Maintenance Technician

American Sugar Refining; Calumet City (IL); On-site; USD 37,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare (medical, dental, vision,Rx

401(k) with match

Life insurance

AD&D

Short-term disability

Vacation, holiday and sick time

2nd/3rd shift differentials

Job summary

American Sugar Refining (ASR Group) is seeking a Maintenance Technician to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair packaging, processing, and facility equipment across our Calumet City, IL operations. The role requires flexibility to cover Fridays through Sundays as needed and potential overtime to support safe, reliable plant operations.

The position emphasizes preventative maintenance, equipment reliability, and adherence to food safety and quality standards, with regular hours on weekdays and

Qualifications

• 3-5 years industrial maintenance experience.
• Experience in a manufacturing facility preferred.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of packaging equipment, PLC-controlled systems, and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Perform preventive, corrective, and routine maintenance on production, packaging, and facility equipment.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and control systems to diagnose failures.
• Observe operations and adjust components to restore or improve performance.
• Repair or replace worn parts to maintain equipment reliability and safety.
• Support equipment startups, changeovers, and commissioning to ensure proper operation.
• Identify recurring issues and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintain documentation in CMMS and keep the shop clean and organized.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Packaging machinery

PLC systems

Electrical troubleshooting

Reading blueprints

Safety compliance

Cross-functional teamwork

Decision making

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate's degree or technical training

Tools

CMMS

RedZone

SAP

Job description

The ASR Group family of companies make up the world’s largest refiner and marketer of cane sugar. The companies produce a full line of grocery, industrial, foodservice and specialty sweetener products. Across North America, ASR Group companies operate five sugar refineries, located in California, Maryland, Louisiana, Canada and Mexico. In Europe, ASR Group companies operate sugar refineries in the United Kingdom, Portugal, and, with a joint venture partner, Italy. The companies also farm sugarcane and own sugar mills in Mexico and Belize. The ASR Group portfolio includes the leading brands Domino, C&H, Florida Crystals, Redpath, Tate & Lyle, Lyle's, Sidul and Whitworths. ASR Group companies also produce and market Tellus, a single-use, compostable tableware and foodservice product made from plant fibers, including sugarcane.

OVERVIEW

The Maintenance Technician is responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing a wide range of packaging, processing, materialhandling, and facility equipment. This role supports safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations by performing preventative maintenance, responding to breakdowns, optimizing equipment performance, and ensuring compliance with food safety, quality, and safety standards.

This position requires the flexibility to work various shifts, including Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and overtime, as needed. Weekend shifts may be mandated based on business needs.

Regular Hours - M-F 6 a.m. - 2 p.m.

DETAILED ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Maintenance & Troubleshooting

• Perform routine, corrective, and preventative maintenance on assigned production, packaging, materialhandling, and facility equipment.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and PLCcontrolled systems to diagnose and resolve equipment failures.
• Observe equipment in operation and adjust functional components and control instruments to restore or improve performance.
• Repair or replace worn, damaged, or defective components to maintain equipment reliability and safety.

Equipment Optimization & Reliability

• Optimize the performance of VFFS, stick pack, packet, filling, and casepacking equipment to meet production, quality, and efficiency targets.
• Collaborate with operators to improve line performance and coordinate repairs or adjustments to minimize downtime.
• Assist with equipment startups, changeovers, and commissioning to ensure systems operate correctly.
• Identify recurring issues and contribute to continuous improvement and reliability initiatives.

Fabrication & Tool Use

• Set up and operate shop tools, drill press, grinder, and other metalworking tools to fabricate, modify, or repair parts.
• Install functional and structural components for equipment upgrades or modifications.

Safety, Quality & Food Compliance

• Perform all work in accordance with plant safety rules, lockout/tagout procedures, and food safety requirements.
• Ensure food safety, authenticity, legality, and product quality are maintained during all maintenance activities.
• Report unsafe conditions, equipment risks, or outofspecification product, packaging, or raw materials to the designated manager for immediate action.

Documentation & Housekeeping

• Utilizing site CMMS, RedZone, SAP, or other software, complete all required maintenance documentation accurately and in a timely manner.
• Maintain a clean, organized maintenance shop and properly manage parts, tools, belts, and storage areas.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support plant operations.

WORK EXPERIENCES

• 3-5 years industrial maintenance experience required, preferably within a manufacturing facility
• Proven ability to successfully meet customer and management deadlines
• Highly organized, self-starter that can work with little direct supervision
• Ability to work a flex schedule as needed

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent experience required
• Associate's degree (A.A.) or equivalent from two-year College or technical school; or three to five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.

ESSENTIAL CAPABILITIES (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES)

• Strong mechanical aptitude with experience maintaining complex industrial equipment
• Working knowledge of packaging machinery, automated systems, and PLCcontrolled equipment
• Ability to troubleshoot across mechanical, electrical, and control systems
• Ability to read blueprints, schematics, and P&IDs
• Commitment to safety, food quality, and continuous improvement
• Ability to work effectively with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams
• Ability to make sound decisions regarding resource utilization and needs

COMPENSATION

• Hourly rate $26.62 - $46.88 /hour based on experience. Benefits include healthcare (medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs) available the first of the month following 30 days of employment, 401(k) with match, life insurance, AD&D, short-term disability, vacation, holiday and sick time.
• 2nd Shift differential: $1.00/hr; 3rd Shift differential: $1.50/hr

LOCATION OF ROLE

• Calumet, IL

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, genderidentity, age,nationalorigin, disability, veteranstatusorany other category protected under federal, state, or local law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.