Instrumentation & Electrical (I&E) Technician

About:

General Biological (GB) is a pioneering industrial biotech and chemical manufacturing company developing the next generation of scalable, low-cost biomanufacturing technologies. Our mission is to establish a new era of chemical products and physical materials derived from carbohydrates rather than hydrocarbons - to build the 21st century refinery. For more, see here: https://infinitefrontiers.io/c...

Central to our approach is vertical integration - working at the intersection of biotechnology, chemistry, and integrated hardware-software engineering to scale fast. The GB platform harnesses a non-model organism with remarkable metabolic flexibility and low sterility requirements, enabling us to truly industrialize biotech. By building custom fermentation and downstream operations, we fully leverage these properties to dramatically reduce capital and operating costs while accelerating execution.

Role Overview

We are seeking an Instrumentation & Electrical (I&E) Technician to support the buildout, commissioning, and operation of General Biological’s first-of-its-kind biochemicals plant. This role is hands-on and execution-focused, working closely with Chemical Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Controls Engineers, and Operations to translate evolving process designs into safe, reliable, and scalable plant systems during active plant buildout and startup.

The ideal candidate has strong field experience with instrumentation and electrical systems, thrives in early-stage industrial environments, and takes pride in ownership of systems from installation through steady-state operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute installation, wiring, calibration, and maintenance of field instrumentation including pressure, flow, level, temperature, and analytical devices

• Support commissioning and startup activities from FEL2 design through commissioning, including loop checks, functional testing, and troubleshooting

• Install, troubleshoot, and maintain electrical and control systems including motors, motor starters, VFDs, safety circuits, control panels, and associated power and control wiring

• Work alongside Chemical Engineers to understand process intent and ensure instrumentation and electrical systems support process requirements

• Support PLC and SCADA systems by diagnosing I/O, sensor, and communication issues in collaboration with Controls Engineering

• Modify and upgrade control panels and field wiring to support evolving process designs and scale-up needs, while maintaining compliance with UL 508A, NFPA 79 and other applicable electrical standards

• Maintain accurate documentation including redlined P&IDs, loop diagrams, electrical schematics, and calibration records

• Contribute to the development of safe work practices, preventive maintenance programs, and commissioning procedures

• Provide hands-on feedback to engineering teams to improve system reliability, operability, and maintainability

Required Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in instrumentation, electrical, or controls roles within chemical, biological, or industrial manufacturing environments

• Strong background in industrial instrumentation and signal types (4–20 mA, discrete I/O, HART), including integration with PLC-based control systems and networked remote I/O

• Proven ability to read and interpret P&IDs, electrical schematics, loop diagrams, and technical documentation

• Hands-on experience troubleshooting industrial electrical and control systems, including motors, VFDs, safety circuits, control panels and associated I/O

• Proficient with electrical test and diagnostic equipment including multimeters, insulation resistance testers (megger), and clamp-on ammeters

• Experience supporting PLC-based control systems and remote I/O architectures

• Working knowledge of electrical safety including NFPA 70E, arc flash hazards, and live electrical work practices

• Ability to independently execute while coordinating with cross-functional teams and maintaining safety as a non-negotiable priority

• Demonstrated ownership mindset, with the ability to identify gaps, propose solutions, and follow through from issue identification to resolution

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Experience commissioning pilot or demonstration-scale chemical or biological processing systems

• Hands-on experience PLC-based automation systems (eg. Siemens, Rockwell), including hardware installation, I/O checkout, and use of programming/configuration environments for troubleshooting

• Exposure to Ignition SCADA to support operations and manage alarming and tag historian

• Familiarity with industrial Ethernet networks, including basic configuration and troubleshooting of managed industrial switches

• Experience with smart instruments, HART diagnostics, and instrument configuration tools

• Practical industrial site experience supporting process scale-up and early plant operations

• Experience working in regulated or hazardous industrial environments, including chemical processing facilities

• Familiarity with working around chemical processes, including awareness of process safety considerations and hazardous energy sources

Physical & Working Conditions

• Ability to work safely in industrial environments with exposure to noise, heat, chemicals, and moving equipment while wearing appropriate PPE

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and perform physical tasks including climbing ladders, bending, kneeling, and standing for extended periods

• Majority of work performed in the production and pilot plant environment with occasional office-based documentation work

• Flexibility to support commissioning, startup, and critical operations