Refrigeration and Maintenance Techs

kochfoods; Montgomery (AL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Koch Foods is seeking experienced Refrigeration & Maintenance Technicians to support the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of a poultry processing facility. This role focuses on maintaining, troubleshooting, repairing, and optimizing industrial refrigeration systems, production equipment, utilities, and facility systems.

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience in food processing, poultry environments, and thrives in a fast-paced, temperature-controlled facility.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Skills

Industrial maintenance

Refrigeration systems

Electrical troubleshooting

Mechanical troubleshooting

PLC controls

Welding / fabrication

Reading schematics

Safety compliance

Education

High school diploma or GED

Technical certification / trade school

Tools

Electrical testing tools

Hand tools

Meters and gauges

Pneumatic tools

Hydraulic 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.