Electrical & PLC Maintenance Technician
Wabtec · Wytheville, VA
- Level
- Technician
- Team
- Controls
- Experience asked
- 50+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A technician-level controls role at Wabtec (industrial) in Wytheville, VA. Troubleshoot, repair, program, and maintain PLC-controlled manufacturing equipment.
- They ask for
- 50+ years
- Tools it names
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), PLC, Automation, Welding, Tooling, EHS / safety
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Maintenance Technician roles in the US: typical posted base $58k–$83k.
Median of the low and high ends of 39 live postings that list pay, out of 1634 maintenance technician openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Virginia plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 195 other live controls postings in the US.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (50+ vs 5+)
Typical $97k–$130k, from 8 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ PLC 56%
- ✓ Automation 55%
- Robotics 33%
- Union environment 27%
- Root cause 25%
- Team leadership 23%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Welding, Tooling, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with 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 Controls team at Wabtec
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 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.
Full description from WabtecAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Work with Industrial Engineering and be Maintenance Lead on electrical and automation-related projects from planning through completion.
- ◆Coordinate electrical contractors, vendors, and internal resources during equipment installations and facility modifications.
- ◆Provide technical guidance and mentoring to maintenance technicians.
- ◆Support maintenance planning and scheduling activities to maximize equipment uptime.
- ◆Recommend and implement continuous improvement projects to improve reliability, productivity, safety, and cost performance.
- ◆Assist in developing standard operating procedures, preventive maintenance programs, and troubleshooting guides.
Required Qualifications
(To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.)
- ✓Journeyman Electrician, Industrial Electrician, Electrical Maintenance Technician, or equivalent experience.
- ✓5+ years of industrial electrical maintenance experience.
- ✓3+ years of PLC troubleshooting and controls experience.
- ✓Experience working in a manufacturing environment.
- ✓Ability to read electrical schematics and control drawings.
- ✓Strong knowledge of:
- ✓PLC systems (Allen-Bradley preferred)
- ✓Motor controls
- ✓VFDs
- ✓Electrical distribution systems
- ✓Automation equipment
- ✓Pneumatic and hydraulic systems
- ✓Experience using common electrical testing and diagnostic equipment.
- ✓Proficient with CMMS software and Microsoft Office applications.
- ✓Ability to safely operate:
- ✓Forklifts
- ✓Man lifts
- ✓Articulating lifts
- ✓Rigging equipment
- ✓Ladders
- ✓Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and work in an industrial manufacturing environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Allen-Bradley (Rockwell Automation) and/or Siemens (SIMATIC) PLC programmi
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Summary
Longwood Elastomers, a Wabtec Company, is a leading manufacturer of engineered elastomer products and custom rubber solutions located in Wytheville, Virginia. Today, Longwood combines more than 50 years of expertise with Wabtec's global reach and technology leadership. What makes Longwood unique is its combination of elastomer chemistry, product engineering, tooling design, manufacturing, and testing capabilities all under one roof. The facility develops and manufactures products used in rail transportation, industrial pumping systems, automotive applications, tire manufacturing, energy markets, and other demanding industries.
The Electrical & PLC Maintenance Technician is responsible for overseeing electrical maintenance activities, automation projects, equipment reliability initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts throughout the facility. This position provides technical leadership for electrical systems, PLC-controlled manufacturing equipment, and facility infrastructure while supporting maintenance personnel in troubleshooting, repairs, installations, and preventive maintenance programs.
The ideal candidate is a highly skilled industrial electrician with strong PLC troubleshooting experience who can successfully lead projects, mentor technicians, improve equipment uptime, and ensure safe, efficient operation of all facility and production assets.
Electrical & PLC Systems
- •Troubleshoot, repair, program, and maintain PLC-controlled manufacturing equipment.
- •Diagnose and repair electrical control systems, motor controls, safety circuits, sensors, VFDs, actuators, relays, and industrial networking components.
- •Read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, blueprints, and technical manuals.
- •Install, maintain, and troubleshoot electrical power distribution systems and production equipment.
- •Support commissioning, startup, and validation of new equipment and production systems.
- •Maintain backup copies of PLC programs and equipment parameters.
Maintenance Operations
- •Perform scheduled, unscheduled, and preventive maintenance on manufacturing equipment.
- •Use common electrical diagnostic equipment including multimeters, meggers, clamp meters, thermal imaging devices, and other testing instruments to diagnose equipment issues and conduct preventive maintenance.
- •Troubleshoot and perform repairs on production and facility equipment.
- •Repair or replace machine components including:
- •Safety devices
- •PLCs
- •Pumps
- •Motors
- •Cylinders
- •Valves
- •Switches
- •Actuators
- •Analyze equipment failures and implement corrective actions to reduce recurring downtime.
- •Maintain accurate maintenance records and documentation.
Equipment Installation & Facility Support
- •Lead the installation and relocation of manufacturing equipment.
- •Install conduit, wiring, panels, disconnects, and associated electrical connections.
- •Support installation of electrical power, plumbing, pneumatic, and utility systems as required.
- •Install and relocate storage racking, shelving, shadow boards, and facility support equipment.
- •Assist with facility improvement and expansion projects.
- •Perform fabrication activities utilizing:
- •Cutting torches
- •MIG welders
- •Grinders
- •Drills
- •Other metalworking tools
CMMS & Documentation
- •Create and maintain electrical schematics, maintenance procedures, and equipment documentation.
- •Utilize Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) to:
- •Document repairs
- •Complete preventive maintenance records
- •Track downtime
- •Communicate shift pass-down information
- •Enter purchase requisitions
- •Manage spare parts inventory
Safety & Compliance
- •Demonstrate safe work practices while adhering to company policies, OSHA requirements, NEC, NFPA 70B & 70E standards, and other applicable local, state and federal regulations.
- •Perform Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures and ensure compliance during maintenance activities.
- •Serve as a safety leader within the maintenance department.
- •Maintain a safe, clean, and organized work environment.
- •Participate in safety audits, investigations, and corrective action activities.