Reliability Maintenance Mechanic – Beverage Packaging & Processing

A day in the life

You clock in at Berner Food & Beverage’s SQF Level III-certified facility in Dakota, IL and open the CMMS to review preventive maintenance tasks that keep our high-speed beverage and dip lines humming. Lockout/tagout is second nature as you diagnose a servo-driven filler, swap a worn bearing on a conveyor, and verify your work with a full operational check. Mid-shift, you pivot to facilities: checking steam boilers, water chillers, cooling towers, well pumps, and HVAC performance, recording wet-chem water tests with precision and publishing the results.

After assisting with a line changeover, you document parts used, update reorder lists, and hand off clear notes to the next shift—another reliable day improving uptime and quality.

Why Berner Employer of choice culture—team-oriented, safe, inclusive, and innovative.

State-of-the-art automation in a 290,000 sq. ft. expansion that tripled production space.

Products you’ll support: shelf-stable beverages, dips, sauces, and aerosol cheese.

Industry recognition: 2025 finalist in the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association “Coolest Thing Made in Illinois” for Aerosol Cheese Products.

Flexible scheduling options, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits.

What you’ll own Drive the Preventive Maintenance (PM) program to minimize unplanned downtime.

Troubleshoot mechanical issues using technical manuals, schematics, and your diagnostic skills.

Perform mechanical maintenance and repairs on production machinery and facility support systems.

Inspect, operate, and test equipment to confirm root cause and validate repairs.

Champion safety: follow company policies, LOTO, GMPs, food safety standards, and OSHA.Resolve equipment and plant mechanical system issues with sustainable solutions.

Complete work orders on time; document work in software with clear logs and communication across teams.

Support changeovers and startups, troubleshooting issues to hit schedule and yield targets.

Identify needed parts; maintain inventories and reorder lists to prevent delays.

Protect product quality to the highest standard.

Engage in Continuous Improvement; contribute ideas and participate in team projects.

Build your maintenance and leadership capabilities through assigned training.

Support facility utilities: steam boilers, water chillers, cooling towers, well pumps, HVAC, and other plant utility equipment.

Collect and publish operational data accurately—strong written and verbal communication is essential.

Qualifications Technical maintenance training or 3+ years of industrial equipment maintenance experience.

Food manufacturing experience preferred.

Boiler, chiller, or HVAC training preferred; strong mechanical background with bearings, seals, and gaskets.

Hands-on experience with gearboxes, chains/sprockets, belts, clutches, bearings, and brakes in production environments.

Experience with compressed air systems, basic plumbing/piping, boilers, and hydraulics is a plus.

Proficient with hand/power tools, drill presses, and shop equipment.

Ability to read and interpret English documentation: safety rules, O&M manuals, procedures, diagrams, and schedules; able to work from drawings, schematics, sketches, and verbal direction.

Works independently and collaboratively; provides status updates to leadership as needed.

Willing to work shift schedules, overtime, weekends, and holidays as business needs dictate.

Practical problem-solving with the ability to manage variables in dynamic production settings.

Commitment to ongoing growth in maintenance and leadership through training.

Team-oriented behaviors aligned with Berner’s expectations and culture.

Ability to learn and apply Berner’s Maintenance & Manufacturing Transformation (lean tools, process capability, operational…