Industrial Maintenance Mechanic – Rendering

Clemens Food Group; Hatfield Township (PA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Clemens Food Group is seeking a hands-on Rendering Mechanic to support our Rendering operation, ensuring equipment runs smoothly and safely. You will perform mechanical maintenance, troubleshoot complex systems, and work with Maintenance and Operations to prevent downtime.

The role requires diagnosing failures, repairing pumps and conveyors, and documenting activities to improve reliability and efficiency across the rendering process.

Qualifications

• Hands-on mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to diagnose and repair mechanical systems and equipment.
• Strong maintenance documentation and recordkeeping habits.
• Experience with pumps, valves, bearings, belts, chains, and drive units.
• Familiarity with preventive maintenance practices and safety procedures.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose, repair, and maintain pumps, valves, motors, bearings, belts, chains, drive units.
• Maintain rendering equipment e.g. cookers, dryers, presses, mills, blowers, conveyors, and pumps.
• Support safe equipment startup and shutdown procedures.
• Diagnose mechanical failures and determine repairs to restore operation.
• Perform preventive and predictive maintenance to reduce downtime.
• Document completed maintenance, inspections, and project work.

Skills

Mechanical ability

Reliability

Teamwork

Maintenance troubleshooting

Documentation

Education

High school diploma or GED

Technical/Trade school (preferred)

Tools

CMMS

Job description

Clemens Food Group is looking for a hands-on, mechanically minded Rendering Mechanic to support the equipment and systems that keep our Rendering operation running.

About The Company

For more than 125 years, Clemens Food Group has been guided by a simple principle: do the right thing. As a family-owned, fully integrated food company, we operate across the entire supply chain—from raising livestock to delivering finished products. We combine tradition with innovation to produce quality food and build a culture where people are empowered to grow, contribute, and succeed.

What You'll Do

As a Rendering Mechanic, you'll provide hands-on mechanical maintenance and troubleshooting for the equipment and processes supporting our Rendering operation.

• Diagnose, repair, and maintain pumps, valves, motors, bearings, belts, chains, drive units, and fluid-control systems
• Maintain and troubleshoot rendering equipment including cookers, dryers, presses, mills, blowers, conveyors, and pumps
• Support safe equipment startup and shutdown procedures
• Diagnose mechanical failures and determine appropriate repairs to restore equipment safely and efficiently
• Perform preventive and predictive maintenance to improve equipment reliability and reduce unplanned downtime
• Maintain, adjust, and repair belt and chain drive systems, including tensioning, alignment, and lubrication
• Troubleshoot pumps and fluid-handling systems, including issues involving flow, pressure, valves, seals, and related components
• Support industrial plumbing and piping repairs throughout the Rendering operation
• Work with hydraulic and pneumatic components including cylinders, valves, regulators, and flow controls
• Assist with basic electrical troubleshooting and continue developing electrical maintenance skills
• Read and interpret equipment manuals, mechanical drawings, and schematics
• Respond to equipment breakdowns and work with Operations to safely return systems to service
• Scope mechanical projects from initial problem identification through successful completion
• Accurately document completed maintenance, repairs, inspections, and project work
• Follow Lockout/Tagout and all applicable safety procedures
• Partner closely with Rendering Operations, Maintenance, and other support teams to identify opportunities for equipment and process improvement

What We're Looking For

We're looking for a mechanic who brings a combination of mechanical ability, reliability, teamwork, and the right mindset for the environment.

You Should Have

• Good working knowledge of motors, belts, chains, bearings, pumps, valves, and drive units
• Strong mechanical troubleshooting and diagnostic ability
• Experience identifying failures involving pumps, bearings, belts, chains, and fluid-control systems
• Basic understanding of machinery startup and shutdown procedures
• Knowledge of preventive maintenance and lubrication practices
• Industrial plumbing and mechanical piping knowledge
• Basic electrical knowledge or a strong willingness to continue developing electrical troubleshooting skills
• Ability to understand process-control procedures and how mechanical equipment impacts the overall operation
• Ability to scope a project, organize the work, and follow it through to successful completion
• Strong documentation and recordkeeping habits
• A team-first approach and willingness to work closely with both Maintenance and Operations

Preferred Experience

• Industrial or manufacturing maintenance experience
• Wastewater, water treatment, rendering, food processing, or similar heavy-process environment experience
• Experience maintaining pumps and fluid-handling systems
• Hydraulic and pneumatic troubleshooting experience
• Conveyor, belt, and chain-drive maintenance experience
• Welding or fabrication experience
• Familiarity with preventive maintenance programs or CMMS systems

The Environment

Rendering is an essential part of our operation and our sustainability efforts. The process converts pork by-products into usable materials rather than allowing those materials to go to waste.

Because of the nature of that process, this role requires someone who is comfortable:

• Working around raw pork by-products, including blood, offal, hair, and other organic material
• Working around strong odors
• Working in areas that may be hot, cold, wet, or humid
• Working around industrial chemicals and sanitation processes
• Working around active pumps, piping, conveyors, cookers, presses, and other processing equipment
• Working at heights when required
• Getting dirty when the repair requires it

EEO Statement

It is the policy of Clemens Food Group to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. All employees are subject to a pre-employment screening process including a background check and drug screen. In addition, we will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing the application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to your recruiter.