Maintenance Technician

Maintenance Technician

The Maintenance Technician is responsible for performing preventative and corrective maintenance on cGMP process equipment, utility systems, and facilities to ensure reliability, regulatory compliance, and minimal disruption to production. This role focuses on hands-on troubleshooting of automated manufacturing and packaging systems, including PLC-controlled equipment, HMIs, sensors, VFDs, servo systems, safety interlocks, and related electrical and automation components. The technician documents all work in accordance with cGMP requirements, maintains spare parts inventory, and supports continuous improvement initiatives to enhance equipment performance and uptime.

Responsibilities

• Execute preventative and corrective maintenance on manufacturing and packaging equipment, utility systems such as compressed air, boilers, HVAC, Water for Injection, Clean Steam, and overall facility infrastructure.
• Troubleshoot and repair mechanical, electrical, and PLC systems, identify root causes of failures, and implement effective corrective actions.
• Perform basic to intermediate automation troubleshooting on manufacturing and packaging equipment, including resolving PLC-controlled machine faults, HMI alarms, and issues related to sensors, photo eyes, proximity switches, encoders, VFDs, servo drives, motor controls, pneumatic controls, and machine safety circuits.
• Use machine HMIs, electrical drawings, control schematics, PLC diagnostic information, alarm histories, and equipment manuals to support efficient troubleshooting and accurate root cause identification.
• Support recovery of automated equipment during production interruptions, including fault identification, reset support, line restart support, verification of machine readiness, and clear communication with Production, Quality Assurance, Engineering, and external automation vendors as needed.
• Assist Engineering and approved vendors with automation-related repairs, troubleshooting, testing, commissioning, and approved upgrades while ensuring all work complies with cGMP, SOP, EHS, and change control requirements.
• Document automation-related troubleshooting, repairs, alarms, corrective actions, parts replaced, and equipment condition accurately in BMRAM, CMMS records, and applicable maintenance documentation.
• Support engineering investigations and root cause analysis to prevent recurrence of equipment and automation issues.
• Maintain strict compliance with cGMP, SOPs, and EHS standards during all maintenance activities, ensuring proper use of PPE and adherence to safe work practices.
• Document all maintenance activities accurately in the CMMS and related logs, and submit timely reports for completed work.
• Assist with supervision of contractors and vendor services to ensure work complies with internal standards and applicable building codes.
• Fabricate and fit components, including cutting, welding, assembling, and piping in threaded, welded, and sanitary configurations, as required for equipment repair or modification.
• Maintain and organize spare parts inventory, execute purchase orders, and update the parts database to ensure critical components are available when needed.
• Operate hand tools, power tools, multimeters, and other diagnostic equipment safely and effectively.
• Operate and interpret common electrical and automation troubleshooting tools, including multimeters, basic signal testing equipment, laptop-based diagnostic software when authorized, and equipment-specific service interfaces.
• Perform minor facility repairs such as plumbing, painting, and carpentry as needed to support facility upkeep.
• Ensure readiness and compliance of aseptic machines, maintain sterile gown certification, and work in sterile environments in accordance with company policies.
• Communicate daily maintenance activities with Facilities Engineering leadership, update logs, and participate in on-call rotation and weekend work as required.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing equipment reliability, safety, and operational efficiency.
• Identify recurring automation, controls, sensor, alarm, and equipment fault patterns, and communicate recommended improvements to Maintenance and Engineering leadership to improve reliability, changeover performance, and production uptime.

Essential Skills

• High school diploma or GED.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in equipment maintenance and troubleshooting in a regulated environment.
• Practical knowledge of pharmaceutical technology, aseptic processes, and engineering principles.
• Practical experience troubleshooting automated manufacturing or packaging equipment in a regulated or industrial production environment.
• Hands-on experience with electrical controls, PLC-controlled equipment, HMIs, sensors, VFDs, servo systems, motor controls, pneumatic controls, and machine safety circuits.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, control drawings, equipment manuals, and machine alarm information to support troubleshooting and repair.
• Experience performing preventative maintenance and corrective maintenance on manufacturing and packaging equipment and utility systems, including compressed air, boilers, HVAC, and Water for Injection.
• Strong electrical troubleshooting skills, including the safe use of multimeters and diagnostic equipment.
• Experience with maintenance activities in a cGMP or other regulated environment, including accurate documentation and adherence to SOPs.
• Proficiency with CMMS systems for recording maintenance activities and managing work orders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications to support documentation and reporting.
• Strong technical writing skills for clear and accurate maintenance and troubleshooting documentation.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to engage and collaborate with cross-functional teams such as Production, QA, Engineering, and vendors.
• Manufacturing experience in an industrial or production environment.
• Experience with pneumatics and hydraulics in equipment maintenance.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Associate degree in engineering or a related discipline is preferred.
• Welding and fabrication experience, including cutting, assembling, and piping in threaded, welded, and sanitary configurations.
• Familiarity with PLC diagnostics, HMI troubleshooting, VFDs, servo systems, and vision systems.
• Experience with automated packaging equipment and understanding of cGMP change control expectations for validated equipment.
• Experience supporting automation vendors with controls troubleshooting, machine upgrades, commissioning, or qualification activities in a cGMP manufacturing environment.
• Experience using laptop-based diagnostic software and equipment-specific service interfaces for automation troubleshooting.
• Ability to supervise contractors and vendor services to ensure compliance with internal standards and building codes.
• Experience with minor facility maintenance, including plumbing, painting, and carpentry.
• Comfort working in aseptic or sterile environments and maintaining sterile gown certification.

Why Work Here?

You will join a highly regulated manufacturing environment where safety, quality, and reliability are top priorities, giving you the opportunity to apply and grow your technical expertise on advanced automated equipment. The organization supports continuous improvement and values proactive problem-solving, allowing you to contribute directly to higher equipment uptime and operational efficiency. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams and external vendors, gaining exposure to a wide range of technologies and systems while building strong professional relationships. The role offers stable work, structured procedures, and clear expectations, providing a solid foundation for long-term career development in maintenance, engineering, and automation.

Work Environment

The work environment is a regulated manufacturing facility operating under cGMP standards, with a strong focus on safety, compliance, and equipment reliability. You will work around automated manufacturing and packaging lines, cGMP process equipment, and utility systems such as compressed air, boilers, HVAC, Water for Injection, and Clean Steam. The role involves frequent use of hand tools, power tools, multimeters, diagnostic instruments, laptop-based diagnostic software, and equipment-specific service interfaces. You will work both on the production floor and in utility and facility areas, including sterile and aseptic environments where sterile gowning and strict cleanliness practices are required. The position may require participation in an on-call rotation and occasional weekend work to support production needs and respond to equipment issues. Work is performed in collaboration with Production, QA, Engineering, and external vendors, in an environment that emphasizes safe work practices, proper PPE usage, and adherence to SOPs and EHS standards.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Pomona, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $40.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee