&D and process control related improvements.Work with supervision to evaluate requests for all departments for new equipment installations and make recommendations regarding design, reliability, cost and maintainability.Utilize computer systems and other available software applications to enhance maintenance record keeping, communications, equipment information to include troubleshooting and maintenance procedures and drawings management.Utilize root cause analysis techniques to solve problems and improve the quality of our processes by tracking equipment performance factors. Assist with the reliability process as requested.Provide support to Maintenance and Production in the interpretation of process applications.Work with inventory control changing orders points/order quantities, controlling rebuild units, surplus and obsolete items, quality control, reduction of inventory and capital spares to reduce equipment costs.Must be available for on-call duty and adhere to the Maintenance Help Chain. Must be available for emergency duty coverage as determined by plant management.Keep equipment in work area in a clean and orderly condition in compliance with 5S procedures.Perform temporary duties of supervision on an as-needed basis.Assist with training of apprentices, new crew members, and members of other crews as required.Oversee and train staff in the operation and maintenance of electrical and electronic instrumentation equipment including programmable logic controllers, variable frequency drives, supervisory control data acquisition (SCADA) systems, and software controlled units and equipment.Incumbent may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth above to address business needs and changing business practices.Modify and implement computer software programs for data logging and control. Maintain efficient records on operations and activities through supporting software.Interpret, explain, and enforce department policies and procedures.Constant learning and application of new technology may be required to keep up with Process equipment life expectancy.Assist other maintenance crews when required.Environmental, Health & Safety:This position requires awareness of the Mt.Holly Environmental Policy, Mt.Holly Waste Minimization/Pollution Prevention Policies and Mt. Holly Environment, Health and Safety Policy/Principles. Incumbent must be knowledgeable of the environmental aspects of processes, activities and services in job area and appropriate measures to control impact on the environment.Support plant policies for waste minimization and pollution prevention by conformance to plant polices on waste minimization, taking standard environmental control measures when performing work and supporting department environmental objectives and plant environmental goals.Scope:Five (5) years experience as an industrial electrician with in-depth knowledge and experience in electronics, instrumentation, programmable logic controller system maintenance and repair, installation, check out and troubleshooting.Formal apprenticeship or equipment trades training preferred.High school graduate or equivalent.Must be computer literate which enables associate to generate, store, retrieve and analyze information and data from CMMS, network applications, and supporting process software applications.Must possess good human relation skills, work unsupervised, communicate clearly and concisely (written and orally), and be a resource to Engineering, Production, and Maintenance crews to solve problems or troubleshoot inoperative or malfunctioning process control and/or instrumentation equipment.This position requires occasional work / assistance outside the normal working schedule (nights, weekends and holidays).Physical Requirements: The tasks listed are the most physically demanding tasks required of the Process & Instrumentation Technician position. This position works mainly indoors, on the plant floor and often in cramped conditions. May be required to stand for prolonged periods of time and be exposed to high noise, fumes and heat levels.1. Standing: Worker stands on concrete (occasional basis).2. Walking: Worker is walking on concrete floors during the shift (occasional basis).3. Strength: A) Lifting: Worker utilizes tool bags weighing up to 35 lbs., lifts and use 50 lb. weights to calibrate equipment in the carbon plant (20 times per shift but on a 1 shift per month basis), occasional lifting of 75 lb. spools of wire. Worker is required to lift laptops, servers, UBS service interrupters, TV, CRT, (2 people lift), cabinets typically weighing less than 20 lbs. (4-5 times a day).B) Carrying: Tool bags weighing up to 35 lbs. C).Pushing/Pulling: Portable scales with dead weight 350 lbs., estimate push/pull to be within the 75 lb range.4. Climbing: Occasional climbing of steps, straight ladders on cranes up to 210 feet.5. Balancing: On cranes or ladders and bicycles6. Bending: Frequent to take readings from equipment.7. Kneeling: Frequent to take readings from equipment8. Crawling: Worker is occasionally required to crawl over, under or through pipes.9. Reaching: Forward for operation of computer, repairs of equipment, or operation of isolation valves.10. Handling: Fine motor dexterity required for typing, hand tools, meters or calibrating devices.11. Squatting: Frequent to take readings from equipment.12. Sitting: Occasional - 25% of day to constant.13. Repetitive Motion: Occasional - worker is responsible for making thermal couplers which involves the circumduction of the shoulder repetitively to wind wire around a spool.14. Must be able to work safely from heights.15. Work under steady pressure with frequent interruptions.Join our team and be part of a company that values safety, innovation, and professional growth. We encourage you to apply today and take the next step in your career with Century Aluminum.

Created: 2025-02-20