Plant Utilities Technician (Night Shift)

Join a fast-growing, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility as a Night Shift Industrial Refrigeration Utilities Technician. In this role, you’ll play a key part in maintaining and optimizing critical refrigeration, HVAC, and plant utility systems to ensure smooth, safe, and efficient production. This position offers competitive pay, night shift differential, and opportunities to grow your technical skills while working in a collaborative, safety-focused environment.

Schedule: 12-hour night shifts (6:00 PM – 6:30 AM) | 2-2-3 rotation

Pay: $40.36/hr (Technician 5) or $44.47/hr (Technician 6) + $3/hr night shift differential

Key Responsibilities:

• Promote and follow safety and quality policies; recognize unsafe conditions and coach peers as needed.

• Monitor, troubleshoot, and maintain the ammonia refrigeration system; comply with Process Safety Management (PSM) requirements (Ammonia Operator 1 certification required).

• Operate and maintain:

  • Combustion equipment (ovens, boilers, oxidizers)

  • Compressed air systems

  • Water streams and wastewater treatment facilities

  • HVAC systems (filters, belts, cleaning, PMs)

• Perform general facility maintenance (office repairs, snow removal, restrooms).

• Document inspection rounds and maintain accurate work logs.

• Use drawings, prints, and manuals for preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs.

• Participate in training/qualification programs and maintain consistent standards.

• Apply continuous improvement tools to reduce downtime and drive root cause solutions.

• Serve as a system owner for technical, safety, or quality systems; create/update SOPs, job aids, and PM documentation.

• Keep accurate records using CMMS (maintenance system), including parts usage and time tracking.

• Collaborate with engineering and operations to ensure compliance with refrigeration, HVAC, utilities, wastewater, and facility codes.

• Provide shift pass-down communication for safety, quality, and production updates.

• Lead or support projects to improve safety, quality, and reliability.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• High School Diploma or equivalent (technical/associates degree preferred).

• 5+ years’ experience in mechanical, maintenance, or utilities maintenance in a manufacturing environment.

• 2+ years’ experience with HVAC, combustion systems, or ammonia refrigeration strongly preferred.

• Food manufacturing or regulated environment experience preferred.

• Knowledge of utility plant controls, instrumentation, and regulatory compliance a plus.

• Strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills (English required).

• Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.

Physical & Work Environment:

• Regular walking, standing, climbing, squatting, kneeling, and bending.

• Ability to lift 50+ lbs occasionally; pass occupational physical and standard eye exam.

• Must maintain minimum 20/40 vision (with or without corrective lenses).

• Work in environments with exposure to:

  • Loud noise (hearing protection required)

  • Extreme hot/cold temperatures, including freezer at -10°F

  • Dust, gas, chemicals, oils, flour, yeast, peanut butter, and other allergens

  • Heights and confined spaces (occasional)

• Must be clean-shaven and medically cleared for respirator use.

• Weekend work and flexible scheduling required.

• Occasional travel for training.

Additional Information:

• Strong computer skills for recordkeeping, communication, and training (CMMS, email, MS Office).

• Must be reliable, punctual, and able to work independently or as part of a team.

• Ability to set and meet goals, prioritize workload, and adapt to changing demands.

• Internal applicants may be subject to performance, qualification, and attendance requirements.