What are the responsibilities and job description for the Controls Technician position at Origin Mining Company?
Origin Mining Company operates the Mineral Park copper-molybdenum mine in Arizona and is focused on responsible, sustainable resource development. We aim to lead the U.S. copper industry through strong safety practices, environmental stewardship, and operational excellence. Our team is committed to doing things the right way—acting with integrity, supporting our communities, and creating long-term value. With a hands-on, technically driven approach, we are advancing both leach and concentrator operations to produce high-quality copper and molybdenum products.
Position Overview:
The Controls Technician is responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, and supporting industrial automation and control systems within a mining/processing environment. This role focuses on hands-on diagnostics, system support, and assisting maintenance teams with PLC-based equipment and control systems.
The technician works closely with Controls Engineers, Maintenance, and Electrical teams to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operation of automated systems.
Job Responsibilities:
To be eligible for this position, an individual must possess the following requirements to perform the essential job functions:
Position Overview:
The Controls Technician is responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, and supporting industrial automation and control systems within a mining/processing environment. This role focuses on hands-on diagnostics, system support, and assisting maintenance teams with PLC-based equipment and control systems.
The technician works closely with Controls Engineers, Maintenance, and Electrical teams to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operation of automated systems.
Job Responsibilities:
- Troubleshooting & Support
- Diagnose and resolve issues with PLCs, HMIs, and control systems to minimize downtime.
- Support maintenance and electrical teams with equipment and automation issues.
- Maintenance of Control Systems
- Perform routine inspections and preventative maintenance on control systems and field devices.
- Monitor system performance and report recurring issues.
- PLC & System Interaction
- Navigate and troubleshoot PLC systems (Allen-Bradley / Rockwell).
- Assist Controls Engineers with system testing and minor updates.
- Collaboration
- Work closely with maintenance, electrical, and engineering teams to support plant operations.
- Documentation & Safety
- Maintain basic troubleshooting logs and follow all safety procedures and standards
- 2 years of hands-on experience in industrial controls or automation.
- Experience with PLC systems (Allen-Bradley / Rockwell preferred).
- Ability to troubleshoot industrial control systems in a live production environment.
- Basic understanding of SCADA, HMI, and industrial networks.
- Ability to read electrical schematics, P&IDs, and control drawings.
- Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills
- Experience in mining, mineral processing, or heavy industrial environments.
- Familiarity with instrumentation, field devices, and control valves.
- Exposure to DCS systems.
- Knowledge of industrial safety standards and procedures.
To be eligible for this position, an individual must possess the following requirements to perform the essential job functions:
- Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking on uneven surfaces, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, and repetitive motion.
- Ability to work both indoors and outdoors in all kinds of weather
- Able to operate a telephone and mine phone/radio with sufficient voice and hearing to carry on a conversation for the purpose of communicating information
- Able to hear sufficiently to distinguish various pitches of warning alarms
- Able to lift up to 25 pounds periodically