1st Shift Maintenance Technician

Urban Farmer LLC • Manteno, IL

6d

About The Position

The Maintenance Technician at Urban Farmer plays a critical role in supporting the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of the food manufacturing facility. This position is responsible for performing preventive and corrective maintenance on production equipment to maximize plant uptime, equipment availability, and production efficiency. The Maintenance Technician must demonstrate strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills, a proactive maintenance mindset, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, food-safe manufacturing environment while maintaining compliance with all safety, quality, and regulatory standards.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required; vocational, technical, or trade school training in industrial maintenance is preferred.
• Proven experience as a Maintenance Technician in a manufacturing environment; food manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and hands-on troubleshooting skills.
• Working knowledge of electrical systems, motors, sensors, PLCs, and basic control systems.
• Experience troubleshooting bearings, belts, sheaves, sprockets, chains, gear reducers, and proper alignment of drive components.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, and technical manuals.
• Familiarity with common maintenance tools, diagnostic equipment, and CMMS systems.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• High attention to detail with a commitment to quality and safety.
• Ability to work at heights and in confined or elevated spaces.
• Flexibility to work off-hours, weekends, or respond to emergency calls as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Forklift and scissor lift operation experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Follow all Urban Farmer safety policies and procedures, including lockout/tagout (LOTO), confined space, and machine guarding requirements.
• Maintain a strong focus on personal and team safety while performing maintenance tasks in production and non-production areas.
• Assist with the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of safe maintenance practices and procedures.
• Ensure all maintenance work supports food safety, GMP, and sanitation standards.
• Perform routine preventive maintenance on production and facility equipment to ensure optimal performance, reliability, and longevity.
• Diagnose and repair mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic issues on a wide range of food manufacturing equipment, including conveyors, mixers, ovens, freezers, and packaging machinery.
• Conduct inspections to identify potential failures and recommend corrective actions before equipment downtime occurs.
• Accurately document all maintenance, repairs, and parts usage in the maintenance management system.
• Respond promptly to equipment breakdowns, alarms, and production interruptions to minimize downtime and production impact.
• Perform root cause analysis on recurring equipment issues and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Utilize diagnostic tools, meters, and test equipment to troubleshoot electrical and mechanical failures efficiently.
• Maintain an organized and accurate inventory of spare parts, tools, and maintenance supplies.
• Coordinate with the Storeroom Clerk and Maintenance Planner to identify, request, and replenish critical spare parts.
• Ensure proper storage, handling, and tracking of maintenance materials and components.
• Work closely with Production, Quality, Sanitation, and Engineering teams to understand maintenance priorities and production schedules.
• Communicate equipment status, repair timelines, and recurring issues to supervisors and production leadership.
• Support equipment changeovers, line startups, and shutdowns as needed.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives aimed at increasing equipment reliability, reducing downtime, and improving maintenance efficiency.
• Identify opportunities to enhance preventive maintenance programs and standard work.
• Support reliability-focused maintenance strategies, including predictive and condition-based maintenance where applicable.
• Maintain current knowledge of maintenance best practices, equipment technologies, and food manufacturing requirements.
• Assist in training operators and junior maintenance team members on equipment operation, basic troubleshooting, and routine maintenance tasks.
• Share knowledge and best practices to strengthen overall maintenance capability across the plant.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED