Lubrication Technician

Packaging Corporation; Gladstone (VA); On-site; USD 44,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Medical/Dental/Vision insurance

Life/AD&D/Disability coverage

401k with employer match

Job summary

Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is seeking a Lubrication Technician to drive equipment uptime at the Riverville Mill through precise lubrication, contamination control, and basic condition monitoring. You will work under the Reliability Team to ensure bearings, gears, and other rotating equipment receive correct lubrication for optimal life in a heavy-duty, continuous manufacturing environment.

The role requires MLT-1 and MLT-2 ICML certifications or the ability to obtain them, 2–3 years

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Must possess or be able to rapidly obtain MLT-1 and MLT-2 certifications from ICML.

Responsibilities

• Execute daily, weekly, monthly and annual lubrication routes with precision.
• Manage lubricant storage, handling and dispensing per ICML and PCA practices.
• Pull routine oil samples, label and prepare for analysis; assist in root-cause analysis.
• Perform basic condition monitoring and visual/temperature checks for equipment health.
• Update lubrication tagging, routes, and CMMS procedures.
• Adjust lubrication frequencies and volumes based on operating conditions and history.
• Maintain 5S standards and enforce mill safety policies.

Skills

Industrial maintenance

Lubrication

Reliability

Mechanical aptitude

Data logging

Safety compliance

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

As a Fortune 500 company, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is an ideas and solutions company. Our corrugated packaging business seeks to be the leader in helping our customers - large and small - package, transport and display products of all kinds. Our white paper business delivers Paper With Purpose by providing the highest level of customer service and operational excellence. We have approximately 15,000 team members in more than 100 locations in the United States that strive to meet the local needs of our customers. Our mission is to serve the needs of our customers, today and tomorrow, with products and services that exceed expectations for performance and environmental responsibility.

People * Customers * Trust

Position Summary

The Lubrication Technician will drive equipment uptime and reliability at the Riverville Mill through precision lubrication, contamination control, and proactive condition monitoring. Reporting directly to the Reliability Team, the Lube Tech ensures that all rotating equipment, rolls, machinery, gearboxes, and bearings receive the precise type, amount, and frequency of lubrication required to optimize equipment life in a heavy-duty continuous manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities:

• Precision Lubrication: Execute daily, weekly, monthly, and annual outage lubrication routes as scheduled. Ensure absolute accuracy in oil and grease application to prevent over-greasing and bearing starvation.
• Contamination Control: Manage lubricant storage, handling, and dispensing according to ICML (International Council for Machinery Lubrication) and PCA best practices. Maintain absolute cleanliness of transfer carts, filter carts, and top-up containers.
• Oil Sampling & Analysis: Pull routine oil samples from critical assets, properly label them, and prepare them for analysis. Interpret basic results and assist in identifying root causes of lubricant degradation or wear.
• Condition Monitoring: Conduct primary equipment inspections, including visual checks, temperature assessments, and basic vibration screening during routes to identify early signs of equipment failure.
• Program Development: Continuously update machine-specific lubrication tagging, routes, and procedures in the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
• PM Optimization: Work closely with mill operations and mechanical maintenance teams to adjust lubrication frequencies and volumes based on operating conditions and equipment history.
• Housekeeping & Safety: Adhere to all mill safety policies (e.g., LOTO, confined space entry, PPE). Maintain top tier 5S standards in all lubrication storage and work areas.

Qualifications:

Education & Certifications:

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Must possess or be able to rapidly obtain MLT-1 (Machinery Lubrication Technician) and MLT-2 (Machinery Lubricant Analyst) certifications from the ICML.

Experience/ Skills:

• Minimum of 2 to 3 years of industrial maintenance, lubrication, or reliability experience-ideally within the paper, packaging, or heavy continuous process manufacturing industries.
• Strong mechanical aptitude, basic computer skills for data logging, and a highly detail-oriented mindset. Must be able to work independently and safely across the vast physical footprint of the Riverville site.

Physical & Work Environment

• Manufacturing environment with exposure to noise, dust, heat, and varying temperatures
• Ability to walk production areas, climb stairs and ladders, and work around operating equipment
• Ability to lift 50 pounds
• On-site role; may require off-hours or weekend support.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Starting salary for position: $31.63 per hour. MLT 1 - $35.33; MLT 2 - $43.58
• Paid Vacation: 2 weeks per calendar year. Pro-rata Vacation during the initial year of hire based upon start date within the calendar year.

• Paid Holidays.
• Within the first 30 days of employment, an employee (and their dependents) is eligible to enroll in certain benefit coverages -- medical, dental, and vision - and are automatically enrolled in life, AD&D, and disability coverages.
• Upon hire, an employee is automatically enrolled in the 401k plan. The plan offers both pre-tax and Roth contribution options along with employer provided matching contributions.
• Disclaimer: The Compensation and Benefits information in this posting represents PCA's good faith and reasonable estimate of what it may pay for this position. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

PCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer