Lead Mechanic

richardson; New Jersey; On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Flexible benefits

401(k)

Paid time off

Job summary

Richardson is seeking a Maintenance Technician to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair production and packaging equipment in a manufacturing setting. You will support reliability programs, preventative maintenance, and continuous improvement while partnering closely with operations teams.

The role requires hands-on expertise with industrial equipment, willingness to work weekends, and a track record of leading maintenance activities. Join Richardson’s global food manufacturing team.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Ability to work weekends, holidays, and overtime as needed.
• Leadership experience.
• Knowledge of motors, bearings, gears, chain drives, and belt drives.
• Experience with machine shop equipment and powered industrial vehicles/lifts.

Responsibilities

• Perform maintenance and troubleshooting on production and packaging equipment, including extruders, dryers, conveying systems, baggers, cartoners, case packers, palletizers, boilers, thermal fluid heaters, chillers, compressed air, HVAC, and material handling systems.
• Execute preventative and predictive maintenance activities.
• Partner with operations to resolve recurring equipment issues and improve reliability.
• Assist with outage planning, scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Support inventory management, parts requisitioning, and maintenance documentation.
• Provide work direction and training as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Motors & drives knowledge

Electrical/elec-mechanical

Preventive maintenance

Education

Associate degree or higher in a technical field

Tools

Machine shop equipment

Powered industrial vehicles/lifts

Job description

As part of Richardson's global agriculture and food business, our food and ingredients division plays a central role in connecting farm to table through our vertically integrated supply chain. As a leading pasta manufacturer, Richardson produces a wide range of high-quality dry pasta products for diverse markets and end uses.

Richardson provides an excellent compensation package consisting of a competitive salary, flexible benefits including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off, paid holidays, and training and career development opportunities.

Pay: $37.00 per hour

Shift: Sunday through Thursday, 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM

Job Summary

We are seeking a skilled Maintenance Technician to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair production and packaging equipment in a manufacturing environment. This role supports equipment reliability, preventative maintenance programs, and continuous improvement initiatives while partnering closely with operations teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform maintenance and troubleshooting on production and packaging equipment, including extruders, dryers, conveying systems, baggers, cartoners, case packers, palletizers, boilers, thermal fluid heaters, chillers, compressed air, HVAC, and material handling systems.
• Execute preventative and predictive maintenance activities.
• Partner with operations to resolve recurring equipment issues and improve reliability.
• Assist with outage planning, scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Support inventory management, parts requisitioning, and maintenance documentation.
• Provide work direction and training as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Ability to work weekends, holidays, and overtime as needed.
• Leadership experience.
• Knowledge of motors, bearings, gears, chain drives, and belt drives.
• Experience with machine shop equipment and powered industrial vehicles/lifts.

One of the following:

• Associate degree or higher in a technical field, OR
• Completed maintenance/mechanical apprenticeship, OR
• Relevant military maintenance training, OR
• 5+ years of hands-on maintenance, mechanical, electrical, electro-mechanical, or controls experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Food manufacturing maintenance experience.
• Ability to read blueprints and schematics.
• MIG, TIG, and stick welding experience.

Physical Requirements

• Lift up to 50 pounds.
• Stand, climb ladders, bend, kneel, stoop, and reach overhead.
• Work in hot, humid, cold, and dusty environments.
• Perform frequent pushing, pulling, grasping, and fine motor tasks.

Richardson is recognized as a global leader in agriculture and food processing with over 4,000 employees across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Europe. At Richardson, we are committed to enhancing our facilities and services and supporting our communities.