Service Technician

Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp; St. Charles (IL); On-site; USD 26,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition assistance

Relocation package

Job summary

Smithfield Foods is seeking a Process Control Technician to oversee oven processes and ensure product quality through careful monitoring of temperatures, pH, and aging procedures. You will operate oven equipment, perform data entry, and comply with HACCP and USDA requirements in a production environment.

The role requires a High School diploma and 2-3 years of related experience, with familiarity in SAP or production software.

Qualifications

• High School diploma required.
• 2-3 years of related work experience preferred.
• Knowledge of SAP and/or production software is required.
• Good verbal/written communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Oversight of oven processes and controls.
• Operation of oven mechanicals for product consistency.
• Perform data entry of production records and temperatures.
• Follow all Quality and HACCP procedures (SOPs).
• Follow USDA requirements for product aging.
• Troubleshoot issues and make corrections as needed.
• Schedule oven loading/unloading with material handling for delivery of product.
• Take pH measurements on scheduled intervals and adjust as needed.
• Check fermenting and cooking product for condition and temperature/humidity.
• Maintain a safe environment and recommend improvements.

Skills

SAP knowledge

Production software

Communication skills

Reading detail

Phone conversations

Education

High School diploma

Job description

Have a seat at our table. When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact.

Your Opportunity: In addition, we offer opportunities for career growth, professional development, and tuition assistance.

Core Responsibilities

• Oversight of oven processes and controls.
• Operation of oven mechanicals for product consistency.
• Perform data entry of production records and temperatures.
• Follow all Quality and HACCP procedures (SOP’s)
• Follow USDA requirements for product aging.
• Troubleshoot issues and make corrections, as needed.
• Schedule oven loading and unloading with material handling for delivery of unfinished/finished product to production/packaging.
• Take pH measurements on regularly scheduled intervals and make process adjustments, as needed.
• Check fermenting and cooking product on a regular basis for product condition, proper temperature and humidity.
• Maintain a safe environment and recommend improvements.
• May operate various equipment, including powered industrial material moving equipment.
• In the employee’s absence, the Process Control Technician or other Oven/ Aging Technician(s) will complete the roles and activities this position is responsible for.

Knowledge/Education/Skills/Certificates: Specific job skills training which is delivered post-employment. Broad Range of Dimensions Reflecting Job Scope: Interact with supervision and hourly paid employees. Follow schedule prepared by Aging Supervisor. Provide coverage in the absence of other Oven Aging Technicians, which may require extended hours and days.

Qualifications

• High School diploma
• 2-3 years of related work experience
• Knowledge of SAP and/or production software
• Good verbal/written communication skills
• Near acuity and accommodation is required for reading literature, reports and computer screen.
• Ability to conduct phone, two-way radio and direct conversations.
• Ability to communicate well in written and oral reports.
• Good phone skills.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instruction, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Detail oriented and able to read, understand and execute instructions.
• Ability to think logically, unemotionally and quickly to take appropriate actions needed to correct impromptu situations.
• Must be observant and aware of surroundings and be able to transfer accumulated knowledge to differing situations.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee is required to stand, sit, walk, push, pull, climb, reach overhead and bend to the floor. Exert 15 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or exert up to 15 pounds of force frequently. The employee is subject to a production environment approximately 75 percent of the work time. Production and outside environment. High noise levels from operating machines. Physical hazards from moving equipment and machine parts. Skin exposure to animal fat, grease, wastewater and chemicals. Heat and cold, both outside and in the plant. Oven/ Aging Technicians are primarily involved in monitoring processes essential to the production of product that is food-safe. On an annual basis, this job position will receive a special training for food safety monitors that is intended to keep the individual up-to-date on the methods and regulations surrounding the production of safe, wholesome product via the plant’s two Critical Control Points (CCP’s).

The expected pay range for this position is $19.23 - $28.85 per hour. Smithfield Foods provides pay ranges that reflect its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the company reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of hire. Individual compensation will be determined based on several factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the role, location of the position, the candidate’s qualifications and experience, internal equity, external market pay for comparable positions and budget considerations. At Smithfield Foods, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive total rewards package. Learn more about our benefits package here.

Relocation Package Available

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.

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.

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.