A Day in the Life
You program, commission, and maintain Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) that automate industrial machinery — writing ladder logic or structured text programs to control production processes.
- Write PLC programs in ladder logic, function block diagram, or structured text
- Commission new automated systems — test sequences, interlocks, and safety functions
- Modify existing PLC programs to implement process improvements or machine changes
- Diagnose PLC-related production faults — I/O failures, sequence errors, communication issues
- Configure SCADA/HMI screens to display process data and alarms
- Document PLC programs, I/O lists, and control philosophy documents
- Set up industrial network communications (Profibus, Profinet, EtherNet/IP, Modbus)
- Train maintenance technicians on basic PLC fault diagnosis
Work Environment
OFFICETeam: SMALLBUSINESS CASUALRemote: MEDIUM
Engineering office and factory floor. PLC programmers split time between office-based programming tasks and factory floor commissioning, testing, and fault diagnosis. In Sri Lanka, PLC programming expertise is concentrated in automation integrators, FTZ manufacturing companies, and the government industrial sector.
Skills Required
Technical Skills
PLC programming — ladder logic, FBD, structured text (IEC 61131-3)HMI/SCADA configuration (Siemens WinCC, Ignition, FactoryTalk)Industrial networking (Profinet, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP)Electrical panel reading and wiring diagram interpretationSafety PLC and SIL-rated system programming
Soft Skills
Logical thinking and systematic debuggingAttention to documentation and version controlCommunication with mechanical engineers and operatorsSelf-directed learning on new platformsAbility to work calmly under commissioning pressure
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