Electrical and Instrumentation Tech
Smurfit Westrock · Syracuse, NY
- Level
- Technician
- Team
- Reliability
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Packaging
- Posted
- 16 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A technician-level reliability role at Smurfit Westrock (packaging) in Syracuse, NY. Support the manufacturing team by providing quality maintenance duties to maximize mill equipment reliability and availability.
- They ask for
- 5+ years
- Tools it names
- Root cause, PLC, Automation, Welding
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Maintenance Technician roles in New York: typical posted base $53k–$84k.
Median of the low and high ends of 7 live postings that list pay, out of 90 maintenance technician openings in New York, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
New York plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 94 other live reliability postings in New York.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (5+ vs 4+)
Typical $74k–$97k, from 10 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 4+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Team leadership 42%
- ✓ PLC 33%
- ✓ Automation 28%
- ✓ Welding 26%
- ✓ Root cause 25%
- EHS / safety 20%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Reliability team at Smurfit Westrock
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Smurfit Westrock in Syracuse
3 other open roles at this site.
- Maintenance Mechanic · Reliability · Technician
- Paper Machine Production Specialist · Production · Specialist
- Mill Maintenance Manager · Reliability · Manager
Electrical and Instrumentation Tech at Smurfit Westrock in other locations
Smurfit Westrock lists this title in 4 places. Pick the plant you can get to.
Full description from Smurfit WestrockAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
The Opportunity
We are seeking an Electrical and Instrumentation Technician located in Solvay, NY. The E&I Technician maintains electrical and instrumentation systems for production and process equipment within the Solvay Paper Mill. The E & I Technician will support the manufacturing team by providing quality maintenance duties to maximize mill equipment reliability and availability. The E&I technician will also utilize their mechanical skills and knowledge (pneumatics, hydraulics, bearings, power transmission, lubrication, rigging, welding) in our continuous pulp and paper process manufacturing environment to achieve equipment uptime metrics.
Pay Range
MT: $38.90/hour
MT1: $43.18/hour
MT2: $46.24/hour
MT3: $49.35/hour
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
How you will impact WestRock
- •Support continuous improvement of preventive maintenance.
- •Engage in preventive and predictive maintenance activities throughout the facility.
- •Participate in trouble-shooting efforts to respond to equipment failures and/or process deficiencies.
- •Participate in root cause analysis and execution of corrective actions to minimize recurrence of unplanned shutdowns.
- •Troubleshoots, repairs, and maintains Distributive Control System (DCS) and Programmed Logic Control (PLC) systems, which includes higher levels of automation, improved methods of control, and improved information gathering and reporting.
- •Interprets blueprints, specifications, diagrams, or schematics to troubleshoot and maintain process control systems.
- •Completes necessary documentation to ensure control documentation is current, follows all necessary change control procedures, and updates (marks up) drawings to reflect process improvements and field changes.
- •Initiates and completes work-orders and requisitions. Documents all critical and or pertinent information on a routine basis.
- •Responsible for vendor contact as requested.
to succeed
- •High School Diploma / GED is required.
- •5+ years of Instrumentation and Electrical experience in a production maintenance environment or equivalent military experience is preferred.
- •Journeyman or proof of completion of college or apprenticeship preferred.
- •Computer skills including MS Office and ability to quickly learn new software used in the department.
- •Strong electronics background preferred with experience also in 480-volt, 4160 volts, 13.8k volts, 3-Phase Controls.
- •AB/Rockwell DC Drive; AB/Rockwell PLC’s, Control Logic; Reading Electrical Drawings and Ladder Logic.
- •Able to work a rotating shift schedule, including weekends and overtime as needed
- •Experience with variable frequency drives (Siemens a plus) and smart field instruments (i.e. pressure, flow, temperature, level and analytical transmitters, valve positioners, valve actuators and PID controllers) a plus.
- •Understanding of the working components of PLC/DCS systems
What We Offer
- •Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence.
- •Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities.
- •An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies, and potential.
- •Great benefits to include medical, dental, life insurance and retirement plan.
- •A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.
The starting rate is $38.90 - $43.18 per hour, depending on your role, level, and location. The benefits for this role may include short-term bonus incentive, health, dental and vision insurance, flexible spending accounts or health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and paid sick leave as required by applicable state/local law, 10 days of paid vacation, and 11 days of paid holidays, subject to annual change. Your actual pay will be based on your work location and other factors, such as your skills, experience, and education. To learn more about the specific salary range for your preferred location, please contact your recruiter during the hiring process. You may apply online at www.westrock.com/company/careers and the application window is expected to close by 12/31/26.
