Maintenance Reliability Specialist

Nichols Farms; Hanford (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Nichols Farms is seeking a senior Maintenance Reliability Specialist to drive equipment reliability and asset lifecycle optimization at the Hanford, California facility. You will lead preventive and predictive maintenance programs, analyze data for problem solving, and coordinate cross-functional projects to achieve world-class maintenance performance.

The role requires deep mechanical, electrical, and control systems knowledge, with proven leadership in mentoring technicians and guiding

Qualifications

• Experience with electrical, mechanical, and control systems in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven ability to conduct RCA, FMEA, and asset criticality analyses.
• Strong project management and cross functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead reliability improvement initiatives and optimize preventive/predictive maintenance strategies.
• Own project scopes, schedules, and execution with operations, engineering and contractors.
• Drive continuous improvement using DMAIC, 5S, and visual management techniques.

Skills

Electrical knowledge

Mechanical systems

PLC understanding

Root Cause Analysis

DMAIC

5S / visual mgmt

Team mentoring

Education

Associate degree or technical certification

Tools

CMMS

PLC programming

Six Sigma tools

Job description

Nichols Farms is one of the top processors of pistachios in the United States. For more than three decades, Nichols Farms has maintained superior quality and exceptional service in supplying pistachio and almond products to major retail and wholesale clients domestically and internationally. Nichols Farms maintains a state-of-the-art processing facility at their corporate headquarters in Hanford, California, employing over 350 employees. Join the Nichols Farms Team in their objective of continued growth. Nichols Farms possesses a strong employee-oriented environment dedicated to training and growth of team members.

The Nichols Farms Mission and Vision supports a culture of striving for mutual success of our employees, suppliers, and customers through operational excellence and educational development.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Maintenance Reliability Specialist will be a key technical resource focused on improving equipment reliability, optimizing asset life cycles, and executing capital and reliability-based projects. This position will support long-term plant performance through preventive and predictive initiatives, data-driven problem solving, and cross-functional project execution. This is a senior position, and as such are expected to show initiative to bring the utmost level of professionalism, personal character, and a team-centered mindset to the department. Successful candidates will have an extremely firm grasp of mechanical, electrical, and controls principles/best practices and will be expected to share those with your direct team members to achieve the common goal – Becoming a World Class Maintenance Department.

SAFETY ABILITY

Promote a \"safety first\" culture by following all safety rules (including Lockout/Tagout, Arc-Flash, Confined Space, Fall Protection, and Hazard Communication). Report all near misses, injuries, and documentation of incidents to the Shift Supervisor/Production Supervisor.

QUALITY ABILITY

Perform all duties in accordance with Quality and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) established company policies and procedures.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Responsible for active participation in continuous improvement teams and processes.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Reliability Improvement:

• Conduct Root Cause Analyses (RCA) on chronic and high-impact failures.
• Perform Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and asset criticality assessments.
• Develop and optimize preventive and predictive maintenance strategies.
• Standardize equipment, repair methods, and maintenance processes.
• Provide expert-level troubleshooting and support to maintenance technicians.
• Support equipment reliability by analyzing CMMS data and maintenance trends.

• Project Execution:

• Own project scopes, schedules, and implementation activities.
• Collaborate with operations, engineering, and contractors to ensure successful project delivery.
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs through tighter project planning and scope control.

• Continuous Improvement:

• Identify and eliminate waste in maintenance workflows and processes (e.g., excess motion, waiting, rework).
• Drive or support DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) improvement initiatives.
• Use Six Sigma tools (Pareto analysis, fishbone diagrams, A3s) to solve recurring maintenance issues.
• Create and standardize maintenance job plans and task sequences for improved efficiency and repeatability.
• Implement 5S and visual management practices in maintenance areas.
• Facilitate Kaizen events focused on equipment uptime and maintenance effectiveness.

• Technical Support:

• Serve as a technical expert in troubleshooting mechanical and electrical issues.
• Assist maintenance technicians with complex problems and mentor less experienced team members.
• Analyze maintenance data and trends to drive systemic improvements.

