Maintenance Technician Night Shift

Location: Dakota
Maintenance Technician - Night Shift

Location: Rockford/Freeport, IL Area
Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Our food and beverage manufacturing client in the Freeport area is seeking a Maintenance Technician for the Night Shift to support production, facility maintenance, and plant utility systems. This role plays a crucial part in reducing unplanned downtime, improving equipment reliability, and ensuring safe, high-quality operations across all production lines.


** This position is a Night Shift – 12-hour shift opportunity on a rotating schedule ** Responsibilities

• Support and execute Preventive Maintenance (PM) activities to reduce unscheduled downtime.
• Diagnose equipment issues by interpreting technical information, drawings, and manuals.
• Perform mechanical maintenance and repairs on production machinery, utilities, and facility support systems.
• Inspect, operate, and test machinery to identify malfunctions and verify repairs.
• Troubleshoot plant mechanical systems and develop sustainable solutions.
• Assist with equipment changeovers, line startups, and related troubleshooting.
• Follow all company safety policies, including Lock-Out/Tag-Out (LOTO), GMPs, food safety standards, and OSHA regulations.
• Maintain a safe working environment across all areas of the plant.
• Complete assigned work orders within allotted time frames.
• Maintain detailed records of work performed using CMMS software, logs, and written documentation.
• Communicate effectively across departments regarding maintenance needs and findings.
• Support the operation and maintenance of steam boilers, chillers, cooling towers, well pumps, HVAC systems, and other utility equipment.
• Perform daily data collection, reporting, and water testing with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Participate in Continuous Improvement initiatives and provide suggestions to enhance processes.
• Develop maintenance and leadership skills through ongoing training.

Qualifications

• Food manufacturing experience preferred but not required.
• Strong mechanical background, including bearings, seals, gaskets, gearboxes, belts, chains, clutches, brakes, and related systems.
• Experience with power tools, hand tools, drill presses, and shop equipment.
• Ability to read and interpret safety rules, maintenance manuals, schematics, drawings, diagrams, and instructions.
• Experience with compressed air systems, basic plumbing/piping, boilers, and hydraulics is a strong plus.
• Able to work independently or as part of a team while reporting project/task status to leadership.
• Willingness to work night shift, weekends, overtime, and holidays as business needs require.
• Strong practical problem-solving skills and ability to address a variety of variables.
• Must be able to read and write in English.
• Ability to learn daily wet-chemistry water testing procedures and accurately record data.
• Basic computer literacy is required to process work orders and enter data.
• Must provide and maintain appropriate basic tools for the job.
• Perform both mechanical and electrical repairs per documented procedures.
• Support product quality standards and ensure all products meet specifications.
• Participate in plantwide operational discipline initiatives, including lean tools and process capability development.

ESPO Corporation
Leaders in Technical Recruiting & Staffing since 1965

ESPO has a comprehensive benefits package which includes PTO, Group Health and Dental Insurance, and 401k after you have satisfied the necessary waiting periods.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and value the benefits of diversity in our workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, or any other attribute or protected characteristic by law. If you need assistance applying, please get in touch with us directly.