Maintenance Professional

Valley Queen is a privately owned dairy manufacturer located in Milbank, South Dakota. Founded in 1929, Valley Queen has established itself as a leading producer of high-quality cheese and dairy ingredients, serving customers across the United States and around the world. Valley Queen processes nearly 3 billion pounds of milk each year, producing a diverse portfolio of products that includes natural cheeses, whey protein concentrate, lactose, and anhydrous milk fat.

At Valley Queen, we are dedicated to excellence, continuous improvement, and conducting our operations ethically. Our success is built on strong relationships with our employees, dairy producers, and the communities we serve. We take pride in offering meaningful career opportunities and aim to be the premier privately owned dairy manufacturer in the United States.

We’re looking for skilled Maintenance Professional to keep our production and facility equipment running at peak performance. In this role, you’ll troubleshoot, repair, and maintain mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems to ensure smooth operations and zero downtime.

• Install, maintain, and repair food processing and production equipment.
• Diagnose and fix mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic issues.
• Read and interpret manuals and work orders to complete service tasks.
• Perform routine plant inspections and address potential issues proactively.
• Respond quickly to maintenance calls to keep production moving.
• Maintain utility systems to prevent downtime.
• Keep accurate records for safety, quality, and compliance.
• Follow all safety rules, PPE requirements, and food safety standards.
• Participate in required safety and quality training.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

• Experience: Hands-on maintenance experience in a manufacturing or industrial setting.
• Skills: Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills; ability to work with pneumatic and hydraulic systems.
• Tech Savvy: Basic computer skills for work orders and documentation.
• Problem Solver: Ability to think on your feet and resolve issues quickly.
• Team Player: Good communication and time management skills.

• Associate degree in a related technical discipline or an equivalent combination of education and maintenance experience.
• Proven mechanical aptitude with the ability to troubleshoot and repair equipment.

• Knowledge of ammonia refrigeration systems.
• Welding experience.

• Day shifts starting at 5 AM on a modified 4-1-2 scheduled rotation

• Starting base pay range: $24.95-$31.18 per hour, based on education, experience, and qualifications.
• Up to 14% additional pay for night shift
• Double-time pay for Sundays and Holidays
• 401(k) with up to 5% company contribution
• Profit sharing plan
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Competitive insurance benefits
• Work Environment: Shop and plant setting with exposure to moving parts, vibration, temperature changes, and loud noise.
• Travel: Less than 5%.
• Other Requirements: High school diploma/GED, valid driver’s license, minimum age 18.