• Leadership Development & Knowledge Transfer:

• Mentor junior technicians on technical troubleshooting, safety, and maintenance best practices.
• Train team members in new processes or reliability standards developed through continuous improvement.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Electrical Experience

• Experience working on low voltage motors, servos.
• Understanding of low voltage control wiring
• Able to understand, diagnose, and wire analog sensors (4-20mA and 0-10v).
• PLC and remote IO wiring
• Ability to read PLC code.
• Reading and interpreting red line drawings.
• Able to wire up new control circuits for motor controls, instrumentation, feedback, signaling, alarms, and interlocks.
• Experience in conduit bending, wire pulling, termination, and underground electrical.
• Experience troubleshooting field sensors including RTD, Thermocouples, transmitters.
• Experience programming VFDs.
• Understanding safety circuits. Experience troubleshooting safety relays and STO on VFDS.
• Knowledge of how PLCs work and logic work. Experience troubleshooting inputs, outputs, and analog signals to PLC.
• Knowledge of industrial networks. Ability to terminate network cables and able to test and troubleshoot.
• Equipment Calibration-Valves, pressure, flow, temperature transmitters, digital analog controls, servos, thermocouple, flow, level controls strain gauges, load cells, test equipment
• Adhere to NEC and local codes.
• Proof of Arc-Flash PPE training preferred.

• Mechanical Experience

• Able to test and work on rotary actuators.
• Experience with hydraulic circuits, pumps, cylinders, and pressure regulators.
• Understanding of pneumatic systems, air compressors, valves, and actuators.
• Can troubleshoot conveyance drive systems.
• Advance knowledge of mechanical systems.
• Advance understanding of gears, bearings, shafts, belts, couplings, and basic machine operation principles.
• Ability to MIG and TIG.
• Experience pipe fitting.
• Knowledge of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, including components like chillers, furnaces, and ductwork.

• Industrial Experience

• Experience working on pasteurizers, dryers, and roasters.
• Understanding of robotic palletizing and case packaging.
• Experience with Packaging equipment including fillers, scales, case erectors, and check weighers.
• Experience working on the following inspection systems: color sorters, x-rays, and metal detectors.

• Associate degree or technical certification in industrial maintenance, mechanical engineering, or related field.
• Possess a comprehensive understanding of advanced principles in mechanical, electrical, and control systems, along with the practical ability to effectively demonstrate these concepts to the maintenance leadership team. This includes not only theoretical knowledge but also hands‑on experience in applying these principles to real‑world scenarios, ensuring clarity, and enhancing the team's operational capabilities.
• Experience with Full Microsoft Office Suite and computerized maintenance software.
• Exposure to regulatory (local and federal) compliance is preferred but not required.

JOB ATTRIBUTES:

• Safety Awareness: Ability to identify and correct conditions that affect employee safety.
• Leadership: Ability to influence others to perform their jobs effectively and to be responsible for making decisions
• Time Management: Ability to utilize the available time to organize and complete work within given deadlines.
• Adaptability: Ability to adapt to changes in the workplace. Capable of functioning in a fast-paced entrepreneurial setting.
• Resource Management (People & Equipment) - Ability to obtain and appropriate the proper usage of equipment, facilities, materials, as well as personnel.
• Prioritization: Ability to quickly prioritize numerous pressing tasks and manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written skills, as well as ability to make presentations.
• Interpersonal: Ability to effectively build working relationships
• Team Involvement: Works effectively with teams and work groups. Actively participates in problem solving and interacts with team and work groups to achieve team and organizational goals.
• Detail-oriented: Attention to detail and ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks.
• Continuous Improvement: Active participant in continuous improvement initiatives and goals. Seeks opportunities to improve self and processes.
• Critical Thinking: Use logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Active Learning: Understanding new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Required to complete all assigned tasks by due dates and report to management when these are not completed, along with reasons and timeline for follow up to be completed.
• Ability to effectively communicate with all plant personnel and provide training when needed to elevate their personal understanding of equipment and/or processes.
• Fluent in Spanish and/or English preferred but not required.
• Ability to lift 100 lbs. occasionally while normally lifting upwards of 50 lbs. repeatedly.
• Ability to work with outside resources (vendors) as needed.
• Ability to work indoors/outdoors in extreme temperatures (hot/cold) as required by the company.
• Be able to confidently explain the current condition of assets and communicate needs to nontechnical employees.
• Participate in annual production training to ensure compliance with Nichols Farms standards and SOPs.
• Work with department leadership to understand and complete all tasks assigned, even outside of the direct job description.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job description is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform in the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the Company reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the Company may deem appropriate.

EOE/M/F/D/V