Maintenance Technician

Smithfield Distribution, LLC; Crete (NE); On-site; USD 33,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Tuition assistance

Shift differential for 3rd Shift

Job summary

Smithfield Distribution, LLC is seeking a Maintenance Technician to keep our plant running smoothly in a fast-paced food processing environment. You’ll troubleshoot, repair, and maintain electrical controls, fluid power, and mechanical systems to minimize downtime.

The role involves welding, fabrication, and preventive maintenance across pumps, packaging, and slicing equipment. A safety-focused mindset and ability to read technical documents are essential.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; 1+ years in industrial maintenance or food manufacturing preferred.
• Experience maintaining electrical controls, fluid power, and mechanical systems.
• Ability to read blueprints, schematics, wiring diagrams, and manuals.

Responsibilities

• Review work orders and use SAP to create tasks and track parts.
• Troubleshoot and repair electrical and mechanical equipment to minimize downtime.
• Disassemble, repair, and reassemble equipment; fabricate parts as needed.

Skills

Electrical systems

Mechanical maintenance

Welding

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Forklift operation

Genie lift

Scissor lift

Job description

Have a seat at our table. When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special - a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute & make a real impact.

YOUR OPPORTUNITY

Our team members receive industry-leading wages and are eligible for great benefits packages:

• Hourly Maintenance Competitive Starting Pay - $24.30-$32.30/hr
• $1.00/hr shift differential for 3rd Shift
• Comprehensive Health Insurance, Retirement Benefits and More
• Education benefit available to full and part-time Smithfield team members upon meeting eligibility requirements

In addition, we offer opportunities for career growth, professional development, and tuition assistance.

THE VALUE YOU’LL BRING

The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section. The Maintenance Technician is the go-to for keeping our plant running smoothly, responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing a wide range of electrical and mechanical equipment in our fast-paced food processing environment. You’ll be a jack-of-all-trades, bringing your expertise in electrical controls, fluid power, mechanical systems, welding, and fabrication to solve complex issues and keep production on track. From troubleshooting to hands‑on repairs, you’ll tackle everything from routine maintenance to more challenging system fixes, all while providing critical technical support across the entire operation. The role involves working on systems of varying complexity, requiring your sharp problem‑solving skills and ability to think on your feet - ensuring equipment runs smoothly and production never skips a beat. Ready to make an impact with every fix you perform? This role offers both challenge and variety in a dynamic, high-energy environment!

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Efficient Work Order & Emergency Response - Review work orders to assess the tools, equipment, time, manpower, parts, and supplies needed for each task - ensuring you're always prepared. Use SAP to create work orders. Respond quickly to emergency calls, showing up with the right tools and equipment to get the job done fast and efficiently. Read and interpret technical documents such as blueprints, schematics, wiring diagrams, and manuals to diagnose and repair complex issues.
• Hands-On Maintenance & Equipment Repair - Monitor machinery while in operation to spot malfunctions early, ensuring production stays on track. Disassemble and troubleshoot mechanical equipment, pinpoint faulty parts, replace and reassemble with precision, and test to ensure proper functionality. Fabricate replacement parts when necessary, using skills like welding, cutting, and sheet metal work to ensure repairs are done right. Perform regular preventive maintenance on a wide range of mechanical systems, including pumps, packaging, slicing equipment, and more, keeping everything running smoothly.
• Installation & System Maintenance - Take charge of installing and maintaining essential systems, from mechanical equipment and piping to electrical controls - ensuring everything meets manufacturer specs and local safety regulations. Install new equipment and utilities, including electrical, water, gas, and drain lines, to keep operations running at full capacity.
• Technical Skills & Problem-Solving - Stay sharp with a working knowledge of small hand tools and devices used in general mechanical maintenance - ready to tackle a variety of tasks with ease. Adhere to preventive and predictive maintenance schedules to ensure optimal performance and minimal downtime of all plant systems.
• Safety First! You'll follow all company safety protocols, including LOCKOUT/TAGOUT procedures, and adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) to maintain a safe, compliant, and high-performance environment.
• Employees must be able to pass a fit test to wear SCBA gear, perform rounds on the ammonia refrigeration system and be HazMat trained.

WHAT WE’RE SEEKING

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.
• High school diploma or general education degree (GED) and 1+ years of related experience and/or training in an industrial mechanical maintenance or food manufacturing environment; or 4 years’ direct experience in an industrial mechanical maintenance or food manufacturing maintenance environment.
• Vocational Diploma, Technical Diploma or associate degree from a technical maintenance or vocational school. (Preferred).
• Possess the ability to function effectively in a team environment and interact productively with all levels of team personnel and outside contractors.
• Ability to operate a forklift, genie lift or scissor lift or other powered industrial trucks (PIT).
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to read and execute work order, write daily reports, and translate equipment manuals.
• IndSPR-M/E Relocation Package Available
• Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.

At Smithfield, good food starts with good people. "Good food. Responsibly." is more than just our tagline; it's what we do. We provide good jobs. We take good care of our animals. We are good stewards of the environment. We do good in our local communities. Smithfield is proud to offer robust, flexible and affordable benefit plans and programs to support our team members and their loved ones, and with out-of-pocket costs, on average, 20 percent less than plans offered by other employers. Beyond our medical plans, our Be Well programs offer tools and resources to enhance your quality of life, at no additional cost. These programs are uniquely tailored to our Smithfield team and provide support for elective surgeries, weight loss, mental health, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, smoking cessation, asthma, maternity management and more. Our company invests in your future. We offer comprehensive training and professional development programs designed to help you reach your full potential. Through LinkedIn Learning, employees can access on-demand courses, professional certificates, and skill-based training to build capabilities aligned with career and business needs. Our partnership with Guild supports your continuing education with tuition assistance covering English language learning, high school completion, and degree programs, while our leadership development initiatives nurture high‑potential talent. We also offer unique benefits like our Smithfield Scholarship Program for employees’ children.

Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. With a diverse brand portfolio and strong relationships with U.S. farmers and customers, we responsibly meet demand for quality protein around the world.

For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities.

Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield, Eckrich and Nathan's Famous, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and connect with us on Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.