Electrical/Instrument Technician

Cabot has an exciting opportunity for a Maintenance Electrical & Instrumentation Technician, to install, repair, calibrate, and maintain a variety of electrical and electronic equipment and controls that facilitate the operational production processes and building equipment at the site.  Skill advancement opportunities are available to become a multi-trade technician. The focus of the role is performing preventative maintenance tasks on the process equipment while ensuring safety and environmental compliance, process efficiency, product quality, and cost effectiveness. The position will work on-site at the Ville Platte, LA plant with minimal, but required; travel to other production sites a few times a year (less than 10%).

• Would you like to contribute to ensure equipment is running effectively?
• Are you a positive, hard-working, energetic, and motivated individual who likes being active?
• Are you known for your integrity… for always doing the right thing?
• If so, please consider the opportunity we have for you to join our team!

At present, this is a day shift position (Monday – Friday), but is subject to change according to plant operational requirements.  Voluntary and mandatory overtime and after hours maintenance call-outs and/or on call duties also apply to this position. 

In this role, your primary duty will be to install, repair, wire, and maintain a variety of electrical and electronic equipment and controls related to production and building equipment This role requires a safety mind-set, self-motivated person with a positive attitude, a ton of good energy, effective time management, organization, and record-keeping skills. A successful candidate will be someone who can:

• Model Cabot values of integrity, respect, excellence, and responsibility. Influence site toward generative team atmosphere. Interact professionally with site personnel, visitors, contractors, and individuals at all levels of the Cabot organization. Follow work instructions, procedures, and policies.
• Troubleshoot and repair electronic, electrical, and instrument control systems. Read and understand complex manuals, drawings, wiring diagrams, and equipment vendor documentation.  Use process loop sheets and piping and instrumentation diagrams to locate and troubleshoot plant equipment.
• Assemble and disassemble equipment to isolate and diagnose; corrects equipment malfunctions by repairing or replacing defective parts. Install and un-install electrical and instrumentation equipment as needed.
• Prepare, install, repair, and maintain instrumentation tubing, piping, and electrical RMT and flexible conduit.
• Troubleshoot, maintain, and repair motor control equipment, including: GE, Cutler-Hammer, Siemens, and Square D combination motor starters, relays, control transformers, overloads, manual and DCS controlled start/stop circuits, variable frequency drives and soft-starts.
• Troubleshoot, wire, and unwire 3 phase and single phase, 120Vac, 480Vac, 2300Vac, and 4160Vac and DC motors.  Perform insulation and continuity testing of motor windings and field wiring.
• Troubleshoot and repair PLC controlled bag packing, loading, conveying, palletizing, and wrapping equipment.
• Troubleshoot and repair various pneumatic actuators, positioners, and limit switches and regulators on automated control and block valves.
• Troubleshoot, repair, calibrate, rebuild, or replace process control and block valves.
• Perform preventative maintenance, calibration, repair, or replacement of process equipment including but not limited to automatic valves, pressure, temperature, level, flow, and vibration transmitters, weighing equipment, and various other  types of instrumentation and measurement equipment.
• Troubleshoot and repair burner management systems for process heaters and dryers.
• Basic HVAC maintenance and troubleshooting
• Troubleshoot and repair automated/PLC controlled bag packing, loading, conveying, palletizing, and wrapping equipment.

• Work in a safe manner. Actively participate in Cabot's safety, health, and environmental programs. Attend scheduled team meetings and completes safety training requirements. Keep work area safe and clean.

• Maintain and continuously improve upon knowledge of all plant processes and equipment.
• Use computerized business management systems to enter maintenance work orders and document work performed. Document equipment condition to establish trends in operations or breakdowns.
• Use analytical skills as well as root cause analysis to discover explanations for equipment failure.
• Complete required paperwork and forms associated with maintenance activities and non-maintenance activities, i.e. SH&E incident reporting, production records, equipment testing results, etc.
• Support efforts to implement and maintain the Responsible Care® Management System and ISO Management Systems in line with the requirements of the RC14001® and ISO9001 technical specification, as applicable to the site/region.
• Skill advancement opportunities include training to obtain certifications in Instrument, Electrical and Mechanical disciplines.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• High School Diploma or GED equivalency; Vocation/Technical school associate degree in a related field or the military equivalency a plus.
• 5 years of experience in an industrial or chemical manufacturing environment.
• Ensures compliance with all work instructions, procedures, policies, standards, regulations, and industry best practices (OSHA, RC14001, ISO 9001, PSM). Safely operate material handling equipment such as forklifts, aerial work platforms. Familiar with topics such as Process Safety Management (PSM), safe work permitting, lockout/tagout, emergency response, and hazard recognition.
• Willing and able to work collaboratively in a team-based environment. Strong written and verbal communication and active listening skills. Able to work independently as well. Self-motivated with a track record of dependability including work history.
• A proven positive safety, health, and environmental record. Familiar with topics such as personal protective equipment, confined space entry, lockout / tag-out, hot work, safe work permitting, emergency response, and hazard awareness.
• Experience with accident and near miss reporting, incident investigation, and accountability to standards.
• A strong mechanical aptitude and electrical aptitude. Accurate and consistent in performing tasks.
• Knowledge of welding procedures, particularly involving high temperatures and specialty alloys a plus.
• Specific training or experience in the electrical/electronic field.
• Able to learn a variety of electronic/instrument systems.
• Good working knowledge of variety of machine tools, mechanical parts, and their movements.
• Able to use all types of hand tools, drills, grinders, sawzall, concrete drills.
• Good hand-eye coordination, manual dexterity, and good touch perception.
• Able to troubleshoot problems from major breakdowns to subtle adjustments to identify and eliminate root cause.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Able to use all types of measuring devices, calipers, micrometers, height gauges.
• Able to work with drill press, mills, and vertical and horizontal band saws.
• Able to read and interpret complex operating instructions.
• Be able to read and understand technical manuals and blueprints, schematics, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulics.
• Accurate and consistent in performing tasks.
• Highly flexible and able to take on a wide variety of tasks to support team efforts.
• Basic math skills.
• Effective time management, organizational, and record keeping skills. Basic computer skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook (e-mail program).
• Ability to safely operate material handling equipment such as forklifts and aerial work platforms.
• Flexible and able to work overtime and call out/backs; performing changing assignments and work schedules. To ensure the plant is operational, maintenance will need to accept call-outs after normal working hours.
• Physical requirements include but not limited to climbing stairs and ladders, standing, or sitting for extended periods, outdoor work, working at heights from scaffold, ladders, and/or grating, use of hand tools, and occasional heavy lifting.
• Must be able to pass the pulmonary function test and wear the necessary respiratory equipment.

How We’ll Support Your Success

• Benefits, Vacation, Etc. – We offer a competitive package of benefits.  Benefits begin on first day of employment. Learn more about our benefits here!
• Dynamic, Flexible, Hard Working, Team Environment – We are busy, collaborative, growing, and we are doing really meaningful work.
• Growth –Training, great peer coaching and support, and the ability to personally grow your influence, your position, and your compensation.
• Meaningful Work that is Valued – Customers are demanding sustainable solutions without compromising quality or performance. The work we do is visible, and is helping to create a more abundant, affordable, and cleaner future. It is an awesome feeling to know you’re making a living by making a positive impact in the world; and to be able to say, “I was a part of that.”
• Feedback – we are committed to giving and receiving feedback in a direct and open fashion.
• Support – you are part of a team and deserve to feel encouraged and supported. You will be part of a team that cares about you personally and professionally. Our success depends on your success.