Maintenance Technician

Maintenance Technician

This Maintenance Technician role focuses on performing preventive and corrective maintenance in a rendering plant environment under the guidance of plant leadership. You will ensure that all plant equipment operates safely and efficiently by carrying out routine inspections, repairs, and installations, while adhering to strict safety standards and maintaining a clean and orderly work area.

Responsibilities

• Perform preventive maintenance on all plant equipment to minimize downtime and extend equipment life.
• Repair and install plant machinery, including replacing motors, gearboxes, screw conveyors, and pumps.
• Thread and weld piping as needed to support equipment installation and repair activities.
• Use cutting equipment such as plasma cutters and oxygen-acetylene torches to cut or remove metal components safely.
• Conduct daily greasing and oiling of plant equipment as required to ensure proper operation.
• Diagnose equipment issues and replace parts with minimal direction, using strong troubleshooting skills.
• Maintain a clean, neat, and orderly work area at all times to support safety and efficiency.
• Use assigned personal protective equipment and required safety equipment consistently and correctly.
• Follow all company safety rules and regulations and promote a strong safety culture.
• Attend regularly scheduled safety meetings and participate in safety initiatives; you may be asked to serve on the Safety Committee.
• Support boiler maintenance activities, including blowdowns and chemical testing, if experienced and assigned.
• Assist with maintenance tasks related to hydraulics and pneumatics, including troubleshooting and repair of related systems.
• Operate aerial lifts safely to access elevated equipment and work areas.
• Perform all other maintenance-related duties as assigned by management.

Essential Skills

• Ability to work rotating weekend shifts as part of the regular schedule.
• Demonstrated experience performing preventive maintenance on industrial or plant equipment.
• Hands-on experience with mechanical repair, including motors, gearboxes, screw conveyors, and pumps.
• Ability to use welding equipment safely and effectively for maintenance and repair tasks.
• Experience using cutting torches and related equipment in an industrial setting.
• Basic troubleshooting skills for mechanical systems, including identification and replacement of faulty parts.
• Ability to follow and apply safety rules, use personal protective equipment, and participate in safety programs.
• Physical ability to frequently push, pull, move, or lift up to 100 lbs.
• Physical ability to frequently walk, stand, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crawl, and crouch.
• Ability to regularly reach with hands and arms to perform maintenance tasks in various positions and heights.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in a slaughter or rendering plant environment.
• Experience with high-pressure boilers, including performing blowdowns and conducting chemical testing.
• High mechanical aptitude with the ability to diagnose and repair problems with motors and other equipment.
• Experience in facilities maintenance, including general plant upkeep and equipment care.
• Familiarity with boiler maintenance practices and related safety procedures.
• Exposure to troubleshooting and repairing hydraulic systems.
• Exposure to troubleshooting and repairing pneumatic systems.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain an organized work area.
• Comfort working in environments with wet or slippery floors and varying temperatures.

You will join a hands-on, industrial environment where your technical skills directly support safe and efficient operations. The team values safety, reliability, and craftsmanship, providing opportunities to work with a variety of equipment and systems that build your mechanical and welding expertise. You can expect a culture that emphasizes adherence to safety practices, supports ongoing learning through real-world problem solving, and offers the chance to take on diverse maintenance challenges in a dynamic plant setting.

This role is based in a rendering facility where you will work around heavy industrial equipment and production processes. The environment requires tolerance for wet and or slippery floors and exposure to high heat or cold temperatures, depending on the area and season. You will regularly handle tools and equipment such as welding machines, plasma cutters, oxygen-acetylene torches, aerial lifts, and various mechanical components including motors, pumps, gearboxes, and conveyors. The work is physically demanding and involves frequent walking, standing, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crawling, and crouching, as well as pushing, pulling, moving, or lifting up to 100 lbs. You will use assigned personal protective equipment and safety gear at all times as required for the tasks and environment.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Des Moines, IA.

The pay range for this position is $24.00 - $28.00/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 and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Des Moines,IA.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 3, 2026.