Pneumatic Control Valve Technician

The Senior Pneumatic Control Valve Technician is a technical expert responsible for the maintenance, calibration, troubleshooting, and performance optimization of pneumatic control valves and related actuation systems. This role plays a critical function in ensuring system reliability, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency in highly automated environments such as pharmaceutical, food and beverage, chemical, and manufacturing facilities.

As a senior technician, this position also provides mentorship to junior staff, collaborates with engineering teams, and leads continuous improvement initiatives related to pneumatic valve systems.

Key Focus Areas:

1. Advanced Maintenance and Optimization of Pneumatic Valve Systems
2. Calibration, Diagnostics, and Root Cause Analysis
3. Compliance, Documentation, and Quality Assurance
4. Mentorship, Technical Training, and Knowledge Transfer
5. System Performance Improvement and Reliability Initiatives

Key Responsibilities:

1. Valve System Maintenance and Optimization

• • Lead scheduled and corrective maintenance on pneumatic control valves, actuators, solenoids, and positioners.

  • Perform precision alignment, tuning, and functional verification of critical valve systems.

  • Ensure correct installation and integration of valve systems in process lines.

2. Calibration and Diagnostics

• • Calibrate control valves using field communicators, smart calibrators, and HART-based tools.

  • Diagnose faults such as signal failure, actuator wear, and stroke irregularities using advanced troubleshooting methods.

  • Analyze trends in valve performance using data from control systems or condition monitoring tools.

3. Compliance and Documentation

• • Maintain detailed calibration records, maintenance logs, and CMMS entries per GMP, FDA, or ISO standards.

  • Ensure valve system documentation (datasheets, loop drawings, calibration certificates) is accurate and audit-ready.

  • Support QA, safety, and regulatory inspections with technical evidence.

4. Technical Leadership and Mentorship

• • Train and guide junior and mid-level technicians in valve handling, safety, and calibration techniques.

  • Act as a resource for cross-functional teams during system troubleshooting, shutdowns, and commissioning.

  • Lead toolbox talks, technical briefings, and skills development sessions.

5. Continuous Improvement and Reliability

• • Recommend upgrades to valve systems based on performance history and failure trends.

  • Collaborate with reliability and process engineers on root cause investigations and long-term corrective actions.

  • Identify opportunities for energy savings and air system efficiency improvements.

Required Qualifications:

• • Diploma or associate degree in Instrumentation, Mechanical, or Industrial Technology.

  • 5+ years of experience in pneumatic valve maintenance, preferably in a regulated or high-throughput environment.

  • Expert knowledge of valve brands such as Emerson/Fisher, Samson, Burkert, Spirax Sarco, or equivalent.

Preferred Skills:

• • Strong understanding of control system integration and PLC interfaces.

  • Experience using HART communicators, valve diagnostic tools, and smart positioners.

  • Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, loop diagrams, and pneumatic schematics.

  • Familiarity with CMMS (SAP, Maximo) and compliance documentation practices.