What are the responsibilities and job description for the Boiler Mechanic position at Zausner Foods Corporation?
About the Role:
The Boiler Mechanic is responsible for the operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and optimization of plant boiler systems and associated utilities that support food production processes. This role is critical to ensuring reliable steam generation for cooking, heating, sanitation, and processing of cheese sauce and pudding products.
Minimum Qualifications:
- 10 years of industrial boiler and utility maintenance experience
- Valid boiler operator/engineer license (as required by Pennsylvania regulations)
- Strong knowledge of steam systems, combustion systems, and pressure vessels
- Experience with water treatment programs and boiler chemistry
- Ability to read mechanical drawings, P&IDs, and system schematics
- Strong troubleshooting skills in mechanical and control system
Responsibilities:
- Operate, repair, and maintain plant utility systems in a safe and dependable condition, including ammonia refrigeration, steam generation, water distribution, compressed air, HVAC, and related equipment.
- Maintain ammonia refrigeration equipment, including compressors, receivers, accumulators, heat exchangers, cooling towers, evaporative coolers, ice builders, water treatment systems, pumps, valves, controls, and associated infrastructure.
- Operate and maintain boilers, burners, fuel trains, water softening and treatment equipment, deaerators, condensate systems, heat exchangers, steam traps, pumps, valves, and steam distribution systems.
- Operate and maintain plant water storage, pressurization, filtration, chemical feed, and distribution systems.
- Operate and maintain compressed air systems, including compressors, receivers, dryers, regulators, filters, controls, and distribution piping.
- Perform preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance on utility systems and equipment to ensure safe and reliable operation.
- Monitor system performance, including pressure, temperature, fuel consumption, water chemistry, and equipment efficiency; make adjustments as needed.
- Conduct boiler water testing, chemical treatment, and blowdowns to maintain safe operating parameters.
- Troubleshoot and repair mechanical, electrical, and control-related issues within utility systems.
- Support production operations by providing reliable steam, refrigeration, water, and compressed air services while minimizing downtime.
- Assist with installation, startup, upgrades, and continuous improvement projects related to utility infrastructure.
- Perform general facility maintenance, including HVAC, building systems, and safety equipment repairs.
- Complete maintenance records, CMMS work orders, inspection logs, water treatment documentation, and regulatory compliance records.
- Follow all GMPs, HACCP requirements, plant safety rules, lockout/tagout procedures, and applicable regulatory standards.
- Maintain proficiency through training, review of operating procedures, and equipment manuals.
- Assist throughout the plant with maintenance activities as workload requires.
- Work overtime, weekends, holidays, and emergency call-ins as needed.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Skills:
- Strong mechanical aptitude with expertise in boiler operations, steam systems, plant utilities, and related industrial equipment.
- Proven ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex equipment, utility, and process-related issues in a timely manner.
- Detail-oriented with a strong commitment to safety, regulatory compliance, food production standards, and system reliability.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond effectively to changing production demands and emergency situations.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to maintain accurate maintenance records, inspections, and compliance documentation.
- Effective communication and collaboration skills, working closely with maintenance, production, quality, and engineering teams.
- Proactive in identifying opportunities for system improvements, preventive maintenance, energy efficiency, and operational reliability.
- Commitment to maintaining continuous operation of critical plant utilities while upholding high standards of safety, sanitation, and regulatory compliance.
Work Environment:
- Food manufacturing facility (exposure to heat, steam, noise, and mechanical equipment)
- Work in boiler rooms and throughout plant utility areas
- Must be able to:
- Lift up to 50 lbs
- Stand, walk, bend, and climb (including ladders and vertical spaces)
- Work overtime, weekends, or off-shifts as needed