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PLC Technician (3rd Shift)

Clarios · Geneva, IL · Full time

Posted Oct 2, 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 a piece of equipment you took from concept through a production validation build. What changed between the prototype and the final build?

What they are checking: Whether they have carried equipment all the way to production and learned from what the early builds exposed.

Tell me about a time you added a robot or automated material handling to a line. How did you justify it and what went wrong at startup?

What they are checking: Whether they can make an honest automation case and handle the debugging that always follows installation.

You work in a matrix with program management, quality and the plants. Tell me about a time those groups wanted different things from your project.

What they are checking: Whether they can keep a project moving when several groups have a say and none of them report to the engineer.

Describe a time a new process you designed did not hold up once the plant ran it on all shifts. What did you learn?

What they are checking: Whether they own launch problems and design with real operators and shift variation in mind.

What would you do

A plant asks you to fix a bottleneck on a label application line by next week, but the proper fix needs a full redesign. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can balance an immediate production need against doing the engineering right without leaving a mess.

Your project is running over budget halfway through. How do you handle that with your manager and the program team?

What they are checking: Whether they raise cost problems early with options rather than hiding them until the money is gone.

About the work

Walk me through a PFMEA you built for a new process. How did you decide which failure modes deserved action first?

What they are checking: Whether they use a PFMEA to drive real decisions on the line or just fill it in to pass a gate.

We make lead-acid batteries, from oxide and plate making through formation. Which of those steps have you worked near, and what makes them hard to engineer for?

What they are checking: How much real battery process exposure they bring, and whether they respect the hazards and variability involved.

How do you build a process flow diagram for a line you have never seen before? Where do you start?

What they are checking: Whether they go to the floor and talk to operators instead of drawing the process from a desk.

How do you design for safe movement and storage of heavy batteries inside a plant or warehouse?

What they are checking: Whether they think about ergonomics, load handling and acid risk when designing distribution and storage equipment.

The posting mentions verifying things in the ERP. How have you used an ERP system in your engineering work?

What they are checking: Whether they can check parts, routings or costs in a business system rather than relying on others to pull data.

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The full job description

As published by Clarios.

What you will do: With minimal direction, this position is responsible for Mechanical Engineering activities related to Automotive Battery manufacturing, preparation for shipment, and separation for distribution process. The hours for third shift are 10PM to 6:30AM. Overtime as required. How you will do it: • Maintains new equipment and processes for battery manufacturing in accordance with current engineering standards and quality requirements. • Maintains new equipment and processes for movement, storage, and internal distribution of batteries. • Analyze processes through Process flow diagrams and PFMEA development • Works within matrix organization to deliver requirements of Program Management system • Collaborates with manufacturing facilities to implement new processes and equipment. • Executes design validation builds, prototype builds, and production validation builds and testing. • Expand on existing technologies to address immediate production needs. • Specific technological work includes expanding and modifying Oxide production, plate manufacturing, battery assembly equipment, Battery formation systems, automatic or semi-automatic label application, robotic applications, material handling systems, and battery decoration equipment • Works within company ERP to verify or modify specific data such as decoration bill of materials, pallet patterns and quantities. What we look for Required • Minimum 3 years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment. • Manufacturing electrical experience. • Minimum 3 years of PLC experience. • Proficiency with Auto CAD, Allen Bradley Software, Excel, Word, Power Point and other related programs. • Proficiency in PFMEA and equipment SOW/ functional specs. Preferred • 3 years or more of experience in automotive Tier-1 is desired. • Experience in Battery oxide manufacturing, battery plate manufacturing equipment, labeling, palletizing, material handling, and MES systems is highly desired. Geneva – Dry Assembly Plant Geneva, Illinois is home to a Dry Assembly Plant that manufactures batteries used in the automotive and marine industries. As a fully integrated plant, we also decorate our batteries into the final product for our customers. We have been in Geneva since 1960, and today we are one of the largest employers in town with 265 people. We operate six days per week. We are actively involved in our local community and give back through The Salvation Army. #LI-AL1 #LI-ONSITE What you get: • Medical, dental and vision care coverage and a 401(k) savings plan with company matching – all starting on date of hire • Tuition reimbursement, perks, and discounts • Parental and caregiver leave programs • All the usual benefits such as paid time off, flexible spending, short-and long-term disability, basic life insurance, business travel insurance, and Employee Assistance Program • Global market strength and worldwide market share leadership • HQ location earns LEED certification for sustainability plus a full-service cafeteria and workout facility • Clarios has been recognized as one of 2026's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere. This prestigious recognition marks the fourth consecutive year Clarios has received this distinction. Who we are: Clarios is the force behind the world’s most recognizable car battery brands, powering vehicles from leading automakers like Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. With 18,000 employees worldwide, we develop, manufacture, and distribute energy storage solutions while recovering, recycling, and reusing up to 99% of battery materials—setting the standard for sustainability in our industry. At Clarios, we’re not just making batteries; we’re shaping the future of sustainable transportation. Join our mission to innovate, push boundaries, and make a real impact. Discover your potential at Clarios—where your power meets endless possibilities. Veterans/Military Spouses: We value the leadership, adaptability, and technical expertise developed through military service. At Clarios, those capabilities thrive in an environment built on grit, ingenuity, and passion—where you can grow your career while helping to power progress worldwide. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to protected characteristics. Equal Employment Opportunity: We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please apply. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is key to challenging the status quo. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, status as a protected veteran or other protected characteristics protected by law. As a federal contractor, we are committed to not discriminating against any applicant or employee based on these protected statuses. We will also take affirmative action to ensure equal employment opportunities. Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process by emailing Special.Accommodations@Clarios.com . We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and value diversity in our teams in terms of work experience, area of expertise, and all characteristics protected by laws in the countries where we operate. For more information on our commitment to sustainability, diversity, and equal opportunity, please read our latest report . We want you to know your rights because EEO is the law. A Note to Job Applicants: please be aware of scams being perpetrated through the Internet and social media platforms. Clarios will never require a job applicant to pay money as part of the application or hiring process. To All Recruitment Agencies : Clarios does not accept unsolicited agency resumes/CVs. Please do not forward resumes/CVs to our careers email addresses, Clarios employees or any other company location. Clarios is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/CVs.

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