Maintenance Mechanic

Join a team that nourishes life from farm to table! Upstate Niagara Cooperative, proudly owned by 200+ local family farms, is one of America’s largest and stable dairy cooperatives. Guided by farmer- and employee-led values, we process and market high-quality milk, yogurt, dips, sour cream, cottage cheese, and more under trusted brands: Upstate Farms®, Bison®, Milk for Life®, and Intense Milk®. Support sustainable farming, strong communities, and the mission to deliver fresh, local dairy to families every day.

About the role

Installs, maintains, and repairs machinery, equipment, physical structures, and pipes, electrical and hydraulic systems.

Responsibilities

• Listens for unusual sounds from machines or equipment to detect malfunctions and discusses machine operation variations with operators, supervisors, or other maintenance workers to diagnose problems and repair machines.
• Shuts down machine or equipment and “Locks Out” all energy sources before starting repairs.
• Installs new or repaired parts and tests to ensure proper operation.
• Cleans and lubricates shafts, bearings, gears, and other parts of machinery according to company procedures or schedules while maintaining Equipment PM’s.
• Sets up and operates machine tools such as grinder, drill (to repair or fabricate machine parts), jigs, lathe, and fixtures.
• Installs and repairs electrical wiring and electrical and/or electronic components on machinery and equipment.
• Lays out, assembles, installs, repairs, troubleshoots, and maintains pipe systems and related hydraulic and pneumatic equipment.
• Repairs and replaces gauges, valves, pressure regulators, and related equipment.
• Rebuilds pumps, motors, and operates a cutting torch for welding/burning and rigging equipment.
• Maintains chemical pumps and CIP Systems.
• Repairs and maintains the physical condition of the facility, including fabricating and/or repairing counters, benches, walls, partitions, racks, and other structures as needed.
• Installs, programs, and repairs automated machinery and equipment such as programmable controllers, pumps, separators, homogenizers, packaging machines, compressors, refrigeration systems, and other equipment as needed.
• Maintains a record of HVAC PM’s and operations.
• Troubleshoots PLC/Control System and calibrates chart recorders, level probes, and pressure sensors.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED, or one to three months of related experience, training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must be a minimum of 18 years of age.
• Must have Respirator and Confined Space entry qualifications.
• Must have 70e and Lock Out/Tag Out Training.
• Required to be a Refrigeration System Operator (Classes I & II), operate Boilers, and Air Compressors; Stationary Engineers license is desirable.
• Must be available for all shifts (1st, 2nd, 3rd), weekends, and holidays.

Skills

• Ability to read and interpret work orders, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to fill out routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively and convey information to other employees.
• Mathematical skills to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions and deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms above shoulder height, talk, and hear, taste, and smell.
• May be required to climb ladders and/or balance.
• Must regularly lift and/or move up to 55 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

• Regularly works near moving mechanical equipment; occasionally works in high places and is exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.
• May be exposed to cleaning chemicals containing sodium hydroxide or phosphoric acid requiring personal protective equipment, per company regulations.
• Exposure to cold temperatures below 40 degrees F.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate; hearing protection is required.

Schedule

• Workweek could vary, including Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays with a specific weekday or rotating day off.
• Four 10-hour days may also be scheduled.

Pay

$29.64–$32.64/hr. The posted pay rate reflects one component of the total rewards package, which may also include group health and/or dental insurance, retirement plan, paid time off, and paid holidays.

Benefits

• Sign-on bonus: $10,000.
• Participation in group health and/or dental insurance.
• Retirement plan.
• Paid time away from work and paid holidays.