Farm Equipment Mechanic & Grain Storage Facility Operator

H2ajobs; Columbus (IN); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing: Employer-provided housing

Meals: Free meals or kitchen access

Transport: Reimbursement of travel

Job summary

H2ajobs seeks a winter operations mechanic for a grain storage facility in Columbus, Indiana. You will handle grain, prepare scale tickets, inspect moisture and grade, and move grain to storage bins with conveyors.

Regular maintenance and minor repairs are required, with safety and accuracy paramount. During winter, you will winterize and inspect farm equipment, service engines, hydraulics, and electrical systems, and perform post-season assessments.

Qualifications

• Experience with grain handling and storage operations.
• Ability to perform basic mechanical repairs and routine maintenance.
• Familiarity with electrical systems and testing equipment.

Responsibilities

• Safely handle grain during storage and shipment, including weighing and ticketing.
• Inspect loads for moisture content and grade quality; transfer grain to storage bins.
• Coordinate loading operations and maintain even distribution to minimize waste.
• Perform winterization and maintenance on farm equipment; assess wear and tear; conduct repairs.
• Clean and maintain work areas; ensure safety standards and compliance.

Skills

Grain handling

Mechanical repair

Maintenance

Electrical systems

Tools

Test meters

Soldering tools

Hand tools

Job description

This position supports winter operations at a grain storage facility and provides mechanical service for farm equipment during the off-season. During the winter grain handling period, responsibilities include the safe and efficient handling of grain throughout all stages of storage and shipment. Duties involve accurately preparing and documenting scale tickets, inspecting incoming loads for compliance with established moisture content and grade quality standards, and transferring accepted grain to the appropriate storage bins using grain conveying systems. Operators must maintain even grain distribution and minimize waste. Grain may also be moved from storage bins to loading bins for outbound shipment, with the operator coordinating the loading process. Manual shoveling is required in areas where automatic conveyor equipment cannot fully remove grain, particularly during bin clean-outs or maintenance operations. Regular housekeeping duties are expected to keep grain storage areas, loading zones, and surrounding facilities clean, safe, and compliant with operational standards. The position also includes performing routine maintenance on grain handling equipment, conducting minor mechanical repairs, and safely climbing vertical grain legs and accessing elevated equipment or storage areas for inspections and maintenance.

During the winter months (late November through the end of January), when field equipment is removed from operation, this position also includes responsibilities for the winterization, inspection, maintenance, and repair of all farm equipment and vehicles to ensure they are protected during storage and prepared for the next season. Winterization tasks include draining fluids such as fuel, oil, and coolant; adding fuel stabilizers; disconnecting or removing batteries; lubricating moving parts; sealing engine and cab openings to prevent rodent infestation; applying protective coatings to exposed metal surfaces; and conducting a general assessment to prepare equipment for long-term storage. Additional duties involve post- and preseason inspections to evaluate wear and tear and identify mechanical issues. The mechanic is responsible for overhauling farm machinery, dismantling defective machines, reassembling equipment and components, and testing the operation of critical systems including hydraulics, drivetrains, and electrical components. Tasks may include testing and replacing electrical wiring and parts using test meters, soldering tools, and hand tools; tuning engines; replacing or repairing defective or worn parts; fabricating new metal parts when needed; and patching or replacing bent or torn sheet metal. This position may also involve disassembling equipment for deep maintenance, servicing engines or replacing major components such as pistons or valves, adjusting mechanical systems for optimal performance, and conducting function tests to confirm reliability. Other responsibilities include cleaning equipment, parts, and tools; installing replacement parts; testing electrical circuits for safety and function; applying paint or protective coatings; inspecting equipment for structural defects or wear; and repairing or replacing mechanical and structural components. During snow accumulation, the role includes snow removal duties, which involve operating snow removal equipment to clear driveways, access roads, and equipment paths, and applying sand or salt to maintain safe walking and working conditions.

Daily duties may vary. The employer reserves the right to increase workers' pay or provide bonuses based on tenure, performance, or other factors that are solely based on the discretion of the employer.

Benefits

• Housing: Employer-provided (including mobile or range)
• Meals: The employer will provide, without charge or deposit, free and convenient kitchen and cooking facilities to prepare meals. The workers will be allowed time to drive themselves or will be transported to a store or market to purchase their own food and cooking supplies. Employer provided housing contains a refrigerator, stove, oven, and operational sink with hot and cold water under pressure. In the event that the workers are unable to prepare meals at the housing location, the employer will provide three sufficient meals a day free of charge.
• Transport: After worker has completed 50% of the work contract period, employer will reimburse worker for the cost of transportation and subsistence from the place of recruitment to the place of employment. Employee transportation will be arranged to and from their country of origin by either plane, train, bus, taxi service or own vehicle; whichever is most economical. The employer will properly reimburse employees for such travel as defined in 20 CFR 655.122(h). Continued in Addendum C.

Experience wanted: 2 months

Job requires having or being able to obtain a drivers license within 30 days of hire. Basic English literacy skills are required. Job will require periods when workers may be exposed to varying weather conditions and extensive pushing, pulling, or repetitive movements. Random drug testing and criminal background checks may occur post-hire at the employers expense. These checks may be performed to ensure safe housing and work environments for all workers. Positive drug test results or refusal to comply with testing may result in termination of employment. If the employer discovers a criminal conviction record or status as a registered sex offender that the employer reasonably believes, consistent with current law, will impair the safety and living conditions of other workers, the employer may terminate the worker (foreign and/or domestic) with notification to OFLC and DHS in accordance with 20 CFR 655.122(n).