Instrumentation Technician – Food/Beverage Plants

The Mid-Level Instrumentation Technician is responsible for executing instrumentation maintenance, performing loop calibrations, and troubleshooting instrumentation issues across various processing, utility, and packaging lines in food and beverage manufacturing. The technician works independently or with minimal supervision and ensures the reliable performance of field sensors, transmitters, and control loops in compliance with food safety and quality standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on temperature, pressure, level, and flow instruments across production and utility equipment.

• Calibrate and verify instruments using Fluke/Beamex calibrators and HART communicators.

• Troubleshoot instrumentation faults on pasteurizers, homogenizers, mixers, filling lines, and clean-in-place (CIP) systems.

• Assist with commissioning of new instruments, wiring, loop checking, and documentation.

• Maintain and update P&IDs, loop drawings, and wiring schematics as required.

• Adhere to GMP and food safety protocols during installation and maintenance activities.

• Log maintenance activities in CMMS (SAP/Maximo/etc.) and ensure documentation is audit-ready.

• Provide technical input during equipment upgrades and participate in validation/qualification support.

Key Focus Areas:

1. Instrument Calibration & Maintenance

   • Routine calibration of:

     • RTDs, thermocouples, pressure transmitters, flow meters, conductivity sensors, and level switches

   • Maintenance of sensors on pasteurizers, fermenters, CIP/SIP systems, batching tanks

2. Troubleshooting & Diagnostics

   • Independently resolve:

     • Loop failures, signal mismatches, sensor drift, and intermittent faults

   • Interface with automation teams for PLC/DCS signal testing

3. Compliance & Quality Assurance

   • Ensure:

     • Calibration traceability, documentation, and compliance with GMP, ISO, HACCP

   • Support internal and external audits with required records

4. Utility & Packaging Equipment Instrumentation

   • Maintain instrumentation on:

     • Boilers, chillers, compressors, filling lines, cappers, and conveyors

   • Monitor integration between field instruments and control systems (PLC/SCADA)

5. Documentation & Reporting

   • Maintain:

     • Up-to-date calibration records, service logs, and maintenance schedules

   • Use CMMS to track downtime, PMs, and breakdown analysis

Qualifications:

• Education:

  • Diploma or B.E./B.Tech in Instrumentation, Electrical, Electronics, or Mechatronics

• Experience:

  • 3–6 years in instrumentation roles, preferably in food, beverage, dairy, or FMCG industries

• Technical Skills:

  • Skilled in:

    • Use of calibration tools, interpreting P&IDs/loop diagrams

    • Basic PLC/SCADA signal tracing, instrumentation commissioning

    • CMMS usage and documentation for regulated environments

• Soft Skills:

  • Good troubleshooting mindset, strong adherence to hygiene/safety norms, ability to work in shifts and cross-functional teams