Maintenance Mechanic

Department: Maintenance
Reports To: Maintenance Manager
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt (Union Position)
Location: Garden City, NY /

Position Summary

The Maintenance Mechanic is responsible for installing, troubleshooting, repairing, maintaining, and improving production equipment, packaging equipment, facility support systems, and manufacturing machinery to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations. This position performs preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance activities while supporting production schedules and minimizing equipment downtime.

The Maintenance Mechanic works closely with Production, Quality Assurance, Packaging, Warehouse, Engineering, and Sanitation to maintain equipment in accordance with food safety requirements, regulatory standards, and company policies while supporting the production of safe, legal, authentic, and quality food products.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance on production equipment, packaging equipment, conveyors, pumps, motors, gearboxes, mixers, compressors, and other manufacturing equipment.

• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and conveyor system issues to minimize production downtime.

• Respond to equipment breakdowns and perform emergency repairs in a timely manner.

• Install, modify, repair, and replace equipment components as needed.

• Perform routine inspections to identify equipment wear, deficiencies, and potential failures.

• Execute preventive maintenance activities according to the Preventive Maintenance (PM) schedule.

• Accurately document maintenance activities, repairs, inspections, and work orders within the FMX Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).

• Assist with equipment installations, upgrades, commissioning, and capital improvement projects.

• Maintain production equipment in proper operating condition to maximize reliability and efficiency.

• Perform welding, fabrication, machining, and basic electrical repairs as qualified and required.

• Lubricate equipment using approved food-grade lubricants and follow established lubrication schedules.

• Replace bearings, belts, chains, motors, sensors, pneumatic components, valves, and other mechanical parts as required.

• Assist with troubleshooting PLC-controlled equipment and automation systems as directed.

• Coordinate maintenance activities with Production to minimize operational disruptions.

• Maintain maintenance tools, equipment, spare parts, and work areas in a clean and organized condition.

• Assist with contractor activities and equipment repairs as assigned.

• Participate in Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigations and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Food Safety & Quality Responsibilities

• Perform maintenance activities in a manner that protects food safety and product integrity.

• Follow sanitary maintenance practices to prevent contamination during maintenance activities.

• Ensure equipment is properly cleaned, inspected, and approved prior to returning equipment to production.

• Utilize approved food-grade lubricants, replacement parts, and maintenance materials where required.

• Support compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), HACCP, SQF, FSMA, Food Defense, Food Fraud, Allergen Management, Preventive Maintenance Programs, and Traceability requirements.

• Immediately report equipment failures, food safety concerns, quality issues, or unsafe conditions.

• Support the Company's commitment to producing safe, legal, authentic, and quality food products.

Food Safety Culture

All employees are responsible for supporting and promoting the Company's food safety culture. Employees are expected to actively participate in food safety initiatives, report concerns, follow established procedures, and contribute to the production of safe, legal, and quality food products in accordance with SQF, regulatory, customer, and company requirements.

The Maintenance Mechanic supports the Company's food safety culture by ensuring production equipment is maintained in a safe, sanitary, and reliable operating condition.

Authority and Responsibility

The Maintenance Mechanic has the authority and responsibility to:

• Remove equipment from service when unsafe conditions, food safety concerns, or equipment failures are identified.

• Stop maintenance activities when unsafe working conditions exist.

• Recommend equipment repairs, preventive maintenance improvements, and replacement of worn components.

• Escalate equipment failures, safety hazards, food safety concerns, and maintenance issues to the Maintenance Manager.

• Verify maintenance work is completed before equipment is returned to production.

Qualifications

Education

• High School Diploma or GED required.

• Technical school certification, vocational training, or apprenticeship in Industrial Maintenance, Mechanical Technology, Electrical Technology, or a related field preferred.

Experience

• Minimum three (3) years of industrial maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment.

• Food manufacturing experience preferred.

• Experience troubleshooting mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and conveyor systems.

• Experience using a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS), preferably FMX, preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of industrial maintenance practices and mechanical systems.

• Ability to troubleshoot and repair mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and conveyor equipment.

• Knowledge of motors, pumps, bearings, gearboxes, chains, belts, valves, and power transmission systems.

• Basic knowledge of PLC-controlled equipment and automation systems preferred.

• Ability to read blueprints, equipment manuals, schematics, and technical drawings.

• Knowledge of welding, fabrication, machining, and general shop practices preferred.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Competency Requirements

Employees must demonstrate competency through a combination of education, experience, training, observation, testing, performance evaluation, and on-the-job verification as applicable to their position. Competency records shall be maintained in accordance with company training procedures.

Training Requirements

The Maintenance Mechanic must successfully complete all required company orientation, food safety, quality, safety, and job-specific training programs as assigned.

Required training may include, but is not limited to:

• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)

• HACCP

• SQF Requirements

• Food Safety Culture

• Food Defense

• Food Fraud Awareness

• Allergen Management

• Preventive Maintenance Program

• Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)

• Machine Guarding

• Electrical Safety

• Arc Flash Awareness

• Confined Space Awareness (as applicable)

• Powered Industrial Truck Awareness

• FMX Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)

• Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

• Company Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Training requirements, competency expectations, refresher training, and position-specific training matrices shall be maintained in accordance with the Company's Employee Training Requirements Program and applicable departmental training procedures.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the manufacturing facility.

• Ability to frequently bend, kneel, crouch, climb ladders, and work from elevated platforms.

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds regularly.

• Ability to push, pull, and manipulate tools, equipment, and replacement parts.

• Ability to work in confined spaces and varying environmental conditions as required.

• Ability to wear required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Work Environment

Work is performed throughout production, warehouse, utility, and maintenance areas. Regular exposure to moving machinery, electrical equipment, compressed air systems, varying temperatures, food allergens, noise, vibration, cleaning chemicals, and wet conditions may occur. Compliance with all company safety, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), sanitation, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements is mandatory.

Disclaimer

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications required. Management reserves the right to modify, assign, or remove duties and responsibilities as business needs require.