Staff Electrical, Instrumentation and Controls Technician

Who we are:  

We're transforming one of the world’s oldest industries with cutting-edge technology and an innovative approach. Backed by top-tier investors and recognized by Time as one of the "best Inventions of 2024" and Fast Company as one of 2024's "Next Big Things in Tech", Electra is scaling rapidly, and we're looking for bold, driven individuals to help us reshape the future of iron production. If you're ready to make a real impact in a company that's redefining heavy industry for a cleaner, smarter world, we want to hear from you.

What you will do:  

Electra is seeking a highly skilled, safety-focused Staff Electrical, Instrumentation, and Controls Technician to lead the installation, commissioning, maintenance, troubleshooting, and optimization of industrial electrical, instrumentation, and control systems across its production facility. This role plays a critical part in ensuring safe production, reliable automation, accurate data acquisition, and operational readiness in a fast-paced startup and commissioning environment. 

This position operates with a high degree of independence and technical authority, contributing to the development of maintenance strategies, system improvements, and best practices. The Senior Technician routinely handles complex assignments, drives root-cause resolution, and may act as a technical lead, mentoring and guiding other electrical and instrumentation personnel. 

Responsibilities include:

• Lead and execute the installation, repair, testing, commissioning, and optimization of electrical and instrumentation systems and components  
• Perform advanced troubleshooting, failure analysis, and root-cause investigations across electrical, instrumentation, and control systems to minimize downtime and improve reliability  
• Install, calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot industrial instrumentation, including flow meters, sensors, transmitters, analyzers, transducers, and weigh scales  
• Execute and lead loop checks, signal testing, I/O checkout, system diagnostics, and commissioning activities  
• Maintain and optimize substations, power distribution systems, switchgear, MCCs, motors, motor controls, and AC/DC drives  
• Install, configure, commission, and troubleshoot Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) and associated control systems  
• Serve as a subject matter expert for industrial rectifier systems, including DC power distribution, cooling systems, interlocks, controls, and protective devices  
• Diagnose complex rectifier-related faults and lead troubleshooting efforts involving abnormal voltage/current conditions, grounding issues, cooling failures, and control faults  
• Support and lead commissioning, startup, shutdown, and operational readiness activities for new and existing systems  
• Provide advanced support for PLC, HMI, SCADA, and DCS systems, including configuration, troubleshooting, and limited programming  
• Contribute to the development and improvement of maintenance procedures, commissioning practices, and system standards  
• Maintain and ensure accuracy of technical documentation, including calibration records, wiring diagrams, loop drawings, system configurations, and as-built updates  
• Act as a technical lead or mentor, providing guidance, training, and knowledge transfer to junior team members  
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, operations, and maintenance teams to drive continuous improvement initiatives  
• Ensure strict adherence to all safety standards, SOPs, lockout/tagout procedures, and regulatory requirements  
• Support a 24/7/365 operation, including shift work, on-call support, and critical issue response

What we need you to bring to the team:   

• High school diploma or equivalent with 10+ years of industrial electrical, instrumentation, or fixed plant experience; OR equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience  
• Advanced ability to read and interpret P&IDs, electrical schematics, loop diagrams, and technical documentation  
• Deep technical expertise in industrial instrumentation, electrical distribution systems, and process control environments  
• Strong experience with VFDs, PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, and/or DCS platforms, including troubleshooting and basic configuration/programming  
• Demonstrated expertise with rectifier systems, AC/DC power systems, and 480V motor control/switchgear  
• Proven ability to independently diagnose and resolve complex system issues, perform root-cause analysis, and implement effective solutions  
• Experience leading work, mentoring others, and contributing to process improvements, standards, and best practices