Pumps & Valves Technician

UNC Dairy•City of Syracuse, NY

1d•$26 - $30•Onsite

About The Position

Join a team that nourishes life from farm to table! Upstate Niagara Cooperative, proudly owned by 200+ local family farms, is one of America’s largest and most stable dairy cooperatives. Guided by farmer- and employee-led values, we process and market high-quality milk, yogurt, dips, sour cream, cottage cheese, and more under our trusted brands: Upstate Farms®, Bison®, Milk for Life®, and Intense Milk®. Here, you’ll support sustainable farming, strong communities, and the mission to deliver fresh, local dairy to families every day. The Pumps and Valves Technician is responsible for the inspection, maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, and rebuilding of pumps, valves, and related equipment throughout the dairy processing facility. This position plays an important role in maintaining reliable plant operations, minimizing equipment downtime, and ensuring equipment is maintained in accordance with food safety, quality, and sanitary requirements. The Pumps and Valves Technician will work closely with Maintenance, Production, and other plant departments to identify equipment issues and complete preventative and corrective maintenance.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED required.
Minimum of one year of mechanical maintenance, industrial maintenance, pump/valve repair, or related experience preferred.
Must be a minimum of 18 years of age.
Mechanical aptitude and ability to troubleshoot mechanical equipment.
Basic understanding of pumps, valves, piping systems, bearings, seals, and related mechanical components.
Ability to safely use hand and power tools.
Ability to read and understand equipment manuals, diagrams, and maintenance instructions.
Ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with Maintenance, Production, Quality, and other plant personnel.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to completing repairs correctly and safely.
Ability to work independently and prioritize maintenance needs in a fast-paced production environment.
Willingness and ability to work overtime, weekends, holidays, or respond to plant needs as required by the position.

Nice To Haves

Previous maintenance experience in dairy, food, beverage, pharmaceutical, or other sanitary manufacturing environments.
Experience repairing and rebuilding centrifugal and positive displacement pumps.
Experience with sanitary valves

Responsibilities

Inspect, troubleshoot, repair, rebuild, and maintain sanitary pumps, valves, and related processing equipment throughout the facility.
Perform preventative and predictive maintenance on pumps, valves, seals, actuators, and associated components according to established maintenance schedules.
Diagnose mechanical failures and determine appropriate repairs or replacement of worn or damaged components.
Disassemble, inspect, rebuild, and reassemble pumps and valves while following manufacturer specifications and plant standards.
Replace bearings, seals, gaskets, O-rings, impellers, valve seats, and other components as required.
Inspect equipment for leaks, abnormal wear, vibration, pressure issues, or other conditions that could impact equipment performance or product integrity.
Support troubleshooting of product, water, CIP, and other process flow systems throughout the plant.
Assist with installation, removal, and replacement of pumps, valves, piping components, and related equipment.
Complete work orders and accurately document preventative maintenance, repairs, equipment condition, and parts used within the plant's maintenance system.
Maintain pumps, valves, tools, and work areas in a clean and organized condition.
Follow sanitary maintenance practices when working on equipment that comes into contact with product or product-contact surfaces.
Follow all applicable GMP, food safety, quality, OSHA, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), and company safety requirements.
Work closely with Production, Quality Assurance, Sanitation, and Maintenance personnel to coordinate repairs and minimize production interruptions.
Assist with troubleshooting and emergency repairs during equipment breakdowns.
Participate in plant shutdowns, scheduled maintenance activities, equipment installations, and improvement projects as required.
Identify recurring equipment failures and communicate opportunities for reliability or process improvements to Maintenance leadership.
Perform other maintenance duties as assigned or as the situation dictates.