Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for an Ignition Technician

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires a highly skilled and self-motivated Ignition Technician to join our dynamic team. This critical role focuses on the installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of sophisticated ignition and control systems for natural gas engines and compressors. The ideal candidate will be a hands-on problem-solver with a deep understanding of engine electronics, control panels, and instrumentation. You will be the frontline expert ensuring the reliability, safety, and peak performance of essential equipment, directly impacting our operational uptime and customer satisfaction. This position requires a commitment to safety, technical excellence, and the ability to work independently in challenging field environments.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Industrial Electrician
Diesel or Heavy Equipment Mechanic
Instrumentation & Electrical (I&E) Apprentice / Technician

Advancement To:

Lead Ignition Technician / Senior Controls Specialist
Field Service Supervisor or Manager
I&E (Instrumentation & Electrical) Supervisor

Lateral Moves:

PLC Technician / Automation Specialist
SCADA Analyst
Technical Trainer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform advanced diagnostics and complex troubleshooting on a wide range of industrial engine ignition systems, including Altronic, and other major brands.
Execute comprehensive repairs and component replacements on engine control panels, annunciators, and safety shutdown devices to restore full functionality.
Install, commission, and configure new ignition systems, air/fuel ratio controllers, and complete control panel packages on natural gas engines and compressors.
Utilize specialized diagnostic equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, and proprietary software to analyze system performance and identify faults.
Read, interpret, and work from complex electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and Process and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) to execute tasks accurately.
Calibrate and tune engine systems, including governors and air-fuel ratio controllers, to optimize performance, ensure fuel efficiency, and meet emissions standards.
Conduct routine and preventative maintenance (PM) on ignition and control systems according to manufacturer specifications and company schedules to prevent downtime.
Respond to emergency field service call-outs promptly to diagnose and resolve critical equipment failures, minimizing operational disruptions.
Interface directly with clients on-site, providing clear communication regarding equipment status, repair recommendations, and job progress.
Maintain a comprehensive inventory of parts, tools, and equipment within a company-provided service vehicle, ensuring readiness for any job.
Generate detailed, accurate service reports, work orders, and documentation for all completed jobs, tracking time, parts used, and services rendered.
Strictly adhere to all company, client, and industry Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) policies and procedures, including conducting Job Safety Analyses (JSAs).
Provide expert technical recommendations to customers for system upgrades, retrofits, and performance enhancements.
Manage and execute control system retrofit projects from planning and parts procurement to installation and final commissioning.
Troubleshoot and repair wiring issues in harnesses, control panels, and end devices, ensuring all electrical connections are safe and secure.
Perform functional testing and loop checks on instrumentation and control circuits to verify proper operation post-installation or repair.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis related to engine performance and failure trends.
Contribute to the organization's knowledge base by documenting unique troubleshooting solutions and technical procedures.
Collaborate with engineering and sales teams to provide technical insights for project bids and system design.
Participate in internal training sessions to stay current with new technologies, products, and safety protocols.
Assist in training and mentoring junior technicians, apprentices, or customer operators on system functionality and basic maintenance.
Provide feedback to management on recurring equipment issues and suggest improvements for maintenance strategies.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Ignition System Expertise: Deep proficiency in troubleshooting and repairing Altronic ignition systems (e.g., CPU-95, CPU-2000, DE-3000) and other industry-standard systems.
Control Panel Knowledge: Extensive experience with engine control panels, particularly Murphy TTD, Centurion, and other similar annunciator and control platforms.
PLC Troubleshooting: Ability to connect to, diagnose, and perform basic troubleshooting on PLCs, with a preference for Allen-Bradley (Logix5000, RSLogix 500) and Siemens.
Schematic Interpretation: High-level proficiency in reading and interpreting electrical, electronic, and pneumatic schematics and diagrams.
Diagnostic Tool Proficiency: Skilled in the use of advanced diagnostic tools, including digital multimeters, oscilloscopes, laptops with diagnostic software, and HART communicators.
Engine Mechanics & Theory: Solid understanding of internal combustion engine theory, particularly for large-bore natural gas engines (e.g., Caterpillar, Waukesha, Superior).
Air/Fuel Ratio Controllers: Hands-on experience installing, calibrating, and troubleshooting various air/fuel ratio control systems.
Instrumentation & Wiring: Strong skills in instrumentation wiring, loop checking, and knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC) as it applies to industrial settings.

Soft Skills

Analytical Problem-Solving: A methodical and analytical approach to troubleshooting complex, integrated systems under pressure.
Independent Work Ethic: Proven ability to work autonomously in the field, managing time, resources, and job priorities effectively with minimal supervision.
Customer-Facing Communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to clearly explain technical issues and solutions to clients and internal teams.
Safety-First Mindset: An unwavering commitment to personal and team safety, with a strong understanding of LOTO, JSA, and other critical safety procedures.
Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to documentation, reporting, and executing technical tasks to ensure accuracy and quality.
Adaptability: Flexibility to adapt to changing work schedules, emergency call-outs, diverse work environments, and evolving technology.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or GED equivalent.

Preferred Education:

Associate's Degree or a diploma from a vocational/technical school program.
Manufacturer-specific training certifications (e.g., Altronic, Waukesha).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Industrial Electronics Technology
Instrumentation & Control Technology
Diesel & Heavy Equipment Technology
Electrical Engineering Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-7 years of direct, hands-on experience as an Ignition Technician, I&E Technician, or Field Service Technician in a relevant industry.

Preferred:

Experience specifically within the natural gas compression or power generation industries.
Verifiable experience working on large-bore industrial engines such as Caterpillar G3500/3600 series, Waukesha VHP/AT series, or similar.
A valid driver's license with a clean driving record is essential.