Principal Instrument Technician

Who You Are

As an Instrument Technician on the Operations team you will play a key role in the design, construction, commissioning, startup and operation of our first of its kind battery material manufacturing facility in Moses Lake, WA. 

In this role as an Instrumentation & Electrical Technician, you will be responsible for troubleshooting, calibrating, and repairing a variety of electrical systems and process control instrumentation. The ideal candidate brings a hands-on, solutions-oriented approach and thrives in a fast-paced environment where teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement are valued. As part of a small and growing team, you will work with internal and external partners and take on a variety of responsibilities using your expertise to support the planning and delivery of Sila’s first of its kind manufacturing facility.

Responsibilities and Duties  

• Perform installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of electrical systems, instrumentation, and control equipment.
• Calibrate, test, and maintain process instruments, including pressure, temperature, flow, and analytical transmitters.
• Troubleshoot and repair PLCs, VFDs, control valves, and other automation components and equipment.
• Interpret and update electrical schematics, loop drawings, and control diagrams.
• Create and support predictive and preventive maintenance and repair programs using CMMS tools.
  Assist with instrumentation and control upgrades, system modifications, and project execution.
• Interface with operations, engineering, and reliability teams to improve system performance and uptime.
• Ensure compliance with all plant safety procedures, electrical codes, and environmental regulations.
• Complete technical job summaries and document follow ups
• Work with outside vendors to schedule onsite maintenance and repairs
• Identify and place purchase requests for critical spare parts
• Use Sila’s internal systems to share lessons learned from working on manufacturing equipment to improve work processes and safety guidelines
• Providing feedback to design engineering on design for serviceability

Knowledge and Skill Requirements 

• High school diploma or equivalent required; technical certification or associate degree in I/E, Electrical Technology, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of I/E maintenance experience in an industrial, chemical, or manufacturing environment.
• Strong electrical and mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills
• Basic understanding of fundamental physics and its application to pressurized fluid systems and energized circuits
• Able to read and interpret P&IDs
• Experience installing, replacing, calibrating, and troubleshooting process instruments (pressure, temperature & flow sensors)
• Experience performing maintenance and leak checks on various types of piping construction (stainless steel tubing, flanged piping, threaded piping, welded PVC pipe)
• Able to train and develop other less experienced industrial maintenance technicians
• Experience supporting facilities equipment (HVAC, chillers, boilers, lighting, exhaust fans)
• Experience working with industry standards such as API, NFPA, NEC, IEEE, ANSI
• Working knowledge of electrical safety standards, practices, codes and regulations.

  Preferred Certifications:

  • ISA CCST or other relevant technical certifications
  • Journeyman or Master Electrician License
  • OSHA 30 or NFPA 70E training

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Able to lift up to 50 lbs
• Able to walk long distances and stand for extended periods of time
• Able to occasionally kneel or bend
• Able to work at regulated heights using appropriate lift equipment and fall protection equipment.
• Pass a respirator fit test and be able to wear respiratory protection when required
• Wear personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, a lab coat, gloves, safety glasses, safety shoes, fall protection, arch flash protection, etc.

The starting base pay for this role is between $44/hr and $52/hr at the time of posting dependent on experience. The actual base pay depends on many factors, such as education, experience, and skills. Base pay is only one part of Sila’s competitive Total Rewards package that can include benefits, perks, and equity.  The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. This role may also be eligible for overtime.
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