2nd Shift Plant Maintenance & Ammonia Technician –Food Processing

CareerNerds, LLC; Fort Atkinson (WI); On-site; USD 50,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

CareerNerds, LLC is seeking a specialized Plant Maintenance & Ammonia Technician for the Greater Madison area, WI. The role is 2nd shift, on-site, with a stable schedule and a strong emphasis on safety under PSM guidelines.

The ideal candidate has 2+ years on ammonia systems and industrial electrical work, plus a readiness to obtain RETA credentials if desired. Earn up to $44/hour with premium overtime and comprehensive benefits in a long-tenure team environment.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of hands-on ammonia refrigeration maintenance in a manufacturing setting.
• 2+ years in industrial electrical diagnostics and power distribution troubleshooting.
• Willingness to work a permanent 2nd shift (Monday–Friday) and on-site schedule.
• Stable job history with strong attendance and accountability.
• Residence within a daily 45-minute drive of Greater Madison, WI; legal authorization to work in the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Perform preventive maintenance on NH3 refrigeration loops, compressors, condensers, and chillers.
• Troubleshoot and repair plant electrical systems, MCCs, and control panels.
• Ensure compliance with PSM, OSHA, and safety protocols.
• Support general mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and utility maintenance for uninterrupted production.
• Document daily logs, parameters, and work orders in the CMMS.

Skills

Ammonia refrigeration

Electrical diagnostics

2nd shift readiness

Reliability & attendance

Tools

Industrial PLCs

MCCs & electrical panels

Job description

2nd Shift Plant Maintenance & Ammonia Technician –Food Processing & PSM Compliance

Up to $44.00/Hour + Premium Overtime • Greater Madison Area, WI • 2nd Shift • Direct-Hire

• Compensation & Earnings: Up to $44.00/hour starting base rate + premium overtime structure (time-and-a-half after 8 daily hours + guaranteed double-time on Sundays) + comprehensive corporate benefits package.
• Work Schedule: Predictable, permanent 2nd Shift (Monday – Friday) | 100% On-Site infrastructure position with zero travel and no erratic road-service callouts.
• Work Environment: Century-old, prestigious food manufacturing leader in Greater Madison; clean, highly collaborative team culture operating under rigorous Process Safety Management (PSM) safety guidelines.
• Experience Depth: 2+ years of hands-on industrial ammonia refrigeration (NH3) system maintenance + 2+ years of industrial electrical and 3-phase power troubleshooting. (Specialized industrial process cooling—not residential/commercial HVAC).
• Certification & Training: RETA Certification preferred; 100% company-paid sponsorship, coursework, and testing provided for uncertified technicians willing to obtain credentials.
• Requirements & Compliance: U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder; permanent residence within a daily 45-minute driving radius of Greater Madison, WI.

If you are a specialized industrial refrigeration professional tired of dealing with erratic on-call service routes, driving thousands of miles in a service van, or working for volatile contractors, this direct-hire opportunity offers an ideal career anchor. Operating as a prestigious, century-old food manufacturing leader in the Greater Madison area, this organization has built a fierce reputation over the past 100 years centered on employee respect, technical craftsmanship, and multi-decade team retention.

Leadership views its technical staff as the backbone of the entire facility and invests heavily in your professional development—offering full corporate funding for RETA training and industry testing. You will join a collaborative, highly skilled 2nd shift team operating inside a pristine plant where safety is a living priority managed under strict PSM guidelines. Backed by an industry-leading overtime structure—featuring time-and-a-half after 8 daily hours and guaranteed double-time on Sundays—this environment rewards your expertise while providing complete schedule stability and zero travel.

What You Will Be Doing (Daily Responsibilities)

• Maintain Industrial Ammonia Infrastructure: Execute comprehensive preventive maintenance, rapid fault-tracing, and emergency repairs across high-capacity ammonia refrigeration loops (NH3), screw compressors, evaporative condensers, and chillers.
• Troubleshoot Industrial Electrical Networks: Inspect, test, and repair complex plant power distribution systems, 3-phase motor control centers (MCCs), industrial control circuits, and automated machinery electrical panels safely.
• Ensure PSM & Regulatory Compliance: Partner directly with safety leadership to enforce strict adherence to Process Safety Management (PSM), Risk Management Plan (RMP), and OSHA safety protocols.
• Support Plant Facility Operations: Perform high-level mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and utility maintenance across the facility to ensure uninterrupted 2nd shift production.
• Maintain Digital Compliance Records: Complete daily system logs, record pressure/temperature parameters, and document work orders accurately within the digital CMMS platform.

What We Are Looking For (Requirements & Qualifications)

• 2+ Years Ammonia Refrigeration Experience: Verifiable, hands‑on background maintaining and repairing industrial ammonia (NH3) systems in a manufacturing, cold storage, or processing facility.
• 2+ Years Industrial Electrical Diagnostics: Solid expertise troubleshooting industrial electrical circuits, high-voltage equipment, relays, motor starters, and power distribution systems safely.
• 2nd Shift & Schedule Commitment: Complete alignment and lifestyle readiness to work a permanent, stable 2nd shift schedule (Monday through Friday).
• Dependable Employment Track Record: Stable job history demonstrating strong attendance, personal accountability, and long-term workplace commitment.
• Local Commute: Residence established within a comfortable, daily 45‑minute driving radius of the Greater Madison, WI area.
• Legal Authorization: Must be a United States Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder).

Preferred Technical Assets (Bonus Skills)

• RETA Credentials: Active RETA CARO (Certified Assistant Refrigeration Operator) or CIRO (Certified Industrial Refrigeration Operator) designation.
• Food & Beverage Industry Background: Prior experience working inside a USDA, FDA, or SQF-regulated food processing facility.
• PLC & Controls Exposure: Ability to read ladder logic or troubleshoot low‑voltage PLC inputs/outputs on automated cooling systems.