Industrial Maintenance Technician at Valley Queen Cheese Factory
Job Description
We're looking for skilled Maintenance Technicians & Mechanics to keep our production and facility equipment running at peak performance. In this role, you'll troubleshoot, repair, and maintain mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems to ensure smooth operations and zero downtime.
What You'll Do
- Install, maintain, and repair food processing and production equipment.
- Diagnose and fix mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic issues.
- Read and interpret manuals and work orders to complete service tasks.
- Perform routine plant inspections and address potential issues proactively.
- Respond quickly to maintenance calls to keep production moving.
- Maintain utility systems to prevent downtime.
- Keep accurate records for safety, quality, and compliance.
- Follow all safety rules, PPE requirements, and food safety standards.
- Participate in required safety and quality training.
- Identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
What We're Looking For
- Experience: Hands-on maintenance experience in a manufacturing or industrial setting.
- Skills: Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills; ability to work with pneumatic and hydraulic systems.
- Tech Savvy: Basic computer skills for work orders and documentation.
- Problem Solver: Ability to think on your feet and resolve issues quickly.
- Team Player: Good communication and time management skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge of ammonia refrigeration systems.
- Welding experience.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish).
- Associate degree in a technical field or equivalent experience.
Additional Details
- Work Environment: Shop and plant setting with exposure to moving parts, vibration, temperature changes, and loud noise.
- Travel: Less than 5%.
- Requirements: High school diploma/GED, valid driver's license, minimum age 18.
Typical mid-level pay: $65k for Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians nationally
Hot hiring, constrained wages
Employers are hiring actively, but pay hasn't caught up with demand. Focus on competing offers and non-salary benefits.
Why this market feels harder than it looks
This market is hiring aggressively, but compensation hasn't caught up and most openings are backfilling churn, not expansion. Employers are filling roles, but not bidding wages up.
Who this leverage applies to
Where to negotiate
Likely Possible Unlikely
Watch out for
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Does this path compound?
Steady work, but limited growth in both jobs and pay.
Openings come from turnover, not new growth. Differentiate to advance.