Hands-on Automation & Maintenance Technician (Food Manufacturing)

Zina's Fine Foods; SOUTH PLAINFIELD (NJ); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Employee discounts

Free food & snacks

Paid time off

Job summary

Zina's Fine Foods in South Plainfield, NJ is seeking a skilled technician to keep production running and help bring new equipment online. You will work directly on the shop floor, configuring machines, reading schematics, and solving problems with limited documentation.

This role requires strong mechanical/electrical aptitude, PLCs/VFDs experience (Allen-Bradley or Siemens), and the ability to operate in a wet, GMP/SQF environment. On-site, first shift; cross-training and safety are emphasized.

Qualifications

• Several years maintaining production equipment in a plant.
• Strong mechanical ability: bearings, drives, belts, chains, gearboxes.
• Electrical troubleshooting up to 480V three phase.
• Experience with PLCs and VFDs (Allen-Bradley or Siemens).
• Able to work from the machine and with limited documentation.
• Capable of working independently when a line goes down.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot and repair production equipment: mechanical, electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic.
• Set up, level, align and time machines so they run right, not just run.
• Install and commission new and used equipment, from uncrating through the first production run.
• Work on fillers, depositors, labelers, checkweighers, metal detectors, cookers, coolers, conveyors, weighers and wrappers.
• Read and correct electrical schematics, and wire or modify control panels.
• Troubleshoot PLC-controlled equipment and VFDs, and make program changes where needed.
• Find the real cause when a machine keeps failing, fix it, and confirm it stayed fixed.
• Show operators how to run and set the equipment, and document changes for knowledge transfer.
• Work safely in a wet, cold, washdown environment under GMP and SQF rules.

Skills

Mechanical ability

Electrical troubleshooting

PLC & VFDs

Allen-Bradley/Siemens

Troubleshooting

Education

Trade qualification in mechatronics/electrical/mechanical

Tools

Electrical license/Certification

Job description

Zina's Fine Foods in South Plainfield, NJ is seeking a skilled technician to keep production running and help bring new equipment online. You will work directly on the shop floor, configuring machines, reading schematics, and solving problems with limited documentation.

This role requires strong mechanical/electrical aptitude, PLCs/VFDs experience (Allen-Bradley or Siemens), and the ability to operate in a wet, GMP/SQF environment. On-site, first shift; cross-training and safety are emphasized.