The Overhead Crane Electrical Controls Technician is responsible for installing, troubleshooting, repairing, testing, and commissioning electrical control systems used on overhead cranes, hoists, runway systems, and related material-handling equipment. This position requires strong electrical knowledge, hands-on troubleshooting ability, and a solid understanding of crane controls, motor circuits, VFDs, contactors, relays, limit switches, pendant controls, radio controls, festoon systems, and safety devices.
The ideal candidate will be able to read electrical schematics, diagnose control issues, perform wiring and terminations, support crane manufacturing and field service needs, and ensure all electrical work meets company quality standards, customer requirements, and applicable safety codes.
Pay: $35/hr - $45/hr
Key Responsibilities Electrical Installation and Wiring
Install, wire, and terminate electrical components on overhead cranes, hoists, end trucks, control panels, runway electrification, and below-the-hook equipment.
Wire pendant controls, radio controls, variable frequency drives, contactors, relays, transformers, disconnects, limit switches, overload devices, braking systems, and safety circuits.
Install and troubleshoot festoon systems, conductor bar systems, cable reels, junction boxes, and crane power distribution systems.
Route, secure, and label electrical wiring in a clean, professional, and serviceable manner.
Perform conduit, cable tray, cable management, and control wiring installation as required.
Ensure wiring is completed according to electrical drawings, schematics, customer specifications, and company standards.
Controls Troubleshooting and Repair
Troubleshoot electrical and control system problems on overhead cranes, hoists, trolleys, bridges, and runway systems.
Diagnose issues with motor controls, VFDs, contactors, relays, transformers, fuses, overloads, limit switches, encoders, brakes, and control circuits.
Identify root causes of electrical failures and recommend corrective actions.
Repair or replace faulty electrical components as needed.
Test incoming power, control voltage, motor leads, grounding, phase rotation, and circuit continuity.
Troubleshoot intermittent electrical issues using meters, schematics, and logical diagnostic methods.
VFD and Motor Control Systems
Install, program, and troubleshoot variable frequency drives used for bridge, trolley, and hoist motion.
Adjust drive parameters for speed, acceleration, deceleration, braking, ramping, and load control.
Verify proper motor rotation, speed control, braking performance, and smooth operation.
Troubleshoot drive faults and determine whether issues are caused by programming, wiring, motor problems, load conditions, or failed components.
Work with single-speed, two-speed, and variable-speed crane control systems.
Panel Building and Control Assembly
Assemble and wire crane control panels according to electrical drawings and panel layout requirements.
Mount electrical components including drives, starters, relays, terminal blocks, transformers, breakers, fuses, disconnects, and control devices.
Label wiring, terminals, components, and panels clearly and accurately.
Perform point-to-point wiring checks and verify control panel accuracy before power-up.
Maintain a clean and organized panel layout for future serviceability.
Testing, Commissioning, and Quality Control
Perform electrical inspections before crane testing, shipment, or field startup.
Support functional testing of bridge, trolley, hoist, pendant, radio, limit switch, and emergency stop systems.
Verify all motions operate correctly and safely before equipment release.
Test upper/lower limits, travel limits, emergency stops, overloads, brakes, warning devices, and control interlocks.
Support load testing, operational testing, and final QC inspections when required.
Document test results, deficiencies, repairs, and completed work.
Ensure all electrical systems meet company QC requirements before shipment or customer acceptance.
Reading Drawings and Technical Documentation
Read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, ladder logic, layout drawings, bill of materials, and customer specifications.
Identify drawing issues, missing information, incorrect parts, or wiring conflicts and communicate them to supervision or engineering.
Follow revisions and ensure the latest approved drawings are being used.
Mark up drawings when corrections or field changes are required.
Safety and Compliance
Follow all company safety policies, lockout/tagout procedures, electrical safety practices, and PPE requirements.
Work safely around energized and de-energized electrical systems.
Use proper testing equipment and verify circuits before performing work.
Maintain awareness of overhead crane hazards, pinch points, suspended loads, moving equipment, and shop traffic.
