Refrigeration and Maintenance Techs

kochfoods; Cumming (GA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Koch Foods is seeking experienced Refrigeration & Maintenance Technicians to support a poultry processing facility. You will maintain, troubleshoot, repair, and optimize industrial refrigeration systems, production equipment, utilities, and facility systems in a fast-paced plant.

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience in food-processing or manufacturing settings, and can work safely following OSHA and GMP requirements.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of industrial maintenance or refrigeration experience.
• Experience in poultry processing, food manufacturing, cold storage, or similar industrial environment.
• Ammonia refrigeration experience strongly preferred for refrigeration-focused positions.
• Ability to read mechanical drawings, equipment manuals, and electrical schematics.
• Basic use of hand tools, power tools, meters, and gauges.
• Ability to work independently and respond effectively to equipment breakdowns.
• High school diploma or GED preferred; technical certification a plus.

Responsibilities

• Operate, inspect, troubleshoot, and maintain industrial refrigeration systems.
• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on refrigeration equipment and components.
• Troubleshoot compressors, condensers, evaporators, pumps, valves, and controls.
• Monitor pressures, temperatures, levels, and operating conditions.
• Respond to refrigeration alarms, equipment failures, and maintenance issues.
• Maintain records of repairs, inspections, and system conditions.
• Troubleshoot, repair, and maintain poultry processing and packaging equipment.
• Perform scheduled preventive maintenance to minimize downtime.
• Diagnose equipment failures and identify root causes.
• Assist with equipment installation, modification, and improvements.

Skills

Industrial maintenance

Refrigeration systems

Ammonia refrigeration experience

Electrical troubleshooting

Mechanical troubleshooting

Reading schematics

Safety compliance

CMMS experience

Education

High school diploma or GED

Technical certification or trade school

Tools

CMMS software

PLC troubleshooting tools

Job description

We are seeking experienced Refrigeration & Maintenance Technicians to support the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of a poultry processing facility. This position is responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, repairing, and optimizing industrial refrigeration systems, production equipment, utilities, and facility systems.

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience in a food-processing, manufacturing, industrial, or poultry environment and is comfortable working in a fast-paced, temperature-controlled production facility.

Key Responsibilities in Refrigeration:

• Operate, inspect, troubleshoot, and maintain industrial refrigeration systems.
• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on refrigeration equipment and associated components.
• Troubleshoot compressors, condensers, evaporators, pumps, valves, controls, piping, and refrigeration systems.
• Monitor refrigeration system pressures, temperatures, levels, and operating conditions.
• Respond quickly to refrigeration alarms, equipment failures, and production-related maintenance issues.
• Maintain refrigeration systems in accordance with company safety procedures and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records and document repairs, inspections, and system conditions.

Mechanical & Equipment Maintenance

• Troubleshoot, repair, and maintain poultry processing and packaging equipment.
• Perform mechanical repairs involving bearings, belts, chains, gearboxes, motors, pumps, conveyors, valves, and pneumatic systems.
• Conduct scheduled preventive maintenance to minimize equipment downtime.
• Diagnose equipment failures and identify root causes.
• Assist with equipment installation, modification, fabrication, and improvements.
• Maintain facility systems including doors, drains, pumps, utilities, and other plant infrastructure.

Electrical & Controls

• Troubleshoot basic to intermediate electrical problems involving motors, sensors, switches, relays, starters, and control circuits.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics, equipment manuals, and technical documentation.
• Use electrical testing equipment safely and appropriately.
• Escalate complex electrical, PLC, or controls issues when specialized support is required.

Safety & Food Safety

• Follow all OSHA, company safety, lockout/tagout, PPE, and environmental procedures.
• Follow food-safety, sanitation, and GMP requirements applicable to a poultry processing facility.
• Maintain a clean and safe work area.
• Properly document maintenance activities and safety-related inspections.
• Support plant compliance with applicable refrigeration, environmental, and food-safety requirements.

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
  
• Technical certification, trade school, or equivalent industrial maintenance training preferred.
  
• 2+ years of industrial maintenance or refrigeration experience preferred.
  
• Experience in poultry processing, food manufacturing, cold storage, or a similar industrial environment is highly desirable.
  
• Experience with industrial refrigeration systems, preferably ammonia (NH₃) refrigeration, is strongly preferred for refrigeration-focused positions.
  
• Mechanical troubleshooting and repair experience.
  
• Basic electrical troubleshooting skills.
  
• Ability to read mechanical drawings, equipment manuals, and electrical schematics.
  
• Ability to use hand tools, power tools, meters, gauges, and other maintenance equipment.
  
• Ability to work independently and respond effectively to equipment breakdowns.

Preferred Skills & Certifications

• Industrial ammonia refrigeration experience.
  
• RETA certification or equivalent refrigeration training.
  
• EPA refrigeration certification, where applicable.
  
• Electrical, HVAC, mechanical, or industrial maintenance certification.
  
• Experience with PLCs and automated production equipment.
  
• Welding/fabrication experience.
  
• Pneumatic and hydraulic systems experience.
  
• CMMS/maintenance-management-system experience.