Maintenance Technician - 1st Shift

Smithfield Foods, Inc.; Lincoln (NE); On-site; USD 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Relocation assistance

Tuition assistance

Education benefit

Job summary

Smithfield Foods, Inc. is seeking a Maintenance Technician to keep our Lincoln plant running smoothly. You will troubleshoot, repair, and maintain electrical and mechanical equipment in a fast-paced food processing environment.

The role requires a high school diploma or GED with 1+ years in maintenance (4 years in related field acceptable) and offers relocation options, competitive wages, health insurance, and tuition assistance where eligible.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required or 4 years in industrial maintenance; advanced tech diploma preferred.
• 1+ years in industrial maintenance or food manufacturing environment or related training.
• Relocation package available for eligible openings.

Responsibilities

• Review work orders and emergency calls; use SAP to create work orders and diagnose issues.
• Maintain, troubleshoot and repair electrical/mechanical equipment to keep production running smoothly.
• Install and maintain essential systems and utilities; ensure compliance with safety standards.

Skills

Electrical controls

Fluid power

Mechanical systems

Welding

Fabrication

Education

High school diploma or GED

Technical Diploma / Associate degree

Tools

Forklift

Genie lift

Scissor lift

Job description

YOUR OPPORTUNITY

Our team members receive industry-leading wages and are eligible for great benefits packages: Hourly Maintenance Competitive Starting Pay - $26.10-$33.25/hr Comprehensive Health Insurance, Retirement Benefits and More Education benefit available to full and part-time Smithfield team members upon meeting eligibility requirements Open to moving? We will help! Ask about our Relocation Assistance packages! 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. Your skills and attention to detail will directly contribute to the success of the team and the plant as a whole!

WHAT WE’RE SEEKING:

• 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.


• Relocation Package Available Yes

EEO Information

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.

Company Culture & Benefits

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.

About Smithfield Foods, Inc.

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.