Maintenance Mechanic – Food Manufacturing & Packaging Equipment

The Maintenance Mechanic ensures the efficient, safe, and reliable operation of high-speed processing and packaging equipment within our Chicago plant. Operating with minimal supervision in a team environment, you will use your technical expertise to perform preventive maintenance, execute root-cause diagnostics, and minimize line downtime to meet critical production needs.

Work Schedule:

• Shift Flexibility Required: Must be available to work 2nd or 3rd shift schedules.
• Location: On-site at our Chicago Bakery plant.

 

Salary and Benefits:

• The hourly wage for this position is $38.77/hour. The position offers healthcare benefits, retirement benefits, and paid time off, in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Some of these benefits have eligibility requirements.

 

How You Will Contribute

You are a key ingredient in changing how the world snacks. Operating as a skilled technician, you will independently drive equipment reliability to deliver on our safety, quality, cost, delivery, sustainability, and morale targets.

 

Core Responsibilities

• Preventive Maintenance & CMMS
• Ensure the strict execution of preventive maintenance schedules using the plant's Computerized Maintenance Management System.
• Document, track, and report all maintenance activities, work orders, and asset improvements using SAP-PM.
• Demonstrate proper use and care of condition-based monitoring equipment, including thermography cameras and ultrasound tools.

 

• Equipment Optimization & Diagnostics
• Utilize advanced mechanical knowledge to diagnose, troubleshoot, repair, and replace defective parts on high-speed processing and packaging lines.
• Read and accurately interpret technical drawings and schematics (P&IDs, blueprints, block diagrams, and sketches).
• Know and execute the exact method and sequence of operations for testing and diagnosing complex processing equipment.
• Collaboration & Continuous Improvement
• Collaborate with engineers, subject matter experts, and cross-functional teams to identify, define, and solve recurring operational challenges.
• Communicate technical status updates effectively with managers, supervisors, and peers on a shift-to-shift basis.
• Support the continuous skills development of yourself and your teammates.
• Physical & Equipment Operation
• Safely operate material handling and elevated work equipment, including forklifts, man lifts, ladders, and scaffolds.
• Work seamlessly alongside electrical, boiler room, and operations personnel to restore system performance.

Compliance, Safety, and Technical Standards

To ensure product safety and workplace welfare, the Maintenance Mechanic must fully comply with all facility rules and industry-standard protocols. You will be responsible for understanding and executing work against the following standards:

• Safety & Hazard Control: LOTO (Lockout/Tagout), Hot Work permits, Confined Space entry protocols, NEC, and NFPA standards.
• Quality & Food Safety: GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices), HACCP, QCMS, and general health code regulations.
• Operational Excellence: Integrated Lean Six Sigma (IL6S) and TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) methodologies.

 

Additional Job Description

About This Position

The Maintenance Mechanic is vital to ensuring the continuity of our manufacturing production processes. This position involves direct ownership of the facility's mechanical infrastructure, minimizing downtime through rapid troubleshooting and proactive preventive care.

 

What Success Looks Like in the First 30/60/90 Days:

• In 30 Days: Complete plant safety onboarding, get certified on required lift equipment, and become fully trained on facility AM/PM (Autonomous and Progressive Maintenance) standards.
• In 60 Days: Build familiarity with our machinery layouts and begin independently completing scheduled PMs (Preventive Maintenance) within the CMMS.
• In 90 Days: Confidently respond to and troubleshoot live equipment breakdown calls on the floor, collaborating effectively across shifts to minimize line downtime.

Position Requirements

Minimum Qualifications (Education & Experience)

• Education: High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED).
• Experience: At least 2–4 years of hands-on manufacturing experience as a Maintenance Mechanic, OR the successful completion of an approved Apprenticeship/Training Program.
• Teamwork & Autonomy: Ability to work well in a team-based environment with limited supervision.
• Technical Core: Working proficiency across pumps, hydraulics, pneumatics, mechanical drives, basic machining, hand tools, welding, and foundational electrical systems.
• Problem Solving: Ability to problem solve, provide root-cause analysis, and help implement practical solutions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct maintenance experience on high-speed packaging lines within the food processing, chemical, or pharmaceutical industries.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD and file management software.
• Strong soft skills with an interest in training and cross-functional knowledge transfer.
• Ability to learn and apply Continuous Improvement tools (TPM, Lean, Six Sigma).

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds independently and maintain proper balance.
• Ability to perform physical actions including climbing steps, working from ladders/lifts, and crawling over, under, or into manufacturing machinery.

Comfortable performing duties in facilities with extreme varying temperatures