Automation Line Operator - Weekend Nights

Utz Brands, Inc.•Hanover, PA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Utz Quality Foods is hiring an Automation Line Operator at its Kindig Lane facility. This full-time position works Friday through Sunday from 5:30 PM to 5:30 AM, with overtime as needed to support production demand. The operator works in a fast-paced, innovation-driven manufacturing environment, operating, monitoring, and maintaining robotic palletizers and conveyor systems that handle and stack product cases. The role helps keep production running safely and smoothly by monitoring automated equipment, responding to alarms and jams, following production and safety procedures, performing routine checks and cleaning, and coordinating with quality assurance, maintenance, and packaging teams. The position includes light maintenance and equipment troubleshooting.

Requirements

One to two years of manufacturing or food packaging experience is preferred.
Comfort working with robotic arms, conveyors, and automated systems.
Basic understanding of alarms, machine interfaces, and troubleshooting methods.
Strong attention to detail and ability to follow procedures and schedules.
Good written and verbal communication skills and a team-focused attitude.
Forklift or pallet jack certification.
Familiarity with barcode scanners, vision systems, and label printers.
Basic understanding of mechanical and electrical automation systems.
Ability to stand and walk for 8–12 hours per shift.
Ability to work in a production environment with noise, heat, and moving machinery.

Nice To Haves

Technical training in automation or robotics.
Awareness of Lean or Six Sigma practices.
Knowledge of PLC systems or programming languages.

Responsibilities

Operate and monitor automated systems to support high performance and minimize downtime.
Use Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI) to start, stop, reset, and troubleshoot equipment.
Ensure cases are oriented and stacked according to SKU and customer requirements.
Monitor system indicators, including box counts, pallet output, and sensor flags.
Safely and promptly clear jams and alarms, and restart systems when needed.
Perform daily equipment checks and cleaning at the start and end of each shift.
Maintain cleanliness in the automation area, including sensors and sweep zones, and remove trash.
Communicate and collaborate with QA, maintenance, and packaging teams.
Follow lockout/tagout procedures and all safety protocols.
Report and log mechanical issues and downtime events through Redzone.
Perform light maintenance and assist with troubleshooting equipment issues.