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Controls Technician

Plastipak · Champaign, IL · $25.00–$30.00 an hour · Full time

Posted Sep 25, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about the hardest electrical problem you've solved. How did you find it?

What they are checking: Whether their electrical experience is deep enough to handle problems no one else can solve on nights.

You'll work 12-hour nights. How do you keep learning and sharp on that schedule?

What they are checking: Whether they care about building skills, which the posting stresses for this role.

What would you do

Production asks you to bypass a safety interlock to keep a machine running. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they refuse to defeat safety systems and find another way to solve the real problem.

About the work

Tell me about your experience with RSLogix 500 and 5000. What kind of programs have you worked in?

What they are checking: Whether they can work in both Allen Bradley platforms the plant uses, not just one.

A conveyor stops and the HMI shows no fault. How do you troubleshoot it?

What they are checking: Whether they go online with the PLC and trace inputs and logic instead of guessing.

How would you troubleshoot a network problem between a PLC and a remote I/O rack?

What they are checking: Whether they understand industrial networking enough to find communication failures quickly.

A vision system starts rejecting good bottles. What do you look at?

What they are checking: Whether they consider lighting, lens, part position and settings before changing reject limits.

What does MTBF mean, and how have you improved it on a piece of equipment?

What they are checking: Whether they look for repeat failures and fix causes, which the posting calls engineering MTBF improvements.

Before you make a change to a PLC program, what steps do you take?

What they are checking: Whether they back up programs, document changes and test safely so a quick fix does not create a bigger problem.

How do you troubleshoot a pneumatic system on a production machine?

What they are checking: Whether they understand air supply, valves and sensors well enough to find mechanical and control causes.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Plastipak from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by Plastipak.

Looking for a job opportunity with a future in a safe & supportive work environment? Do you care about keeping your skills sharp? If you are ready to take your skills to the next level in a high-growth industry with exceptional job security and potential for advancement, join Plastipak as a Controls Technician. We Offer • Set Schedules: We offer 12-hour shifts & a unique rotating standard schedule! • Convenience: Our food-grade clean & climate-controlled facility is located right off I-72 & I-57! • Advancement: We follow a strong promote-from-within business practice! • Premium pay & benefits, including 18 days of paid time off a year! You Will • Use your knowledge of RS Logix 500, 5000, computer networking, HMI and robotics to repair and maintain machinery and mechanical equipment such as electric, motor, pneumatic, conveyor systems, vision systems, production equipment and plant support machines • Program Allen Bradley PLCs, HMI's, Vision Systems and networking • Engineer MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) improvements • Grow your knowledge and skills through a wide-variety of training & on-the-job experiences You Have • Ability to work Night Shift (6:45pm-7:15am) on schedule cycle of 3 days on, 2 days off, 2 days on, 3 days off, repeat • Associate's Degree (A.A. or A.S.) or equivalent is strongly preferred • Minimum of one year of electrical experience. This can be experience gained through paid or unpaid work & education • Minimum of one year of PLC or Ladder Logic Programming • Experience with FANUC robots is highly preferred • Strong ability to troubleshoot & problem solve • Physical requirement includes ability to lift & move up to 75 pounds with or without a reasonable accommodation You'll Earn • $25.00 - $30.00 per hour • Night shift includes a shift differential of $1.00 per hour As a Plastipak Associate, you receive a benefits package offering the following: • Wellness Programs • Health Insurance Coverage, including Medical, Dental & Vision • EAP, Employee Assistance Program • Life Insurance • Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance • Disability Insurance: Short-Term & Long-Term • Accidental Insurance • Critical Illness Insurance • Hospital Indemnity Insurance • 401(k) Plan, with Company Matching Contribution & Profit Sharing feature • Paid Time Off - 80 hours within 1st year & subsequent increases • Paid Company Holidays • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account • Caregiving via Care.com • Pet Insurance • Tuition Assistance Program • Sons and Daughters Scholarship Program • Travel Assistance • Employee Discount Programs *Some benefits are subject to eligibility requirements Plastipak is an Equal Opportunity Employer In order to process your job application, Plastipak collects and stores the personal information that you submit via this website. Please refer to Plastipak’s Privacy Policy to understand how Plastipak uses and protects the information that you provide.

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