Mechanical Technician

prattinternalcareersite; Valparaiso (IN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness

401K with match

Mill incentive program

Tuition reimbursement

Parental leave

EAP/Travel assistance

Job summary

Pratt Industries in Indiana is seeking a Mechanical Technician to secure reliability and uptime for our paper mill processes. You will troubleshoot and repair mechanical systems, operate forklifts, read blueprints, and support preventive maintenance on a 24/7 rotating schedule.

Join a high-performance team that values safety, hands-on skills, and continuous improvement. Experience with welding, pipefitting, and gear drives is a plus.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree or equivalent from college, university, technical school, military, vocational or similar institution.
• Computer/Data entry skills are required.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot and repair mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic issues in process equipment.
• Operate motorized equipment including forklifts, scissor lifts, hoists, and cranes.
• Read orders, interpret blueprints and manuals, and document work performed.
• Perform preventive maintenance to ensure reliability and uptime of paper mill processes.
• Weld (MIG/TIG/Stick) and pipefit as needed.
• Support other tasks assigned by Mill Management.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Repair

Equipment operation

Blueprints/manuals

Welding & pipefitting

Education

Post-secondary degree (2-4 years)

Job description

Mechanical Technician: Master the Controls of a State-of-the-Art Paper Mill!

Join our dynamic Maintenance Team as a Mechanical Technician, providing essential reliability-centered maintenance support to our paper machine operations. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a high-performance work system, working a rotating 24/7 shift schedule that includes both day and shift assignments. All Mechanical Technicians are expected to experience both day and shift roles over time. You will report directly to the Mechanical Maintenance Superintendent.

BENEFITS

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth, including:

• Health & Wellness: Participating Medical/Dental/Vision Plans, Healthy Lifestyles Program/Personify Health Fitness Tracking, Gym Reimbursement Program, Short Term Disability/Long Term Disability, Annual $300 Work Boot reimbursement, and Annual $250 Prescription Safety Glasses reimbursement.
• Financial Security: 401K Plan with Company Match, Mill Incentive Program (up to 80% of one month’s base salary, paid quarterly), Supplemental Life Insurance Plans, Supplemental Spouse and Child Life Insurance plans, Income Protection Plans.
• Professional Development: Tuition Reimbursement/Assistance Program.
• Work-Life Balance: Child Bearing & Parental Leave, Legal and Travel Assistance Plans, EAP/Home Auto Insurance Plans, Wireless/Auto/Discount Plans.

SALARY COMPENSATION

Mechanical Technicians are Salaried Non-Exempt, qualifying for overtime beyond 40 hours per week.

• New Hire Base: $60,000 annual base salary
  • With built-in overtime and incentive, you will typically earn $90,000+ annually

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As a Mechanical Technician, your primary responsibility is to ensure the optimal reliability and uptime of our processes through preventive maintenance. You will be instrumental in:

• Troubleshooting & Repair: Diagnosing and repairing mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic issues in process equipment, including pumps, transmissions, and other components.
• Equipment Operation: Safely operating motorized equipment such as forklifts, scissor lifts, Genie lifts, hoists, and cranes.
• Technical Proficiency: Applying safe working practices, understanding preventive and first-line maintenance principles, and interpreting blueprints, technical manuals, and literature.
• Mechanical Expertise:
  • Diagnosing mechanical faults and planning effective solutions.
  • Understanding power transmission systems, including the removal, refitting, installation, and alignment of shafts, belts, chains, and couplings.
  • Correctly removing and refitting various bearing types, identifying applications, and recognizing defects.
  • Recognizing stripped threads and utilizing thread repair equipment.
  • Manufacturing gaskets, removing, and replacing seals and gland packing.
  • Understanding the operation of various gearboxes (helical, spur, and worm-wheel).
  • Dismantling and replacing drive belts.
  • Identifying conveyor systems and their components, including troubleshooting, removal, replacement, and tracking of conveyor belts.
• Welding & Pipefitting: Employing appropriate welding processes (MIG, TIG, or Stick) and performing pipe fitting duties as needed.
• Documentation: Reading orders and preparing legible and accurate reports.
• Additional Responsibilities: Performing other tasks as assigned by Mill Management.

Education and/or Required Experience

• Post-secondary educational degree (2 to 4 year degree from college, university, technical school, military, vocational or other advanced educational institution)
• Computer/Data entry skills.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Unpack your Career

We innovate to create packaging solutions that protect and deliver the products people need.

It’s what we do.

Doing it in a sustainable, responsible way.

That’s who we are.

Our entrepreneurial spirit and focus on doing the right thing has always guided us, and we’re seeking visionaries and innovators to design, manufacture, sell, and transport our packaging at Pratt Industries.

Feel what it’s like to make a lasting contribution to the environment, and build a future with the Pratt team.

Sustainable careers start here

Pratt Industries is America’s 5th largest corrugated packaging company and the world’s largest, privately-held producer of 100% recycled containerboard, with more than 9000 highly-skilled, green-collar employees dedicated to the environment and sustainability. Pratt Industries was founded in the USA more than 30 years ago and, since then, has shown dramatic growth with sophisticated manufacturing facilities in more than 27 states. The company operates several of the most modern, cost effective paper mills in the country, as well as a series of sheet and box plants strategically placed throughout the United States offering a wide range of creative packaging solutions. Pratt Industries is committed to recycling and the environment by harvesting the urban forest.