Engineer

Maola Local Dairies® is a farmer-owned cooperative sustainably producing a full suite of nutritious dairy products, including milk, cream, butter, and dry milk powders through a network of six dairy processing plants.

About the role

The Maintenance Technician is responsible for performing a wide range of maintenance tasks to support the efficient and safe operation of equipment and systems in a dairy manufacturing plant. This role ensures all production, processing, packaging, and utility systems function reliably, with a strong focus on preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, and equipment repairs.

Responsibilities

• Perform scheduled preventative maintenance (PM) on machinery and facility systems, including processing equipment, refrigeration systems, and utilities.
• Troubleshoot and repair equipment breakdowns in a timely manner to minimize production downtime.
• Diagnose mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic issues and determine appropriate corrective actions.
• Maintain equipment such as pasteurizers, homogenizers, separators, filling lines, and CIP (Clean-in-Place) systems.
• Work with the operations team to improve equipment performance and reliability.
• Maintain proper documentation of repairs, PMs, and part usage in the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).
• Support the installation of new machinery and equipment as needed.
• Follow and enforce all company safety protocols, lockout/tagout procedures, and GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices).
• Respond to emergency breakdowns on nights, weekends, and holidays if required.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization in maintenance work areas.
• Install, maintain, and repair machinery, equipment, and physical structures following specifications, blueprints, manuals, and schematic drawings using hand tools and power tools.
• Perform routine inspections and preventive maintenance on machinery and equipment to ensure optimal functioning.
• Clean and lubricate shafts, bearings, gears, and other parts of machinery using rags, brushes, and grease guns.
• Install and repair components of machinery and equipment including motors, pumps, and conveyors.
• Repair or replace gauges, valves, pressure regulators, and other related components.
• Inspect and repair boiler fittings such as safety valves, regulators, control mechanisms, and auxiliary equipment (pumps, fans, burners).
• Set up and operate machine tools (lathe, grinder, drill, milling machine) to fabricate or repair machine parts, jigs, fixtures, and tools.
• Operate cutting torch or welding equipment to cut or join metal parts as needed.
• Fabricate and repair counters, benches, partitions, and other wooden structures and fixtures.
• Read and interpret equipment manuals, technical specifications, blueprints, and schematics.
• Respond promptly to breakdowns, assess root causes, and implement corrective measures to restore operations.
• Maintain accurate records of maintenance tasks, inspections, repairs, and part replacements.

Requirements

• High School Diploma, General Education Degree (GED), or International Education Equivalent is required.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in industrial maintenance, preferably in a food, beverage, or dairy processing environment.
• Minimum of 5 years of using hand tools, power tools, and diagnostic instruments.
• Technical training, certification, or coursework in industrial maintenance, mechanical systems, electrical systems, or a related field is preferred.
• Experience troubleshooting, maintaining, and repairing mechanical, electrical, and/or refrigeration systems preferred.
• Experience with welding, fabrication, plumbing, HVAC, or related maintenance functions preferred.

Skills

• Communication: Communicate clearly and effectively through multiple channels – oral, written, visual, and non-verbal – ensuring messages are understood and delivered appropriately, whether in-person or digitally.
• Accountability: Take responsibility for actions and anticipate challenges before they arise. Solve problems both within and outside of departments, proactively addressing issues as they occur.
• Customer Focused: Prioritize understanding and meeting both internal and external customer needs. Ensure high levels of satisfaction and loyalty by anticipating customer requirements and striving for exceptional service.
• Initiative: Proactive in identifying opportunities and addressing potential threats. Act independently and decisively, rather than waiting for situations to demand action.
• Problem-Solving: Possess the ability to identify and address complex issues with minimal guidance. Skilled at analyzing challenges and finding practical, effective solutions.
• Collaboration: Take responsibility for deliverables while also supporting others to ensure that collective goals are met. Able to work harmoniously with others toward a common goal, recognizing and valuing each person’s contributions.

Schedule

4:00 PM–12:00 AM (off Tue & Wed; work schedule may fluctuate from week to week). Must be able to work overtime, weekends, and holidays.

Pay

$43.35 per hour.

Benefits

Competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
• 401(k) with employer match
• Life Insurance
• Paid time off

Benefits available within your first month of employment.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear.
• Frequently required to stand and walk.
• Must be able to reach, bend, extend, and lift 50–60 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• May require working in cooler rooms with varying degrees of temperature and contact with water or dairy liquids.
• Exposed to noise levels of up to 90 decibels (moderate to high noise levels).
• Wet or slippery work conditions.