Job Title: Day Shift Electrical Technician

Department: Maintenance

Reports To: Maintenance Manager

Location: Northvale, New Jersey

Hours: M-F 6:00 AM - 4:00 PM (30-minute break)

The essential functions of the Electrical Technician position include:

Responsibilities and Essential Duties include, but are not limited to:

TASKS

• Perform hands-on electrical, electronic, and controls troubleshooting, repair, and preventive maintenance on production and general plant equipment, working alongside the shift maintenance crew to keep the lines running.

• Possess strong hands-on knowledge of industrial electrical and electronic systems, motor controls, instrumentation, and industrial automation, with the ability to diagnose and repair them directly on the floor.

• Complete assigned work orders and preventive maintenance tasks issued by the Maintenance Manager, and document all work performed in the CMMS.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES - CORE COMPETENCIES

Working knowledge of the electrical, control, and drive systems on the following production equipment:

• Standalone spiral freezers (Messer, Linde)

• Tunnel Freezers

• Depositors - Fillers - Portioners - Grinders

  • Unifiller 400

  • Unifiller 1000

  • Unifiller 600, 601 Multistation

  • Handtmann 608, 808

  • Vemag 520

  • GEA Optiflour

  • GEA Multiformer

  • GEA Crumbmaster

  • Rheon Rounder

  • Rheon Portioner

  • Tromp Laminating Lines - Dough Sheeting

  • Urschel Grinder

• Mixers (Escher, AMFEC, Hobart, Handtmann, Tonelli)

• PD Pumps (Graco, UNIBLOC)

• Cooking Equipment

  • Tilt Skillets

  • Cleveland Kettles

  • Blentech Cooker

  • Chester Jensen

• Ovens (Middleby Marshall, Revent)

• Fryers (Heat and Control Mastermatic)

• Packaging Equipment

  • Flow Wrappers (Sleek 65, Weighpack)

  • Cartoners (ADCO)

  • X-Ray (Ishida, Novus, JBT)

  • Metal Detectors

  • Tape Sealers

• Cleaning Equipment

  • Viking Sanitation Cars

  • Rackwashers (Somengil)

• Industrial Automation

  • ABB Robots

  • Fanuc Robots

  • Self-Motorized Pulleys (Interroll)

Demonstrated hands-on competency in the following electrical and controls disciplines:

• Power distribution and building electrical: 480V/240V/208V three-phase and single-phase systems, transformers, panelboards, disconnects, breakers, and branch circuits.

• Motor controls: across-the-line and reversing starters, contactors, overload relays, control transformers, VFDs, and servo drives - including parameter setup, fault code diagnosis, and drive replacement.

• PLC and HMI systems: ability to go online with the controller, monitor ladder logic, force and trace I/O, and troubleshoot to the failed device (Allen-Bradley and Siemens platforms).

• Field devices and instrumentation: photo eyes, proximity and capacitive sensors, encoders, limit switches, RTDs and thermocouples, pressure, level and flow transmitters, load cells, and checkweigher/metal detector sensing.

• Machine safety circuits: E-stops, safety relays and safety PLCs, light curtains, interlocked guarding, and gate switches - verified and restored to OEM design, never bypassed.

• Conduit and wiring: EMT and rigid conduit layout and bending, wire pulling, cable tray, terminations, wire labeling, and panel building to NEC standards.

• Reading, interpreting, and red-lining electrical schematics, ladder diagrams, wiring diagrams, and P&IDs, and keeping drawings current after modifications.

• Refrigeration and freezer control systems, oven and fryer temperature control, burner controls and flame safety devices, and coordination with OEM technical support when required.

• Work hands-on alongside the maintenance crew and Production to keep the lines running, without compromising safety, food quality, or reliability.

• Personally perform and complete preventive maintenance work orders and corrective repairs on the shift, following the preventive maintenance program set by the Maintenance Manager.

• Troubleshoot and repair electrical, electronic, controls, and automation faults on production equipment to restore operation as quickly as possible, and assist with mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic repairs as needed.

• Support and document Root Cause Analysis (RCA) on electrical and controls failures, and escalate recurring or major issues to the Maintenance Manager.

• Carry out the safe repair, replacement, wiring, installation, and startup of production equipment during the shift.

• Support on-site electrical and automation contractors during the shift, and report any work that does not meet safety or quality standards to the Maintenance Manager.

• Identify critical electrical spare parts and repair needs, and communicate them to the Maintenance Manager for ordering and vendor follow-up.

• Support the spare parts program by pulling, using, and logging parts, and by helping maintain min/max levels for critical electrical components.

• Be a first responder to emergency electrical issues, equipment failures, facility-related incidents, and major breakdowns during the shift, and act promptly to resolve them.

• Available to attend to work on requested weekends, based on the needs of the organization.

• Use the CMMS system daily to receive, complete, and close work orders, and to log labor, parts, and equipment history accurately.

• Attend plant huddles and daily follow-ups with the crew, and work the floor to carry out repairs and scheduled preventive maintenance.

• Ensure a smooth shift-to-shift transition by communicating open issues, in-progress repairs, and equipment status to the incoming shift and the Maintenance Manager.

• Complete and submit end-of-shift reports daily upon completion of the shift.

• Share electrical knowledge with maintenance technicians and support their development on equipment operation, repair procedures, and safe electrical work practices.

• Ensure all maintenance work complies with food safety (GMP), sanitation, and applicable regulatory requirements, including the safe use of food-grade materials and lubricants.

• Follow safety procedures, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), NFPA 70E arc flash requirements, and the correct use of electrical PPE and insulated tools, and comply with OSHA and company safety standards.

QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or GED required; completion of an electrical apprenticeship, trade program, or technical degree in Electrical, Electronics, Mechatronics, or Industrial Maintenance preferred.

• Minimum 3 years of hands-on industrial electrical maintenance experience; food or beverage manufacturing experience strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot 480V three-phase systems, motor controls, VFDs, and PLC-controlled equipment independently.

• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, ladder logic, and equipment manuals in English.

• NFPA 70E arc flash training required; must be completed or obtained within 90 days of hire.

• LOTO authorized-employee training required.

• New Jersey electrical license, journeyman card, or apprentice registration is a plus.

• Powered industrial truck, scissor lift, and aerial lift certification is a plus; must be able to obtain.

• Comfortable working in wet, cold (freezer), and hot (oven and fryer) environments, at heights, and in confined areas.

• Reliable attendance for the assigned shift, with availability for overtime and occasional weekend coverage.

• Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.