Maintenance Technician III (1st shift)

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Maintenance Technician III (1st Shift)
Shift: 6:00 AM – 2:30 PM, Monday–Friday

Location: Madison, Wisconsin Hourly Rate: $27-$38/hour

Join our Engineering & Maintenance team and play a critical role in ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of our manufacturing facility. As a Maintenance Technician III , you will bring advanced technical expertise to maintain complex process equipment, utilities, and facilities within a cGMP-regulated environment. This is an opportunity to contribute directly to product quality and operational excellence while supporting a collaborative, safety-first culture.

The Role & Your Impact
Reporting to the Maintenance Manager, Supervisor, and Lead, you will take ownership of advanced maintenance activities, troubleshoot complex issues, and help drive equipment reliability and continuous improvement across the site.
In this role, you will:

• Perform maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of machinery, process equipment, and facility systems in a food manufacturing environment

• Diagnose root causes of equipment failures, implement corrective actions, and prevent recurrence in collaboration with cross-functional teams

• Accurately complete maintenance documentation (paper and electronic) in compliance with cGMP requirements, including CMMS entries, parts requests, and lifecycle activities

• Maintain and ensure reliable operation of utility systems including HVAC, dust collection, pumps, valves, compressors, plumbing, heat exchangers, and electrical systems

• Respond to unplanned downtime, restore operations efficiently, and document all maintenance activities

• Identify and communicate spare parts, tools, and inventory requirements to maintain operational readiness

• Train and support maintenance and operations personnel on equipment, procedures, and best practices

• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives focused on equipment reliability, efficiency, energy reduction, and cost savings

• Follow all cGMP, SOP, and quality requirements, and promptly report deviations

• Develop, review, and improve preventive maintenance procedures and work instructions

• Promote a strong safety culture by adhering to policies such as Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) and Confined Space programs

What You’ll Need to Be Successful

• 5 years of experience in an FDA-regulated or controlled manufacturing environment (food ingredients, live cultures, or pharmaceutical preferred)

• Strong communication, organization, problem-solving, and follow-up skills

• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot, diagnose, and repair production equipment while executing preventative maintenance programs

• Advanced knowledge of industrial maintenance systems including motors, pumps, valves, heat exchangers, instrumentation, boilers, chillers, and related equipment

• Ability to work effectively as a team player while also operating independently when needed

• Positive attitude with a willingness to teach and support operators and team members

• Strong commitment to attendance, reliability, and adherence to company policies and procedures

• Flexibility to work overtime, weekends, holidays, or varying shifts as required

• Ability to participate in an on-call rotation

Additional Skills & Interests We Value

• 10 years of experience in a regulated manufacturing environment

• Knowledge of cGMP, sanitation standards, food safety, and regulatory compliance

• Experience working independently in low-support or off-shift environments

• Proficiency using lifts (scissor lift, boom lift), forklifts, rigging, and overhead hoists

• Experience with root cause analysis and structured problem-solving methods

• Ability to read and interpret PLC logic, control wiring diagrams, P&IDs, and equipment drawings

• Hands-on technical skills such as welding, pipe fitting, machining, fabrication, pump/valve rebuilds, and basic electrical work

• Experience in water treatment, boiler operation, vibration analysis, or oil analysis

• EPA certification and experience with refrigerant systems (preferred)

What We Offer

We offer the opportunity to work in a collaborative, high-performing environment where your expertise directly impacts production reliability and product quality. You’ll contribute to meaningful continuous improvement initiatives while expanding your technical skills and mentoring others. Our culture emphasizes safety, teamwork, and professional growth.

Ways of Working / Working Conditions

• Manufacturing environment with exposure to noise, dust, humidity, moving equipment, fumes, and chemicals

• Exposure to extreme temperatures including freezer conditions (-55°C) and warm environments such as boiler rooms

• Required use of company-issued uniforms and personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection, and respirators as needed

• Physically active role requiring standing, walking, climbing stairs/ladders, bending, crouching, and lifting up to 50 pounds

• Work may involve both independent tasks and team-based activities

• Overtime, weekend work, and on-call responsibilities may be required

Compensation & Benefits

Expected pay range: $27-38/hour

Benefits:

• 401(k) with up to a 9% company contribution

• Minimum of 3 weeks vacation plus 12 holidays and 2 weeks of wellness time

• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance

• Healthcare savings account with generous employer contribution

• Employee assistance program

• Parental leave

• Tuition reimbursement

• Benefits effective from day one

Relevant Information

Application deadline: July 29, 2026

Our purpose guides the way

In Novonesis, we know that solutions rooted in biology can help solve humanity’s biggest challenges. Since we began more than a century ago, this has been our guide. It’s how we've gotten so far. And it’s how we'll impact the future. Now, more than ever, the world needs change. And with biosolutions, the possibilities for transformation are endless. If our purpose resonates with you, we encourage you to apply.

Opportunities for everyone

We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and equal opportunity for all applicants. Therefore we ask you to apply without a cover letter or photo and instead include a few sentences in your CV explaining your motivation for applying.

We make all employment decisions based on business needs and welcome candidates with a wide range of backgrounds, including ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.

Explore other openings

If this position isn’t the right fit, you may still find other opportunities with us. You’re welcome to explore open roles or create a job agent to stay connected with future opportunities at novonesis.com/Career