Mechanical Technician

Role Overview

Mechanical Technician at Americana Restaurants. This role maintains mechanical equipment across poultry processing and food manufacturing operations.

Role Purpose

Ensure the mechanical integrity, reliability, and efficiency of all plant equipment, including high-speed packaging machinery, processing equipment, and preparation area machines. Respond to breakdowns, perform preventive maintenance, and support food safety compliance across all production areas.

Key Responsibilities

Equipment Maintenance

• Operate, inspect, and maintain poultry processing machinery across all production areas.
• Maintain Preparation Area equipment: Mixers, Grinder, Tumbler, Loaders, DSI Cutting Machine, Slicing, and X-Ray systems.
• Maintain Processing Area equipment: Forming machine, Breading machine, Fryer, Oven, Gyro, belt and wired conveyor.
• Maintain Packing Area equipment: Ishida, Sandiacre, Metal Detector, Modular Conveyor Belt, Soco.
• Maintain Scalders and defeathering machines.
• Ensure machines run at optimal capacity and efficiency.

Preventive Maintenance

• Perform scheduled preventive maintenance per maintenance plans.
• Lubricate mechanical parts using food-grade lubricants.
• Inspect bearings, chains, belts, sprockets, shafts, seals, and gearboxes.
• Replace worn or damaged parts before failure occurs.
• Maintain PM records and logbooks accurately.

Breakdown & Troubleshooting

• Respond immediately to machine breakdowns to minimize production losses.
• Identify root causes of mechanical failures.
• Repair or replace faulty components including motors, pumps, valves, pneumatic and hydraulic systems.
• Test equipment after repair to ensure safe return to operation.

Hygiene & Food Safety Compliance

• Ensure all mechanical work complies with food safety and hygiene standards including HACCP and ISO 22000.
• Assemble equipment correctly after cleaning and sanitation.
• Use stainless steel fasteners and food-safe materials where required.
• Prevent contamination risks during maintenance activities.
• Assist in audits and inspections.

Installation & Commissioning

• Assist in installation, alignment, and commissioning of new machines or production lines.
• Interpret mechanical drawings, manuals, and OEM documentation.
• Coordinate with suppliers or contractors during machine upgrades or shutdowns.
• Maintain pumps and pipelines.
• Monitor abnormal vibration, noise, or leak.

Documentation & Reporting

• Complete maintenance work orders and breakdown reports.
• Update spare parts usage and inventory requests.
• Record daily maintenance activities and handover notes.

Qualifications & Experience

• 7 to 9 years of experience as a Mechanical Technician within poultry processing or food manufacturing industry.
• Experience in further processing plants or protein factories (highly preferred).

Skills & Competencies

• Safety-conscious approach to all mechanical work.
• Experience with JBT, GEA, BW Flexible, Ishida machines including ovens, fryers, wire belt conveyor, modular belt conveyor, mixer, grinder, Scan Brine, Multi drum, Crumb Master, Butter machine (highly preferred).
• Experience with packaging machinery including fill, seal, vacuum pump, labellers, ink jet, X-ray (highly preferred).
• Proficiency in using CMMS (highly preferred).