Maintenance Technician

Job Title: Maintenance Technician Job Description

The Maintenance Technician works on a wide range of industrial baking and packaging equipment, performing both preventative maintenance and emergency repairs to keep production lines running safely and efficiently. This role combines electrical, mechanical, and automation troubleshooting, including work on mixers, ovens, chillers, conveyors, vertical baggers, cartoners, compressors, and bulk flour systems.

Responsibilities

• Perform preventative maintenance on mixers, ovens, chillers, conveyors, packaging equipment, baggers, servo motors, transfer systems, compressors, and related industrial baking equipment according to the maintenance schedule.

• Respond to and resolve equipment breakdowns, diagnosing root causes and completing timely repairs to minimize production downtime.

• Utilize volt meters to detect and troubleshoot electrical issues on equipment operating at low voltage and 120–480 VAC, including starters, motors, VFDs, sensors, controllers, and photo-eyes.

• Read, interpret, and reset HMI panels to detect, diagnose, and resolve production line faults and equipment issues.

• Read and interpret VFDs to identify and correct performance and control problems.

• Tear down machinery and reassemble it as needed for repairs, upgrades, or preventative maintenance tasks.

• Work with three-phase motors, including swapping, rewiring, repairing, and installing motors for various equipment.

• Document all work performed in maintenance logs, daily log reports, emergency breakdown reports, and work orders, ensuring accurate and complete records.

• Communicate effectively with incoming shifts to provide clear handoffs, status updates, and information about ongoing issues and repairs.

• Perform electrical work on HMIs, VFDs, and PLCs, including basic troubleshooting and repairs.

• Carry out mechanical repairs involving sprockets, gears, shafts, bearings, and other mechanical components.

• Maintain and troubleshoot automation systems, including sensors, photo-eyes, and related control devices.

• Work on vertical baggers (such as Hayssen and Matrix), cartoners (such as Tanney and Langdon), inkjet printers, and other packaging equipment to ensure proper operation.

• Apply knowledge of bulk flour systems, including transfer blowers, air-locks, diverter valves, sifters, and related components, to perform maintenance and troubleshooting.

• Maintain and repair industrial ovens, proofers, conveyors, dryers, and other process equipment used in baking operations.

• Install, debug, and stabilize plant equipment as required to support production and reliability improvements.

• Read schematics and blueprints to interpret, diagnose, and troubleshoot electrical issues, ensuring repairs are performed safely and correctly.

• Perform repairs and upgrades on machinery and equipment to improve performance, reliability, and safety.

• Support the installation, analysis, and acceptance testing of new electro-mechanical equipment brought into the facility.

• Repair and calibrate hydraulic and pneumatic assemblies, metal detectors, and scales to maintain accurate and reliable operation.

• Test the performance of electro-mechanical assemblies using appropriate test instruments and make adjustments or repairs as needed.

• Fabricate guards and other safety components using measuring devices, cutting tools, and welding equipment (stick and TIG) when required.

• Install electronic parts and hardware using soldering equipment and hand tools in accordance with specifications and safety standards.

• Operate, test, and maintain robotic and automated systems associated with the production lines.

• Apply PLC troubleshooting skills to identify and resolve control issues, and support PLC programming and advanced diagnostics when applicable.

• Ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) during all maintenance activities, maintaining cleanliness and food safety standards in all work areas.

• Follow all safety procedures and guidelines while working with electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and automated systems.

Essential Skills

• 3–5 years of combined electrical and mechanical maintenance experience in an industrial environment.

• Strong ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and blueprints to diagnose and troubleshoot issues.

• Proficiency in using volt meters and other test instruments to identify electrical problems and verify repairs.

• Hands-on experience swapping, repairing, and wiring motors, including three-phase motors, for various types of equipment.

• Practical experience working on HMIs, VFDs, and PLCs for troubleshooting and basic repairs.

• Mechanical proficiency with sprockets, gears, shafts, bearings, and other mechanical components.

• Experience working with automation devices such as sensors and photo-eyes.

• Ability to work safely on low-voltage and 120–480 VAC equipment, including starters, motors, VFDs, sensors, controllers, and photo-eyes.

• Demonstrated capability to tear down, repair, and reassemble complex machinery.

• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) experience in a production or food-related environment.

• Ability to read and interpret HMI panels to troubleshoot production line faults.

• Competence in performing preventative maintenance and corrective repairs on industrial equipment.

• Strong troubleshooting skills in electrical, mechanical, and automation systems.

• Ability to complete accurate documentation in maintenance logs, daily reports, work orders, and breakdown reports.

• Effective communication skills to coordinate with other maintenance technicians and production staff across shifts.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• PLC programming and advanced PLC troubleshooting experience.

• Boiler (steam) maintenance experience in an industrial setting.

• Welding experience, including stick and TIG welding for fabrication and repair work.

• Experience with bakery or food production equipment and processes.

• Knowledge of bulk flour systems, including transfer blowers, air-locks, diverter valves, and sifters.

• Familiarity with industrial ovens, proofers, conveyors, dryers, and related baking equipment.

• Experience working on vertical baggers (such as Hayssen and Matrix), cartoners (such as Tanney and Langdon), inkjet printers, and packaging equipment.

• Ability to repair and calibrate hydraulic and pneumatic assemblies, metal detectors, and scales.

• Experience installing electronic parts and hardware using soldering equipment and hand tools.

• HVAC maintenance experience in an industrial environment.

• Industrial maintenance background with exposure to conveyors, motors, PLC control systems, and three-phase power.

• Comfort working across multiple buildings and production areas within a single site.

Why Work Here?

Employees enjoy strong benefits, including a company contribution to retirement plans and comprehensive medical coverage. Team members benefit from a long-tenured maintenance group that fosters a supportive, family-like atmosphere and values collaboration and knowledge sharing. The organization encourages professional growth with clear opportunities for advancement, access to extra technical training, and tuition reimbursement to support ongoing education and skill development.

Work Environment

This position operates on 2nd shift (approximately 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.) and 3rd shift (approximately 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.), with Sunday work compensated at double time. Work takes place across four buildings on the same site, and the technician regularly walks outside between buildings as part of daily duties. The environment includes industrial baking and packaging equipment, bulk flour systems, ovens, proofers, conveyors, dryers, vertical baggers, cartoners, inkjet printers, and a variety of electro-mechanical and automated systems. The role involves using tools such as volt meters, test instruments, welding equipment (stick and TIG), cutting tools, soldering equipment, and standard hand tools, while adhering to GMP and safety standards. A uniform is provided after 90 days; prior to that, casual attire such as a T-shirt and jeans is acceptable, subject to safety requirements.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Chicago, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $45.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

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)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Chicago,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 1, 2026.

About Aerotek

Aerotek® Inc. provides staffing and services solutions in manufacturing, logistics, construction, aviation, facilities and maintenance. We provide the expertise, solutions and people required to rise to the challenges of North American industry. Headquartered in Hanover, Md., Aerotek operates a unified network of over 200 offices across North America, supporting more than 18,000 clients each year. Aerotek is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in workforce and business solutions. To learn more, visit: Aerotek.com | 1-888-AEROTEK.

Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.