Description
Install, maintain, and repair electrical control systems and automation equipment. Build and wire control panels; terminate and test PLC I/O, VFDs, sensors, and safety circuits. Read and interpret schematics and ensure compliance with codes and machine safety standards while commissioning, calibrating, and troubleshooting to keep operations reliable.
- • Assemble, install, test, or maintain control wiring, panels, sensors, and automation devices using hand and power tools.
- • Diagnose faults in control circuits, PLC I/O, VFDs, and instrumentation using test equipment and software.
- • Terminate control and power wiring to motor control centers (MCCs), control panels, relays, drives, and field devices.
- • Inspect control systems, panels, and field devices for hazards, defects, or calibration needs and verify code and machine safety compliance.
- • Advise operations on hazards or process impacts from control system issues and recommend corrective actions.
- • Test control circuits, analog loops, and safety circuits with multimeters, meggers, loop calibrators, and related testers.
- • Maintain required electrician and low-voltage/control certifications and documentation.
- • Plan layout and installation of control panels, cable trays, conduits, and field device locations per schematics, P&IDs, and codes.
- • Direct or train technicians to install, terminate, and troubleshoot control wiring and devices.
- • Interpret and mark up electrical schematics, ladder diagrams, wiring schedules, and P&IDs to ensure conformance to standards.
- • Use hand and power tools plus test and configuration equipment such as multimeters, oscilloscopes, loop calibrators, insulation testers, and programming cables.
- • Install grounding and connect power and control cables to motors, VFDs, soft starters, and actuators.
- • Maintain records, as-built documentation, device lists, calibration logs, and material orders.
- • Repair or replace control wiring, sensors, relays, contactors, and terminal blocks.
- • Work from ladders, platforms, or lifts to install or service cable trays, conduits, sensors, and junction boxes.
- • Install conduit, cable tray, or tubing and pull control and communication cables between panels and field devices.
- • Mount control enclosures, junction boxes, and operator stations.
- • Perform physically demanding tasks such as pulling cable, setting panels, or moving equipment.
- • Provide material takeoffs, preliminary layouts, or cost estimates for control installations or upgrades.
- • Support emergency troubleshooting and recovery by restoring control power, bypassing failed devices when safe, and operating temporary generators or lighting.
- • Fabricate and label control panels, cable assemblies, and mounting hardware per specifications.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
