Maintenance Technician | 1st Shift

Job Description

Job DescriptionJob Title: Maintenance Technician
Location: Waukegan, IL Hire Type: Direct Hire
Pay Rate: $35.00–$45.00/hour
Shift: 1st Shift, 5:00 AM–3:30 PM
Schedule: Monday–Friday with every other Saturday required
Overtime: Approximately 10+ hours of overtime per week
Job Summary: Seeking an experienced Maintenance Mechanic/Electrician to support the continuous operation of a food manufacturing facility. This is a hands-on position combining strong electrical troubleshooting skills with mechanical maintenance experience. The Maintenance Technician will troubleshoot and repair automated production and packaging equipment, perform preventive maintenance, respond to equipment breakdowns, and help minimize production downtime. The ideal candidate has 3–5 years of industrial maintenance experience, with food or beverage manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
Must Have Skills:

• 3–5 years of industrial maintenance experience
• Strong electrical troubleshooting experience in a manufacturing environment
• Experience with 480V 3-phase power
• Experience troubleshooting motors, VFDs, sensors, relays, and control panels
• Ability to read electrical schematics and mechanical drawings
• Experience with PLCs and automated manufacturing equipment
• Strong mechanical maintenance experience with conveyors, gearboxes, hydraulics, and pneumatics
• Experience with preventive maintenance and CMMS systems
• Knowledge of LOTO, OSHA, and NFPA 70E safety practices
• Ability to work flexible hours and approximately 10+ hours of overtime per week
• Ability to work every other Saturday
• Ability to work on a production floor, climb ladders, and lift up to 50 pounds

Job Duties:

• Troubleshoot, repair, install, and maintain electrical systems and components
• Diagnose issues with motors, VFDs, sensors, relays, control panels, and other electrical equipment
• Perform basic PLC diagnostics and programming adjustments on systems such as Allen-Bradley and Siemens
• Troubleshoot and repair mechanical equipment including conveyors, gearboxes, hydraulic systems, pneumatic cylinders, and high-speed packaging machinery
• Perform scheduled preventive maintenance to identify and address potential equipment failures
• Respond quickly to equipment breakdowns and line-down situations to minimize production downtime
• Document maintenance activities and repairs in the CMMS
• Support maintenance of plant utilities such as air compressors, boilers, and industrial cooling systems
• Follow GMPs and food safety requirements to prevent product contamination
• Follow all applicable safety procedures, including Lockout/Tagout and Arc Flash safety
• Maintain a clean and organized work area and communicate maintenance issues with production and other team members

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED required
• Associate's degree in Mechatronics, Industrial Electricity, or a related technical field is preferred
• Food or beverage manufacturing experience is strongly preferred
• Journeyman Electrician license or PLC certification is a plus
• Welding or basic machining experience is a plus
• Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus
• Strong analytical, mechanical, and troubleshooting skills
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and respond effectively to changing production needs
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Basic computer proficiency
• Strong verbal and written communication skills

Work Environment:

• Hands-on position within a food manufacturing and production environment
• Exposure to dust, odors, noise, varying temperatures, and active production equipment
• Frequent standing, walking, bending, climbing ladders, and maneuvering in tight spaces
• Ability to wear required PPE, including hair nets, gloves, and protective footwear
• Must be comfortable working in both cooler and hot processing areas
• No remote work; this is a fully onsite position

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.