Apprentice Maintenance Mechanic

Are you ready for your next adventure? At Oregon Freeze Dry, innovation isn’t just a buzzword—it’s our foundation. We are a purpose-driven company with six decades of expertise in freeze-drying technology. Best known as the makers of Mountain House © meals, we are experts in advanced lyophilization solutions that can help people live healthier lives. Our headquarters in Albany, Oregon sits at the crossroads of science and nature, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes that fuel bold ideas and transformative breakthroughs.

We’re driven by a commitment to quality, creativity, and continuous improvement, and we’re always looking ahead to what’s next. We’re proud of our legacy, but our future is even more exciting. If you’re passionate and ready to make an impact, Oregon Freeze Dry isn’t just a place to work—it’s where your adventure begins.

• Inspect, repair, and perform general and preventative maintenance on packaging, processing, and other plant equipment under various environmental conditions in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations.
• Perform preventative maintenance on “assigned” (COB responsibility) equipment.
• Provide technical assistance and training to operators and operator mechanics to maximize and improve operation performance.
• Diagnose equipment malfunctions and perform corrective action. May solicit support from maintenance and engineering personnel, when necessary, to implement permanent fixes and upgrades.
• Prepare a log of daily shift activities.
• Assemble and fabricate new facilities or equipment when assigned to special projects.
• Perform maintenance rounds on plant support equipment.
• Accurately record labor, materials, and maintenance activities in the Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) system to support equipment history, reliability tracking, preventative maintenance work orders, and critical alarms.
• Perform work in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal codes and regulations.
• Perform additional duties or support projects in other areas as assigned by the Maintenance Manager to meet operational needs.
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance on a full-time basis.
• Display professional behavior with both internal and external business associates that reflects positively on the company and aligns with company policies and practices.
• Embody OFD’s cultural values and align daily actions with department and company culture.

• A minimum of zero to one (0‑1) year(s) of experience in general mechanics through work experience, training, or other practical learning, with a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Certified welding certificates and continuing job-related technical courses highly preferred.
• Ability to provide and maintain required personal hand tools.
• Flexibility to work varied schedules, including days, nights, rotating shifts as needed.
• Ability to effectively receive and respond to work instructions using multiple communication methods, including two-way radio or paging systems.
• Ability to follow technical instructions, drawings, schematics, and manuals.
• Basic knowledge of workplace safety practices, including lockout/tagout, PPE use, and safe operation of tools and equipment.
• Ability to work independently while demonstrating strong communication skills.

12‑hour night shift: 6 pm – 6 am on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday; 6 pm – 12 am on Tuesday.

Off‑shift, weekend, and overtime duties may be required.

Employee may be required to travel to different work locations by personal car.

• Occasionally required to sit and to reach to use computers and other office equipment.
• Frequently required to stand for extended periods of time, up to 4 hours.
• Frequently required to bend, twist, kneel, crouch and/or crawl.
• Frequently required to walk and climb stairs, and be comfortable at various heights.
• Frequently required to view objects at close and distant ranges with hand and eye coordination.
• Constantly required to effectively communicate with others, verbally, in person/on video, and in writing.
• Frequently required to lift, move or maneuver tools, product or other items weighing up to 15 pounds.
• Occasionally required to lift up to 50 pounds…