Electro-Mechanical Technician

Woodland Gourmet; Waukegan (IL); On-site; USD 45,460 - 68,880; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, prescription drug plans, and 

dental coverage

Life insurance and short-term & long‑/

long-term disability

Vision insurance, FSA/HSA

Tuition reimbursement and EAP

Voluntary benefits (hospital, critical

illness, personal accident, legal & ID

401(k) with company match, paid family

leave, paid holidays and PTO

Job summary

Woodland Gourmet is seeking a Maintenance Mechanic - Electrician to ensure continuous operation of food processing and packaging equipment in a hybrid role. You will troubleshoot, repair, and maintain automated systems while adhering to SQF/HACCP and OSHA safety standards.

Responsibilities include electrical and PLC work (Allen-Bradley, Siemens), gearboxes, conveyors, PM scheduling in CMMS, and support for plant utilities.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required; associate degree preferred in Mechatronics, Industrial Electricity, or related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in industrial maintenance, preferably in a food/beverage manufacturing environment.
• Proficient reading of electrical schematics, P&IDs, and mechanical blueprints; strong understanding of 480V 3-phase power distribution.
• Journeyman Electrician license or PLC certifications are a significant advantage.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot, install, and repair electrical components, including motors, VFDs, sensors, relays, and control panels.
• Perform basic diagnostics and programming adjustments on PLC systems (e.g., Allen-Bradley, Siemens).
• Maintain and repair gearboxes, conveyors, hydraulic systems, pneumatic cylinders, and high-speed packaging machinery.
• Execute scheduled PM tasks and log work in CMMS.
• Support maintenance of plant utilities (air compressors, boilers, and cooling units).
• Ensure GMP/OSHA compliance to prevent product contamination and ensure safety.
• Provide rapid response for line-down situations to meet production deadlines.

Skills

Electrical troubleshooting

PLC basics

Mechanical aptitude

Reading schematics

Safety compliance

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate's degree in Mechatronics/Industrial Electricity or related field

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs

Siemens PLCs

VFDs

Job description

Title: Maintenance Mechanic - Electrician

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Reports To: Maintenance Supervisor

Department: Maintenance

Location: Waukegan

Shift Hours: M - F 10:00am - 6:30pm with weekend and overtime flexibility

Job Summary

The Maintenance Mechanic Electrician is responsible for ensuring the continuous operation of food processing and packaging equipment. This hybrid role combines the expertise of a Plant Electrician with the versatility of a Maintenance Mechanic. You will troubleshoot, repair, and maintain complex automated systems to minimize downtime while adhering to strict food safety (SQF/HACCP) and personnel safety (OSHA) standards.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Electrical Systems: Troubleshoot, install, and repair electrical components, including motors, VFDs (Variable Frequency Drives), sensors, relays, and control panels.
• Automation & PLC: Perform basic diagnostics and programming adjustments on PLC systems (e.g., Allen-Bradley, Siemens) to resolve logic-based equipment issues.
• Mechanical Maintenance: Maintain and repair gearboxes, conveyors, hydraulic systems, pneumatic cylinders, and high-speed packaging machinery.
• Preventive Maintenance (PM): Execute scheduled PM tasks to identify potential failures before they occur, ensuring all work is logged in the CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System).
• Facility Utilities: Support the maintenance of plant utilities, including air compressors, boilers, and industrial cooling units (where applicable).
• Sanitary Standards: Ensure all maintenance activities comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) to prevent product contamination.
• Emergency Response: Provide rapid response and support for line-down situations to meet production deadlines.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Education: High School Diploma or GED required. An associate’s degree in Mechatronics, Industrial Electricity, or a related technical field is highly preferred.
• Experience: 3–5 years of experience in industrial maintenance, specifically within a food or beverage manufacturing environment.
• Technical Skills:
  • Proficiency in reading electrical schematics, P&IDs, and mechanical blueprints.
  • Strong understanding of 480V 3-phase power distribution.
  • Hands‑on experience with welding (TIG/Stick) and basic machining is a plus.
• Certifications: Journeyman Electrician license or specialized PLC certifications are a significant advantage.
• Physical Demands: Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, work in varied temperatures (coolers/hot processing areas), and stand for extended periods.
• Compliance: Knowledge of Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Arc Flash safety (NFPA 70E), and food safety regulations.

Skills

• Ability to prioritize and learn quickly
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to multi‑task
• Strong attention to detail
• Strong organizational skills
• Analytically and mechanically inclined
• Ability to use percentages and add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals
• Computer literacy
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical requirements described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to help individuals with disabilities perform these vital functions. The job regularly requires sitting, standing and walking for extended periods of time on the production floor and frequently bending and moving about the facility. Must be able to climb ladders and maneuver in small space. Ability to wear required PPE, including hair nets, gloves, and protective footwear, etc.

• Works in an office and manufacturing environment
• Exposure to dust, odors, and noise

This position does not allow remote work.

Benefits

Woodland Gourmet offers a competitive compensation package. Estimated salary range for this role is $33 to $50 per hour. This position is eligible for an annual bonus (based on the incentive program terms and conditions).

• Medical, prescription drug plans, and dental coverage
• Life insurance and short‑term & long‑term disability
• Vision insurance, flexible spending account, and health savings account
• Tuition reimbursement and employee assistance program
• Voluntary benefits (hospital, critical illness, personal accident, legal & identity theft)
• 401(k) with company match, paid family leave, paid holidays and paid time off

E-Verify

Woodland Gourmet is a participant in the federal E-Verify program. As part of the hiring process, we will verify the information provided on your Form I-9 to confirm your eligibility to work in the United States. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from your Form I-9 to government records to confirm employment eligibility. For more information on E-Verify and your rights, please visit the E-Verify website.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Woodland Gourmet assures equal employment opportunity in all its hiring and employment policies and practices. These policies and practices are administered without regard to legally protected categories such as race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, pregnancy status or medical conditions related to childbirth.