Maintenance Technician at Sonstegard Sheldon, IA

Sonstegard; Sheldon (IA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Paid time off

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Sonstegard Foods Company in Sheldon, IA is seeking an experienced Maintenance Technician to independently troubleshoot and repair industrial equipment, ensuring plant reliability and performance. You will work on automated egg grading systems, conveyors, motors, drives, and packaging equipment while supporting uptime and safety.

The ideal candidate has 3–7+ years in industrial maintenance, strong electrical skills with 480V, and experience with VFDs, motor controls, and PLCs in food processing

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.

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

Preventive maintenance

Safety-focused

Read schematics

Tools

VFDs

Motor controls

Industrial automation

PLC

Job description

Maintenance Technician 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

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

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