Maintenance Technician

Sonstegard Foods Company; Iowa (LA); On-site; USD 30,307 - 46,838; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

PTO

401(k) with company match

Overtime opportunities

Job summary

Sonstegard Foods Company in Sheldon, IA is seeking an experienced Maintenance Technician to independently troubleshoot and repair industrial equipment and drive plant reliability. You will work on automated egg processing lines, conveyors, motors, and PLC-related systems in a high-volume facility.

The ideal candidate has 3–7+ years of maintenance experience, strong electrical troubleshooting skills, and familiarity with VFDs and industrial automation.

Qualifications

• 3–7+ years of industrial maintenance experience.
• Strong electrical troubleshooting skills (480V preferred).
• Experience with VFDs, motor controls, and industrial automation.
• Experience in food processing, agriculture, ethanol, feed mill, or manufacturing environments strongly preferred.
• Self-motivated, dependable, and safety-focused.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs and work in physically demanding conditions.
• Refrigeration experience is a strong plus but not required.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose and repair complex mechanical and electrical failures.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics and mechanical drawings.
• Perform advanced preventative maintenance to reduce downtime.
• Respond to breakdowns quickly and efficiently.
• Identify reliability improvements and recommend solutions.
• Support plant uptime and production goals.

Skills

Industrial maintenance

Electrical troubleshooting

Industrial automation

Safety-conscious

Physical strength

Tools

VFDs

Motor controls

Electrical schematics

Job description

Sonstegard Foods Company is a third-generation, family-owned leader in shell egg production and egg products, operating in five states and serving both domestic and international markets.

Our Sheldon, IA facility operates a high-volume automated egg grading plant along with production barns, with continued expansion underway. We are seeking an experienced Maintenance Technician who can independently troubleshoot and repair industrial equipment while helping drive plant reliability and performance.

If you currently work in food processing, ethanol production, meat processing, grain handling, feed manufacturing, or other automated industrial environments, your experience translates directly to this role.

What You’ll Work On

• Automated egg grading and inspection systems
• Conveyors, motors, VFDs, gearboxes, pumps, and drive systems
• Packaging equipment, wrapper, and tapers
• Motor controls, relays, sensors, and basic PLC systems
• Cooling and heating systems

If you’ve maintained processing lines, automated packaging equipment, ethanol plant systems, grain elevators, or large agricultural facilities, you will feel at home here.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

• Diagnose and repair complex mechanical and electrical failures
• Read and interpret electrical schematics and mechanical drawings
• Perform advanced preventative maintenance to reduce downtime
• Respond to breakdowns quickly and efficiently
• Identify reliability improvements and recommend solutions
• Support plant uptime and production goals

This role requires a technician who can work independently and take ownership of equipment performance.

What We’re Looking For

• 3–7+ years of industrial maintenance experience
• Strong electrical troubleshooting skills (480V preferred)
• Experience with VFDs, motor controls, and industrial automation
• Experience in food processing, agriculture, ethanol, feed mill, or manufacturing environments strongly preferred
• Self-motivated, dependable, and safety-focused
• Ability to lift 50 lbs and work in physically demanding conditions

Refrigeration experience is a strong plus but not required.

Why Consider Sonstegard Foods – Sheldon

• Stable, family-owned company with long-term growth
• Expansion and investment in equipment and facilities
• Competitive hourly pay
• Overtime opportunities
• Benefits package including medical, PTO, and 401(k) with company match
• Smaller team environment where your skills and contributions are recognized

If you\'re looking for a stable operation where your industrial maintenance experience is valued and your work directly impacts plant performance, we encourage you to apply.