What are the responsibilities and job description for the Maintenance Mechanic position at ASTOR CHOCOLATE CORP.?
Job Title: Maintenance Mechanic
Work Environment: Onsite in Lakewood, NJ
Salary/Hourly Range: $40 - $45 an hour
Company Overview
Astor Chocolate is a 4th generation privately held, family-owned company and has been a leading purveyor of chocolate for over 90 years with our core strengths being innovation, creativity, and dedication to creating premium products. The company services multiple industries ranging from Hospitality, Travel Retail, Food Service, ASI, and Gourmet specialty retailers. Astor, with our energetic team atmosphere, believes the success of our growth is our strong commitment to developing our employees' potential. We are committed to building the company with talented and motivated individuals who will uphold our mission of being a market leader by innovating and servicing our customers with extreme dedication.
Position Summary
We are seeking a versatile, hands-on Maintenance Mechanic / Manufacturing Maintenance Technician to join our production team. Reporting to the Maintenance Manager, you will troubleshoot, repair, and maintain a variety of production, packaging, and processing equipment in a regulated FDA environment.
This is an ideal role for a proactive, solution-oriented mechanic who is comfortable working across multiple mechanical and electrical systems, including PLCs and automated machinery. You will play a critical role in keeping our facility running efficiently while mentoring operators and supporting process improvement initiatives.
Essential Functions
- Maintain, troubleshoot, and repair both packaging and processing equipment in a regulated FDA environment.
- Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on motors, conveyors, pneumatic tools, hydraulics, rotating machinery, and automated systems (PLCs, robotics, sensors).
- Install, modify, and repair mechanical and electrical equipment safely and according to specifications.
- Conduct inspections, lubrication, adjustments, and calibration to ensure optimal equipment performance and minimize downtime.
- Maintain accurate records of maintenance and repair activities, including parts usage and inventory, using CMMS.
- Collaborate effectively with operators and team members to share observations, raise questions, and provide insights into mechanical and electrical issues.
- Contribute to proactive maintenance strategies that improve equipment reliability and reduce unplanned downtime.
- Lead small improvement projects and support upgrades or process enhancements in collaboration with engineering and operations teams.
- Mentor junior technicians and operators, promoting safe and efficient work practices.
- Manage spare parts inventory and coordinate with vendors to maintain critical stock levels.
- Ensure compliance with FDA, GMP, SQF, HACCP, and OSHA standards.
Required Qualifications
- Minimum of 5–10 years in industrial maintenance, ideally within food, pharmaceutical, or regulated production facilities.
- Hands-on experience troubleshooting both packaging and processing equipment.
- Power transmission systems, belts, chains, cams, bearings, hydraulics, pneumatics.
- Rotating machinery and mechanical assemblies.
- Electrical wiring, panels, motors, high-voltage systems, control circuits.
- PLC troubleshooting, robotics, sensors, and automated control systems.
- Ability to read and interpret schematics, mechanical drawings, and technical manuals.
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to apply practical solutions under limited standardization.
- Proven ability to perform preventive maintenance, root cause analysis, and troubleshooting.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Leadership and mentoring ability; capable of guiding operators and junior technicians.
Preferred:
- Bilingual - Spanish
- OSHA, NEC/NFPA 70, PLC or automation certifications.
- Forklift or industrial equipment certification.
- Proactive and hands-on; willing to “raise their hand” when unsure.
- Adaptable to different types of equipment and maintenance challenges.
Compensation & Benefits
We offer a competitive compensation package including:
- Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid Time Off (PTO) & Paid Holidays
- Life and Disability Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Professional Development Opportunities
Salary : $40 - $45