Maintenance Mechanic

Job Description

Job Title: Maintenance Mechanic

Location: Columbus, OH

Position Type: Contract / Full-Time

Shift: Day Shift, 6:30 AM – 3:00 PM (Monday – Friday)

Pay Rate: $26.00/hr

About the Role

We are seeking a skilled Maintenance Mechanic to support our product development, scale-up, and manufacturing operations in Columbus, OH. In this role, you will be responsible for the installation, troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, repair, and continuous improvement of pilot plant food processing and packaging equipment to ensure maximum reliability and food-safety compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Perform preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance on specialized food processing and packaging systems, including:

Retorts and aseptic sterilizers

Homogenizers and high-shear mixers

Processing vessels, batching tanks, and heat exchangers

Sanitary pumps and process piping systems

Product conveyors, filling lines, and packaging equipment

Support engineering and R&D teams during equipment startups, trial runs, changeovers, and new system commissioning.

Diagnose mechanical failures, fluid/pneumatic issues, and process bottlenecks to minimize operational downtime.

Conduct all repairs and sanitary equipment tear-downs in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), OSHA guidelines, and food industry regulatory standards.

Log maintenance activities and parts usage in the maintenance management system; recommend equipment modifications to improve safety, ergonomics, and throughput.

Qualifications & Requirements

High School Diploma or GED; technical degree, trade apprenticeship, or mechanical maintenance certification preferred.

2–4+ years of industrial maintenance experience, preferably within a food processing, beverage, dairy, pharmaceutical, or pilot plant environment.

Strong mechanical aptitude with hands-on experience in sanitary piping, pump rebuilds, seals, valves, and power transmission components.

Knowledge of preventive maintenance (PM) scheduling and mechanical troubleshooting techniques.

Core Competencies:

Detail-oriented, strong problem-solving skills, safety-first mindset, and ability to adapt to changing R&D pilot schedules.

Physical & Environmental Requirements

Ability to lift, push, and pull up to 50 lbs unassisted.

Physical ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb ladders, and work safely in industrial or confined spaces.

Ability to wear required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including safety shoes, eye protection, ear protection, and cleanroom/food-grade sanitary gear.\nCompany Description

ATR International is a staffing and workforce solutions firm providing high quality talent across a wide range of industries, including technology, operations, and professional services.