Automation & Controls Technician

General Mills, Inc. manufactures some of the most beloved foods in the world, including Cheerios and Lucky Charms, Nature Valley granola bars, Totino's pizza rolls, and Yoplait yogurt. Blue Buffalo became part of General Mills in 2018, so even your pets love us too. Our Geneva, IL Plant is the newest addition to our North America plant network.

To increase capacity and keep pace with the growing consumer demand for the products, General Mills is making a significant investment to expand capacity for our beloved Fruit brands (Gusher and Fruit by the Foot). We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that.

Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best - bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one another and grow together.

Check out why General Mills Manufacturing is the place to grow a career:

Automation & Controls Technician - Geneva, IL

As a part of our manufacturing group, you will be responsible for supporting, creating, integration, troubleshooting and improving the controls systems within the manufacturing facility.

Shift hours

• 8-hour shift
• 1st Shift: 6:45 am to 3:00 pm
• 2nd shift: 2:45 pm to 11:00 pm
• 3rd shift: 10:45 pm to 7:00 am
• On call rotation of approximately 1 week per month
• Ability and willingness to work scheduled on-call and weekend coverage
• Ability and willingness to work overtime, any shift, including days, nights, weekends, holidays and emergency events
• Plant operation is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Pay

• $37.69 per hour up to $43.69 per hour depending upon skillset and experience
• Tech I: $37.69 per hour
• Tech II: $43.69 per hour
• Tech III: $48.94 per hour (Internal Advancement Opportunity)
• Shift differential
• Additional $1.00 per hour for 2nd Shift
• Additional $2.00 per hour for 3rd Shift

Benefits

• 120 hours of vacation annually and 11 paid company holidays
• 48 hours paid sick and emergency time
• Great paid time off benefits
• 401(k) - company match, annual company contribution and more
• Health Insurance that includes medical, dental, vision and life
• AND much more!

About our Location

Our Geneva General Mills facility is located on the western side of the Chicago, Illinois suburbs in Kane County. Geneva is our most recent North America plant network expansion, joining the GMI network in 2024 as they make Betty Crocker desserts and our iconic Gushers and Fruit snacks.

Driven by being humble, hungry, and smart, the team is already making an impact and #StandingforGood in their local Chicago suburb community.

General Mills encourages growth for our employees. If you want to be part of a team that will learn and grow, develop leadership skills, drive results quickly, work within a safety-first mindset, and expand your technical capabilities, then GMI is a great place to start!

What your day will look like

• Safely creating high quality foods that are eaten EVERYDAY, WORLDWIDE
• Using TECHNOLOGY in a newly built, industry-leading facility
• Working with HIGH-LEVEL operating teammates in a plant with a learning mindset culture
• CHALLENGING yourself to get the JOB DONE RIGHT and gain skills to take with you to your next opportunity
• Supporting, creating, integration, troubleshooting and improving a variety of processing/packaging controls systems including Wonderware, ArchestrA Systems, PLC
• Program, troubleshoot and maintain FANUC robotics systems, including integration and support of PLC systems
• Perform program adjustments and parameter tuning on robotic systems (e.g., FANUC) to enhance operational efficiency, including reducing cycle times and improving accuracy and repeatability
• Reading and updating electrical and control schematics, piping and instrumentation diagrams
• Providing technical support/skills for equipment troubleshooting and controls/equipment modifications
• Understanding, initiating, and participating in Root Cause Analysis (Why, Why)
• Participate in Continuous Improvement initiatives to increase platform performance
• Assist in training new employees

What you have to offer

• Minimum of a high school diploma or GED
• Proficient in English
• 2+ years (minimum) experience in Controls Programming and Industrial Controls Technology or equivalent education in a related field/industry
• 3+ years (minimum) experience in programming and troubleshooting FANUC robotics within a manufacturing environment
• Experience integrating FANUC robots with PLC systems
• Ability to optimize robot performance for cycle time, accuracy, and repeatability through program adjustments and parameter tuning
• Knowledge and practical application with the following technology areas: PLC’s, HMI’s, process instrumentation, machine control systems, VFD’s, servo drives, robotics, power distribution (<600V), control system networking, and electrical safety
• Working knowledge of pneumatic and hydraulic systems
• Experience in a manufacturing/production environment

Physical requirements

• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs
• Must be able to perform physical tasks for extended periods of time including standing, walking, climbing, bending, pushing, pulling and twisting over surfaces
• Ability to climb and/or work at heights while utilizing stairs, ladders, personnel lifts, or platforms
• Ability to wear protective clothing and equipment such as safety shoes, face masks, safety glasses, hearing protection, a hard hat, a hair/beard net and gloves when required
• Willing and able to adhere to all grooming requirements necessary for a food manufacturing environment
• Ability to work in hot, cold, noisy, dusty, wet environmental working conditions
• Willing to work around industrial high-speed moving machinery
• Ability to work with allergens that might be present in a food environment

COMPANY OVERVIEW

We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best — bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one other and grow together.

Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what’s next.