Maintenance Engineering Lead

Commerce
5743 Smithway Street
Suite 103
Commerce, CA 90040, USA

We are seeking a hands-on Maintenance Engineering Lead to own the performance, reliability, and technical evolution of our production environment.

This is not a traditional management role. You are the technical authority on the floor, a master mechanic who leads from the front, solves the hardest problems in real time, and elevates the capability of the entire maintenance function.

You will bridge the gap between AI-driven automation and mechanical execution, ensuring our facility operates at peak OEE while maintaining strict USDA/FDA compliance in a high-speed food production environment.

• Act as the lead technical expert across conveyors, flow wrappers, automated packaging systems, and AI-integrated robotics (including Chef Robotics), owning the resolution of complex mechanical and electrical failures that impact production
• Build and drive a world-class preventative and predictive maintenance program, shifting the operation from reactive repairs to disciplined, uptime-focused execution
• Own and optimize the CMMS platform (e.g., Maintenance Connection, UpKeep, Fiix), ensuring accurate work order tracking, spare parts (MRO) control, and actionable reliability reporting
• Lead all troubleshooting and root cause analysis (RCA) efforts, implementing permanent corrective actions that eliminate repeat failures, not just temporary fixes
• Ensure all maintenance activities meet USDA, FDA, and food safety standards, maintaining audit readiness and always protecting product integrity
• Evaluate equipment through a sanitary design lens, identifying risks and implementing improvements aligned with SQF, BRC, and FSMA requirements
• Partner closely with Production to balance throughput, uptime, and quality, minimizing disruption while maximizing output
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of mechanics and technicians, setting a high bar for craftsmanship, urgency, accountability, and documentation
• Support installation, commissioning, and optimization of new automated systems, contributing to future-state equipment strategy and scalability
• Establish structure across maintenance operations, including work order discipline, spare parts management, and performance tracking tied to OEE

• 7–10+ years of hands‑on (“wrench‑turning”) experience in food production, CPG, or high‑speed automated manufacturing environments, with progression into a lead or leadership capacity
• Deep experience working with conveyors, flow wrappers, high‑speed packaging equipment, and automated machinery, with exposure to robotics
• Proven success in building or optimizing preventative maintenance programs that significantly reduce unplanned downtime
• Strong working knowledge of CMMS systems (Maintenance Connection, UpKeep, Fiix) with the ability to drive data‑led maintenance decisions and accountability
• Advanced troubleshooting capability across mechanical, electrical, and control systems, including motors, drives, pneumatics, hydraulics, and PLC‑controlled equipment
• Ability to read and interpret complex electrical schematics and technical documentation
• Experience operating in USDA/FDA‑regulated environments, with a strong understanding of food safety requirements tied to maintenance practices
• Familiarity with AI‑integrated automation, vision systems, and production line controls
• Strong understanding of OSHA standards, including LOTO (Lockout/Tagout) and Arc Flash safety

• This role is highly floor‑facing and hands‑on, supporting peak production hours
• Flexibility may be required to support critical issues, startup activities, or major equipment changes

$145,000 - $165,000

Equal Opportunity Employer
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