PLC Programmer/Electrical Controls Designer

WE'RE GROWING!*

Futamura continues to invest millions in the renovation of our facility to increase production. We are now the single largest Renewable and Compostable packaging film production facility in the world, and still growing! We are in need of qualified individuals to help support our growth.*

The Futamura Group was established in Japan in 1950 & is now a global operation of 6 manufacturing divisions serving customers around the world.*

Futamura’s objective is to specialize in high added value products. Among these is NatureFlexTM , a biodegradable, compostable film produced in the Tecumseh, KS facility. NatureFlexTM is based strongly on renewable resources and are fully certified to the European (EN13432) and American (ASTM D6400) norms for compostable packaging. Our products are shipped around the world and are utilized by major brands as well as specialized markets. See the process here.

This position reports to our Engineering and Electrical department. Standard schedule is 7:30 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday, but must also be available for response after hours for support of infrastructure interruptions.

We are looking for a PLC Programmer / Electrical Controls Designer to join our team and support a mix of automation projects, system upgrades, and PLC code improvements across production equipment.

This role includes hands-on involvement in smaller projects and ongoing optimization of existing machines, along with participation in larger capital projects that are often executed with external system integrators. For larger projects, you will work side-by-side with contractors onsite, collaborating directly with them in the same design office.

While we primarily use Siemens PLCs, we are open to candidates with experience on other platforms and are willing to train the right person.

What You’ll Do

• Develop, modify, and optimize PLC and HMI code to improve machine performance, reliability, and efficiency• Support small-to-medium automation projects, equipment upgrades, and system enhancements• Participate in larger capital projects in collaboration with external integrators and in-house engineers• Create and maintain electrical schematics and technical documentation• Support system testing, startup, and commissioning activities• Collaborate with process engineers, mechanical engineers, operations, and maintenance teams• Apply working knowledge of 480V three-phase, 120 VAC, and 24 VDC systems, particularly during project commissioning

• Electrical or automation training (vocational school or higher)• 1+ year of industrial automation or controls experience• Ability to read and understand electrical schematics and PLC logic• Experience developing PLC code on any industrial automation platform (Siemens preferred; Allen-Bradley, Beckhoff, or similar experience welcomed)• Experience with AutoCAD or AutoCAD Electrical (or similar drafting software)• Strong attention to detail with a safety-first mindset• Clear communicator who can collaborate effectively across teams

• Balanced mix of projects and ongoing system optimization• Opportunity to work closely with experienced integrators on larger-scale projects• Collaborative, onsite engineering environment with process and mechanical engineers• Focus on practical automation improvements, not constant firefighting• Strong opportunity for technical growth in PLC programming and controls design