Our company culture is built upon YKK’s philosophy called the CYCLE OF GOODNESS™.  We believe that providing value and being fair to our customers and our employees is what makes us a successful company in return.  Guided by our core values and fundamental behaviors, we strive to foster a caring company, committed employees and challenging work that benefits our employees, customers, and communities. We offer competitive compensation packages, training and advancement opportunities. YKK AP America provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package designed to provide the security they need to enjoy life at home and at work.  By providing a high level of benefit coverage at a reasonable cost to the employee, we hope to foster a long and productive employment relationship.

Summary:

The purpose of this position is to design, develop, and maintain PLC-based automation systems used in manufacturing operations. This individual will be responsible for programming, troubleshooting, and optimizing control systems to ensure reliable, efficient, and safe production processes. The PLC Programmer will collaborate with engineers, maintenance staff, and production teams to implement automation solutions that support company goals for productivity, quality, and safety.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned. 

• Design, develop, and modify PLC programs for production machinery and automation systems.
• Integrate PLCs with HMIs, sensors, drives, and other control devices.
• Troubleshoot and resolve automation and control system issues in a timely manner.
• Support equipment installation, commissioning, and testing activities.
• Support preventive maintenance efforts by developing diagnostic tools, implementing control updates, and assisting maintenance teams as needed.
• Develop and maintain electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and documentation for control systems.
• Collaborate with engineering and maintenance teams to improve system performance and minimize downtime.
• Ensure all programming adheres to company and industry safety standards, including OSHA and NFPA 70E.
• Provide training and technical guidance to maintenance personnel on system operation and troubleshooting.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives, including equipment efficiency, automation upgrades, and data integration projects.
• Assist with project planning, equipment specification, and vendor communication for automation-related projects.

Education/Experience:

• Required: Associate degree or equivalent technical training
• Required: 2–3+ years of hands-on experience.
• Preferred: Experience in manufacturing environments, especially in extrusion, metal fabrication, or machining.
• Preferred: Knowledge of Rockwell/Allen-Bradley ControlLogix, CompactLogix, and Omron PLC systems.
• Experience with HMI/SCADA systems such as FactoryTalk or CX-Designer.
• Familiarity with industrial communication networks (EtherNet/IP, Modbus, Profibus).

• Ability to interpret and create electrical schematics and P&IDs.
• Programming skills in structured text, ladder logic, or function block diagrams.

Travel Requirements:

The travel required for this position is approximately 5%.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Proper lifting techniques required. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear, and may occasionally be required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. This position works in both office and production environments. The employee may be required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) as outlined by company safety policies. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. The employee may occasionally be exposed to moving mechanical parts, electrical hazards, and airborne particles.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. All incumbents understand and adhere to the Company’s compliance standards as they appear in the YKK AP America, Inc. and its U.S. subsidiaries Code of Business Conduct Policy. Incumbents may be subject to random drug and alcohol testing under the Company’s Drug and Alcohol Policy.