Lead Maintenance Technician – Manufacturing Facility
About The Position
Charles Austin Food is a leading multi-protein food manufacturer and distributor serving the Chicago region. We produce and deliver fresh and frozen meat, poultry, seafood, and dry goods to retail, wholesale, and foodservice partners. We are seeking a skilled and dependable Senior Maintenance Technician to ensure our facility and production equipment operate safely, efficiently, and in compliance with food manufacturing standards. The Senior Maintenance Technician performs hands-on maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair on production equipment, facility systems, and utilities. This role supports preventive maintenance programs, responds to breakdowns, assists with cold/freezer equipment, and helps maintain compliance with OSHA, GMP, HACCP, and SQF requirements. This position is ideal for a technician who is safety-focused, mechanically strong, and thrives in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.
Requirements
- 3+ years of maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment (food preferred).
- Strong mechanical troubleshooting and repair skills.
- Basic electrical knowledge (motors, circuits, sensors).
- Ability to work safely in cold/refrigerated and freezer environments.
- Ability to lift/move 50+ lbs.
- Knowledge of LOTO, OSHA, GMP, HACCP, and food safety practices.
- Strong communication, teamwork, and reliability.
Nice To Haves
- Bilingual (English/Spanish/Chinese) preferred.
Responsibilities
- Equipment Maintenance & Troubleshooting Diagnose, repair, and maintain production equipment including conveyors, motors, grinders, packaging machines, scales, pallet jacks, forklifts, and related systems.
- Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic issues.
- Respond rapidly to equipment failures to minimize downtime.
- Assist with refrigeration-related maintenance in coolers and freezers.
- Preventive Maintenance (PM) Perform routine inspections and scheduled PM tasks.
- Document work orders, repairs, and PM completion accurately.
- Identify worn parts or potential failures and recommend corrective actions.
- Facility & Infrastructure Support Assist with plumbing, drains, doors, HVAC, lighting, and general facility repairs.
- Maintain cold and freezer storage areas to ensure safe operation.
- Ensure compliance with OSHA, GMP, HACCP, SQF, and other regulatory standards.
- Parts, Tools & Equipment Management Maintain inventory of critical spare parts and track usage.
- Keep maintenance shop, tools, and equipment organized and clean.
- Assist in evaluating parts, materials, and vendor service quotes.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with production, QA, sanitation, and logistics teams.
- Support outside contractors (HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, electrical).
- Assist with small projects, equipment upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Safety & Compliance Follow Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), OSHA, PPE, and food safety protocols consistently.
- Maintain accurate logs, inspection sheets, and required safety documentation.
- Participate in regular safety meetings and training sessions.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
