Industrial Maintenance Mechanic -- Food & Packaging Lines

Job Description

Job Description

Keep Our Fresh Food Lines Running

Kitchen Fresh Foods, the Midwest leader in freshly prepared sandwiches and related food products, is hiring an Industrial Maintenance Mechanic to support our high-volume production facility.

Schedule: 2-2-3 twelve-hour schedule, 5:00 PM – 5:00 AM

A day (or night) in this role

As the plant moves from prep into peak production, you’ll arrive ready to keep equipment safe, reliable, and efficient. Early in the shift you’ll complete preventive maintenance checks, verify line readiness, and assist with any adjustments. When production heats up, you’ll respond to calls, troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic issues, and partner closely with operators to meet schedule goals. Between runs, you’ll support changeovers, sanitation tear-downs, and reassembly to minimize downtime. You’ll also pitch in on new line startups and packaging tests, helping commission installs and refine settings for performance.

What you’ll do

• Install, maintain, and improve production machinery and facility equipment.
• Handle unscheduled/emergency repairs during production and complete planned repairs as scheduled.
• Carry out basic machinist tasks and related shop responsibilities.
• Apply multi-craft skills across mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems; perform systematic troubleshooting.
• Diagnose faults, replace or repair components, test operation, and fine-tune equipment.
• Execute routine preventive maintenance on machines, equipment, and plant facilities.
• Perform plumbing maintenance and carpentry work as needed.
• Use hand and power tools, electric meters, and material handling equipment safely and effectively.
• Identify abnormal operations or defective materials and escalate promptly to supervision.
• Follow safety procedures, including Lockout/Tagout, and maintain clean, organized work areas.
• Support new line startups, product/packaging trials, and equipment installations.
• Work alongside production operators to hit schedule targets, troubleshoot issues, find root causes, and implement corrective actions.
• Demonstrate leadership by coaching operators on basic PM tasks and making setting adjustments that boost efficiency.
• Assist with equipment tear-down for sanitation and reassembly to ensure procedures are followed and changeovers are swift.

What you bring

• Facilities maintenance background in a manufacturing setting.
• Electrical troubleshooting and repair capabilities.
• Proficiency diagnosing pneumatic systems and performing maintenance/repair.
• Hands-on maintenance and repair skills across industrial electrical systems.
• Strong equipment diagnostics and troubleshooting mindset.
• Strict adherence to Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) and plant safety practices.
• Experience with equipment repair and preventive maintenance workflows.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints and technical drawings.

Tools and tech you’ll encounter

• Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)
• Conveyor systems
• Servo motors

Join a team that takes pride in reliability, craftsmanship, and keeping quality food moving to our communities every day.