What are the responsibilities and job description for the Refrigeration Tech position at House of Raeford?
Job Title: Poultry Refrigeration Technician
Job Summary
The Poultry Refrigeration Technician is responsible for operating, maintaining, and repairing refrigeration and freezing systems within a poultry processing facility. This role ensures proper product temperatures, food safety compliance, and reliable operation of ammonia or Freon-based refrigeration systems.
Key Responsibilities
- Operate, monitor, and maintain refrigeration and freezer systems
- Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on compressors, evaporators, condensers, and control systems
- Monitor system pressures, temperatures, and alarms
- Respond to refrigeration system failures and emergency situations
- Maintain accurate logs, readings, and maintenance documentation
- Follow ammonia safety, PSM, and emergency response procedures
- Perform lockout/tagout and safety checks before maintenance activities
- Coordinate repairs with maintenance, production, and sanitation teams
- Support audits, inspections, and regulatory compliance (OSHA, EPA, USDA)
- Assist with startup, shutdown, and defrost operations
Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED required; technical certification preferred
- Previous industrial refrigeration experience required (food or poultry processing preferred)
- Knowledge of ammonia (NH₃) and/or Freon-based systems
- Understanding of refrigeration controls, valves, pumps, and sensors
- Ability to read schematics, P&IDs, and system diagrams
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand, walk, climb, kneel, and lift throughout the shift
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs
- Ability to work in cold, wet, noisy, or elevated environments
- Ability to wear respirators and safety equipment
Work Environment
- Poultry processing facility, engine rooms, freezers, and rooftops
- Exposure to cold temperatures, chemicals, noise, and pressurized systems
- On-call or emergency response rotation may be required