Maintenance Mechanic

Job Overview

The Maintenance Mechanic is responsible for the upkeep, repair, and troubleshooting of equipment and machinery used in the walnut processing facility and across the company’s fleet of vehicles and mobile equipment. This role ensures minimal downtime, promotes safety, and supports production efficiency through proactive and reactive maintenance practices. Equipment uptime during the harvest season is a critical performance expectation of this role.

At GoldRiver Orchards, we intentionally build a maintenance team with complementary skill sets. For this position, we are specifically seeking a mechanic whose strength lies in metal fabrication and welding — someone who can design, build, and modify components in-house rather than waiting on outside vendors. If you take pride in your fabrication work and can turn raw stock into a working solution, this role was built for you.

Duties

Fabrication & Custom Work

• Design, fabricate, and modify metal components, brackets, guards, chutes, and structural supports to meet operational needs, often working from a concept or rough sketch rather than formal drawings.
• Perform MIG and TIG welding to production-quality standards on mild steel, stainless steel, and other materials as required.
• Cut, fit, and weld replacement parts in the field when commercially sourced parts are unavailable or cost-prohibitive.
• Collaborate with the Plant Engineer and operations team to engineer practical, durable solutions for recurring equipment problems.
• Maintain the welding shop and fabrication tools in safe, organized, and ready condition.

Processing Equipment & Facility

• Perform routine inspections, preventative maintenance, and repairs on processing equipment, including conveyors, cyclones, processing tables, shakers, and packing machinery.
• Maximize equipment utilization by maintaining machinery to run at available capacity and target speed at 90% or better.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic issues; identify and escalate electrical faults as appropriate.
• Maintain and repair facility infrastructure, including motors, gearboxes, belts, chains, valves, bearings, and pumps.
• Assist in the installation and commissioning of new equipment or plant upgrades.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe maintenance shop and work environment.

Fleet & Mobile Equipment

• Perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on the company fleet, including forklifts (propane/LP and electric), yard dogs, Gradall, and other mobile equipment.
• Service and repair mobile hydraulic systems, including Gradall boom, attachments, and forklift mast/hydraulic assemblies.
• Conduct pre- and post-season fleet inspections; maintain service interval logs and fleet maintenance records in compliance with OSHA and company standards.
• Diagnose and repair diesel and propane/LP engines, transmissions, brakes, tires, and electrical systems on fleet vehicles.
• Coordinate fleet availability with operations to minimize production impact during peak season.

General

• Complete work orders and document repairs and maintenance activities accurately.
• Coordinate with the production team to schedule maintenance with minimal disruption to operations.
• Ensure all equipment is compliant with safety and operational standards.
• Work collaboratively with Operations and QA to schedule repairs that minimize downtime without compromising food safety policies.
• Follow all company policies, safety rules, and regulatory guidelines (OSHA, food safety, SQF, etc.).

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; trade school, technical training, or relevant certifications preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in industrial maintenance, preferably in food processing, agricultural, or heavy equipment environments.
• Demonstrated experience maintaining high-uptime production environments; track record of minimizing unplanned downtime.
• Strong mechanical aptitude with the ability to read blueprints, schematics, and equipment manuals.
• Advanced welding skills required — MIG and stick proficiency at a minimum; TIG experience a strong plus. Must be able to demonstrate quality welds on mild and stainless steel.
• Proven metal fabrication ability: layout, cutting, fitting, and finishing of structural and mechanical components from raw stock or minimal drawings.
• Experience with hydraulics and pneumatics on both stationary facility equipment and mobile equipment.
• Diesel and propane/LP engine repair experience required; experience servicing forklifts, yard dogs, or heavy mobile equipment strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of electrical systems sufficient to safely identify faults and perform basic repairs (motors, sensors, wiring); advanced electrical or PLC work is handled by others on the team.
• Ability to operate forklifts, scissor lifts, Gradall, and other maintenance equipment safely.
• Familiarity with fleet maintenance logs, work order systems, and preventive maintenance scheduling.
• Must be able to lift 50+ lbs, climb ladders, work at heights, and perform duties in varying temperature conditions.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including 2nd/3rd shift during processing season, and overtime or weekends during harvest.
• Self-directed with strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail; able to work effectively with minimal supervision.
• English required; Spanish a plus.

Preferred Skills

• TIG welding certification or demonstrated TIG proficiency on stainless steel
• Experience fabricating conveyor components, chutes, guards, or similar agricultural/processing equipment parts
• OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certification
• Refrigeration or HVAC experience (cold storage/warehouse environments)
• Familiarity with CMMS or computerized maintenance management systems
• Experience in food processing or walnut/nut processing facilities
• Forklift operator certification

Job Type: Full-time

Base Pay: $26.00 - $36.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Shift availability:

• Day Shift (Preferred)
• Night Shift (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Escalon, CA 95320 (Preferred)

Work Location: In person