Maintenance Technician (48218)

Maintenance Technician

McClure's Pickles | 8201 St. Aubin, Detroit, MI 48211

Full-Time, Hourly | On-Site | Experienced Technician

Pay: $28.00 – $34.00 per hour, based on experience and skill set

About McClure's

McClure's is a family-owned specialty food manufacturer in Detroit. We make pickles, Bloody Mary mix, relish, and snacks from a family recipe, and we ship them to grocery stores across the country. Our plant runs brine systems, fillers, cappers, labelers, conveyors, pumps, kettles, a glycol chiller, and packaging equipment. We are SQF certified, which means we hold ourselves to a high standard for food safety and for how we document our work.

This is a hands-on shop with real ownership over the equipment. You will not be one tech among twenty following a work order queue — you will know this plant's equipment better than anyone and have a direct say in how we maintain and improve it.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced Maintenance Technician who can walk in and troubleshoot without hand-holding. You will handle mechanical and electrical repairs across production and facilities, run our preventive maintenance program day to day, and take on installation and improvement projects. If you like being the person who figures out the problem everyone else gave up on, this is the job.

There is room to grow into a lead maintenance role as the plant expands.

What You'll Do

• Diagnose and repair mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic problems on fillers, cappers, labelers, conveyors, pumps, valves, and packaging equipment
• Troubleshoot electrical faults and control systems — motor controls, VFDs, sensors, relays, and control panels up to 480V three-phase
• Work with PLCs and HMIs to identify faults, trace I/O, and get lines running (programming experience is a plus, not a requirement)
• Own the day-to-day execution of the preventive maintenance program and help improve the PM schedules based on what actually fails
• Respond to breakdowns during production and get lines back up quickly and safely, with an eye toward permanent fixes rather than repeat repairs
• Perform piping, plumbing, and utility work — water, compressed air, steam, and glycol systems
• Maintain and troubleshoot facility systems: glycol chiller, air compressors, boiler, dock equipment, drains, and building systems
• Fabricate, weld, and modify equipment, guarding, and fixtures as needed (stainless steel work)
• Lead or support equipment installations, relocations, and capital projects, including coordinating with outside contractors and vendors
• Source parts, manage critical spares inventory, and work with vendors on quotes and lead times
• Log all work in our maintenance system — parts, labor, and root cause — so equipment history is accurate and useful
• Follow and enforce food safety, GMP, lockout/tagout, and safety procedures, including food-grade lubricants and tool control in production areas
• Train and mentor less-experienced maintenance and production staff on equipment and basic troubleshooting

What We're Looking For

• 4+ years of industrial maintenance experience in manufacturing; food, beverage, or other regulated production preferred
• Strong mechanical troubleshooting ability — you can diagnose from symptoms rather than swapping parts until it works
• Solid electrical troubleshooting skills: reading schematics, using a multimeter, working safely on 480V three-phase, motor controls, and VFDs
• Comfortable working from equipment manuals, prints, P&IDs, and electrical schematics
• Able to work independently, set your own priorities, and be trusted with the plant when no one is looking over your shoulder
• Dependable attendance and willingness to be available for occasional off-shift, weekend, or on-call coverage
• High school diploma or GED; trade school, apprenticeship, or military technical training is a strong plus

Strongly Preferred

• Welding and fabrication experience, especially stainless steel (TIG/MIG)
• PLC and HMI troubleshooting experience (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar)
• Glycol or ammonia refrigeration experience
• Boiler operation and steam system experience
• Experience with high-speed packaging or filling equipment
• Experience maintaining equipment in a wet, washdown, or sanitary environment
• Experience in a small or mid-size plant where you had to figure things out yourself
• Forklift certification

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

• Lift and carry up to 50 lbs regularly
• Stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb ladders, and work in tight spaces for extended periods
• Work in a wet food production environment with variable temperatures, noise, and the smell of vinegar and brine
• Wear required PPE, including safety glasses, hearing protection, slip-resistant footwear, and hair/beard restraints

Pay & Benefits

• $28.00 – $34.00 per hour, based on experience and skill set; higher for a candidate with strong controls and PLC capability
• Overtime available
• Health insurance
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Employee product discount and free pickles
• Paid training and certifications
• Tools and uniforms provided
• Path to a lead maintenance role

How to Apply

Send a resume to joe at mcclures.com. Tell us about the hardest equipment problem you have solved. No cover letter required.

McClure's Pickles is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Employment Type: Full Time

Salary: $60,000 - $85,000 Annual

Bonus/Commission: No