Maintenance Technician

JOB DESCRIPTION & COMPENSATION ANALYSIS

Maintenance Technician – Level 1

Eterna Management

1. POSITION OVERVIEW

Job Title

Maintenance Technician – Level 1

Department

Facilities & Equipment Maintenance

Reports To

Maintenance Supervisor / Facilities Manager

Location

Orange County, California

Industry

Plant Based Products

Employment Type

Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Shift

Day / Evening / Weekend (rotating or fixed)

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt (Hourly)

Prepared Date

March 2026

2. POSITION SUMMARY

The Maintenance Technician – Level 1 serves as the mechanical backbone of 3PL warehouse operations — think of this role as the master plumber who does not just fix leaks but understands the entire water system. Operating with greater autonomy than a Level 1 technician, this individual is responsible for the preventive and corrective maintenance of complex industrial machinery including conveyors, filling machines, sealing machines, labeling machines, and PLC-controlled systems.

This role requires a blend of mechanical aptitude, electrical literacy, and PLC troubleshooting expertise. The Maintenance Technician Level 1 is a critical enabler of warehouse throughput and plays a direct role in ensuring customer SLAs are met by keeping equipment operational at peak efficiency.

3. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Mechanical & Machine Maintenance

• Diagnose, repair, and overhaul industrial machines including packaging, filling, sealing, and labeling equipment in a high-volume 3PL environment.
• Perform mechanical maintenance on bearings, gears, pulleys, belts, motors, chains, and pneumatic/hydraulic systems.
• Act as a skilled machine operator when needed — understanding machine cycles to better identify root causes of breakdowns.
• Disassemble, inspect, clean, lubricate, and reassemble machine components following OEM specifications.
• Document all maintenance activities in CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) accurately and promptly.

B. Conveyor Systems

• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on belt, roller, gravity, and powered conveyor systems throughout the distribution facility.
• Inspect conveyor belts for wear, alignment, and tension; adjust or replace as necessary to prevent unplanned downtime.
• Troubleshoot conveyor jams, belt slippage, sensor failures, and drive motor issues.
• Coordinate with operations to schedule planned conveyor downtime with minimal impact to throughput.
• Maintain and replace conveyor components: idlers, drive units, take-up frames, and transfer plates.

C. PLC Systems & Controls

• Read, interpret, and troubleshoot PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) ladder logic diagrams for Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or Mitsubishi systems.
• Work with HMI (Human Machine Interface) screens to diagnose machine faults and perform corrective actions.
• Assist Controls Engineers with uploading/downloading PLC programs and monitoring I/O signals.
• Identify and replace faulty sensors, relays, solenoids, and control wiring under the direction of engineering staff.
• Maintain awareness of electrical safety (NFPA 70E) when working on live panels or performing Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures.

D. Filling Machines

• Set up, adjust, and maintain liquid, powder, or granule filling machines including volumetric, piston, and auger-type fillers.
• Calibrate fill weights and volumes to meet customer product specifications and regulatory standards.
• Troubleshoot issues such as dripping nozzles, inconsistent fills, seal failures, and machine jams.
• Perform changeovers between product runs efficiently, minimizing downtime between SKUs.

E. Sealing Machines

• Maintain heat sealers, induction sealers, and impulse sealing equipment used in packaging operations.
• Calibrate seal temperature, dwell time, and pressure to ensure proper hermetic seals per product specification.
• Replace sealing jaws, Teflon tape, and heating elements; verify seal integrity using established quality checks.
• Troubleshoot weak seals, burn-through, wrinkles, and incomplete closures.

F. Labeling Machines

• Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot automatic label applicators including pressure-sensitive, wrap-around, and print-and-apply labeling systems.
• Adjust label placement parameters (position, speed, pressure) to maintain accurate label application across varying product sizes.
• Replace label rolls, printheads, and peel plates; perform routine cleaning of sensor eyes and rollers.
• Troubleshoot label jams, skewing, misfeeds, and print quality issues in coordination with production leads.

G. General Maintenance & Safety

• Conduct daily equipment inspections and submit maintenance work orders for identified deficiencies.
• Strictly adhere to Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Arc Flash, and Machine Guarding safety protocols.
• Maintain a clean, organized maintenance shop and adhere to 5S standards throughout the facility.
• Support installation of new equipment and facility improvements as directed by the Maintenance Supervisor.
• Train and mentor Level 1 Technicians on basic maintenance procedures and safe work practices.

4. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Associate's Degree or Trade School Certificate in Industrial Maintenance, Mechatronics, Electrical Technology, or related field preferred.

Experience

• 3–5 years of hands-on industrial maintenance experience in a manufacturing, distribution, or 3PL warehouse environment.
• Demonstrated experience maintaining conveyors, packaging lines, filling machines, sealers, or labeling equipment.
• Experience reading and interpreting PLC ladder logic; hands-on troubleshooting of Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or equivalent platforms.
• Proficiency in interpreting mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, and OEM manuals.

Technical Skills

• Mechanical: gears, bearings, chains, belts, pneumatics, hydraulics, welding (preferred).
• Electrical: AC/DC motors, VFDs (Variable Frequency Drives), relays, sensors, solenoids.
• Tools: use of multimeters, hydraulic/pneumatic testers, and hand/power tools.

Certifications (Preferred)

• OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 General Industry certification.
• Forklift or aerial lift operator certification.
• EPA 608 certification (if HVAC duties are included).

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $25.00 - $32.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• Maintenance: 1 year (Preferred)

Language:

• English (Preferred)

Shift availability:

• Night Shift (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Santa Ana, CA 92705 (Preferred)

Work Location: In person