Maintenance Technician-3rd shift

Position Summary

The Maintenance Technician is responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, repairing, and improving processing, packaging, refrigeration, electrical, mechanical, and facility equipment in a sweet potato processing plant. This position helps ensure safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations while minimizing equipment downtime.

The ideal candidate is mechanically inclined, safety-minded, dependable, and able to diagnose and repair equipment in a fast-paced food-processing environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on processing and packaging equipment.

• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and conveyor systems.

• Repair and maintain equipment such as:

  • Conveyors and belt systems
  • Washers, graders, sorters, and sizing equipment
  • Pumps, motors, gearboxes, and bearings
  • Cutters, peelers, and processing machinery
  • Packaging and labeling equipment
  • Boilers, compressors, and refrigeration equipment, as applicable
  • Electrical control panels, sensors, switches, and motors

• Diagnose equipment problems and make repairs quickly and safely to minimize production downtime.

• Perform scheduled preventive maintenance and document completed work.

• Inspect equipment for wear, damage, leaks, abnormal noise, vibration, or other potential failures.

• Assist with equipment installation, modification, and start-up.

• Perform welding, fabrication, plumbing, and general mechanical repairs as needed.

• Maintain and repair facility systems, including doors, lighting, drains, water systems, and other plant infrastructure.

• Follow lockout/tagout (LOTO), confined-space, machine guarding, and other safety procedures.

• Maintain a clean and organized maintenance area and follow good housekeeping practices.

• Work closely with production personnel to identify equipment problems and opportunities for improvement.

• Respond to emergency maintenance calls and equipment breakdowns.

• Maintain accurate maintenance records, work orders, parts usage, and equipment history.

• Assist with maintaining an adequate inventory of spare parts and maintenance supplies.

• Follow all company policies, food-safety requirements, GMPs, and applicable OSHA regulations.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Maintenance Supervisor or Manager.

Qualifications

Required

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Previous industrial maintenance or mechanical experience preferred.
• Basic knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems.
• Ability to troubleshoot equipment and identify the cause of mechanical or electrical problems.
• Ability to use common hand and power tools safely.
• Ability to read and understand equipment manuals, schematics, and basic electrical diagrams.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work in a wet, humid, dusty, noisy, and temperature-variable food-processing environment.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime during peak processing periods.

Preferred

• 2+ years of experience in industrial or food-processing maintenance.
• Experience with conveyors, pumps, motors, gearboxes, and pneumatic systems.
• Electrical troubleshooting experience, including 120/240/480V systems.
• Experience with PLCs, VFDs, sensors, and automated equipment.
• Welding and fabrication experience.
• Experience with refrigeration, boilers, compressors, or other utility systems.
• Technical degree, industrial maintenance certificate, or relevant trade certification.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to climb ladders and stairs and work from elevated platforms.
• Ability to bend, kneel, crawl, reach, and work in confined or awkward positions.
• Ability to work around water, food products, machinery, chemicals, noise, and varying temperatures.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).

Work Environment

This position works primarily in a food-processing plant and may be exposed to wet floors, water spray, dirt, dust, noise, moving machinery, cleaning chemicals, heat, cold, and varying environmental conditions. Strict adherence to safety and food-safety procedures is required.

Safety and Food Safety

The Maintenance Technician is expected to:

• Follow all OSHA and company safety requirements.
• Properly use required PPE.
• Follow lockout/tagout procedures before performing maintenance.
• Maintain machine guards and safety devices in proper working condition.
• Follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and food-safety procedures.
• Prevent maintenance activities from creating contamination risks to food or food-contact surfaces.
• Immediately report unsafe conditions, equipment hazards, or food-safety concerns.

Key Performance Expectations

• Safe completion of maintenance work.
• Timely response to equipment breakdowns.
• Reduction of unplanned equipment downtime.
• Completion of preventive maintenance on schedule.
• Accurate maintenance documentation.
• Proper care and use of tools, equipment, and spare parts.
• Compliance with food-safety, quality, and workplace-safety requirements.
• Positive communication and teamwork with production and maintenance personnel.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Company Name is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants without regard to legally protected status.