Support compliance with OSHA, NEC, CMAA, ASME, ANSI, and company safety standards as applicable.
Stop work and report unsafe conditions, damaged equipment, or quality concerns immediately.
Manufacturing and Field Support
Support crane manufacturing, assembly, testing, troubleshooting, and repair activities in a shop or field environment.
Work with welders, fitters, mechanics, production managers, engineers, inspectors, and service technicians to complete crane builds and repairs.
Assist with startup and commissioning of cranes at customer sites when required.
Provide technical support during crane installation or service calls.
Help identify improvements to wiring standards, control layouts, troubleshooting processes, and production efficiency.
Required Skills and Qualifications
Strong knowledge of electrical control circuits, motor controls, and industrial wiring.
Ability to read and understand electrical schematics and wiring diagrams.
Experience with contactors, relays, transformers, overloads, breakers, fuses, disconnects, and terminal blocks.
Experience troubleshooting AC motors, brakes, VFDs, pendant controls, radio controls, and limit switches.
Ability to use electrical testing equipment including multimeters, clamp meters, continuity testers, and insulation testers.
Understanding of 3-phase power, control voltage, grounding, phase rotation, and electrical safety.
Ability to perform clean wiring, labeling, terminations, and panel assembly.
Strong mechanical aptitude and ability to understand crane movement, hoist operation, and equipment function.
Ability to troubleshoot problems logically and work independently with minimal supervision.
Good communication skills and ability to work with production, service, engineering, and management teams.
Ability to document completed work, test results, and repair findings accurately.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality workmanship.
Preferred Experience
Previous experience working on overhead cranes, hoists, monorails, jib cranes, or material-handling equipment.
Experience with crane brands such as Street, R&M, Yale, Demag, Harrington, Shaw-Box, CM, or similar.
Experience wiring new crane builds in a manufacturing environment.
Experience troubleshooting cranes in the field or at customer sites.
Experience programming or troubleshooting VFDs.
Experience with radio remote systems, pendant stations, anti-collision systems, warning lights, horns, and crane safety devices.
Knowledge of NEC, OSHA, CMAA, ASME B30, and industrial electrical standards.
Experience with panel building, industrial controls, PLCs, or automation systems.
Ability to perform basic mechanical repairs or adjustments on hoists, brakes, gearboxes, and motors.
Physical Requirements
Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb, reach, and work in a shop or industrial environment.
Ability to lift and carry tools, parts, and electrical components as required.
Ability to work from ladders, lifts, platforms, or elevated work areas when needed.
Ability to work around overhead cranes, forklifts, welding operations, paint areas, and moving equipment.
Must be able to wear required PPE including safety glasses, gloves, steel-toe boots, hearing protection, fall protection, and other job-specific equipment.
Ability to work in varying shop or field conditions, including heat, cold, noise, dust, and active production areas.
Tools and Equipment Used
Multimeter
Clamp meter
Megger/insulation tester
Hand tools
Power tools
Crimpers and wire strippers
Label maker
Torque screwdriver/wrench
Conduit tools
Laptop or drive programming tools when required
Man lift or scissor lift
Forklift or crane support equipment when properly trained
Work Environment
This position may work in a crane manufacturing shop, customer facility, installation site, or service environment. The technician may be exposed to welding, grinding, painting, lifting operations, moving equipment, and industrial production activities. Work may include both new equipment builds and troubleshooting of existing crane systems.
Expectations
The Overhead Crane Electrical Controls Technician is expected to produce safe, clean, reliable, and professional electrical work. This role requires ownership of the electrical side of crane builds and repairs, including identifying problems before they become customer issues. The technician must be dependable, safety-focused, quality-driven, and capable of supporting both production and service needs.
Success in This Role Looks Like
Crane electrical systems are wired correctly the first time.
Controls are clean, labeled, organized, and easy to service.
Electrical issues are diagnosed quickly and accurately.
Cranes pass functional testing and QC inspection before shipment or startup.
Safety devices, limit switches, brakes, and emergency stops work properly.
Problems are communicated clearly to supervision, engineering, and production.
Work is completed safely, professionally, and with minimal rework.
