Maintenance Technician I - 1st Shift

Job Title: Maintenance Technician
Location: 2577 AR-59, Decatur, AR
Job Type: Monday - Friday 6:00 AM - 2:30 PM

About United Petfood

United Petfood is a private label producer of high-quality dry & wet pet food, biscuits and snacks. We are a Belgian family business with 25 high-tech pet kitchens in Europe and the US.

Joining us means joining an international, passionate, and driven team with one common goal: a healthy planet filled with healthy pets! But it doesn’t stop there—we truly care about building encouraging, supportive, long-lasting partnerships, both inside as well as outside of our fast-growing family company. By only working with the very best ingredients and most innovative technology available, we ensure a place in which you can grow, bloom, and make thousands of pets happy worldwide!

Check out our website: United Petfood Producers USA, Inc.

Position Summary

The Maintenance Technicians are responsible for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of plant equipment and systems during our production shifts. This role focuses on preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair work to maximize uptime and support production goals. The position requires collaboration with production and quality teams to maintain equipment reliability, product quality, and safety standards.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Perform routine preventive maintenance and corrective repairs on production equipment, conveyors, mixers, packaging machines, and other mechanical systems.

• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic issues; implement immediate corrective action to reduce downtime.

• Support equipment setup, calibration, and performance optimization.

• Adhere to company safety regulations and report unsafe conditions or malfunctions.

• Maintain accurate documentation including work orders, logs, and inventory records.

• Collaborate with production and quality teams to resolve equipment-related issues.

• Suggest and support continuous improvement projects that enhance reliability and reduce downtime.

• Respond to emergency breakdowns and assist with returning equipment to service quickly.

• Manage maintenance supplies and spare parts for efficient repairs.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; technical certification or associate degree in industrial maintenance, mechatronics, or related field preferred.

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in industrial or manufacturing maintenance (food manufacturing preferred).

• Strong knowledge of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems.

• Hands-on experience with troubleshooting and repairing mixers, conveyors, packaging equipment, and production machinery.

• Familiarity with PLCs and industrial automation systems preferred.

• Excellent problem-solving skills, strong communication, and the ability to work both independently and with a team.

• Physical ability to lift up to 50 lbs, climb ladders, bend, kneel, and stand for long periods in a manufacturing environment.

• Safety certifications such as OSHA training a plus.

Workplace Safety

• Completes safety system documentation and verifies compliance with program standards.

• Participates in mandatory safety trainings and adheres to all safety policies.

• Required to report all safety issues, near misses, and injuries.

Why Join Us?

At United Petfood, we believe in investing in our employees and providing opportunities for growth and development. As a Area Maintenance Technician, you will play a key role in supporting reliable operations while helping produce high-quality pet food products. We offer competitive pay, benefits, and a supportive work environment where your contributions are valued.

Equal Opportunity Employer: United Petfood Producers USA Inc. is an equal opportunity workplace. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.