Dr. Praeger's Sensible Foods
Lead Production Equipment Technician
5 days ago
Elmwood Park
Job DescriptionLead Production Equipment Technician Dr. Praeger’s has been crafting better frozen foods since 1994, when two heart surgeons launched a family company focused on sensible, great-tasting meals made from simple ingredients. That purpose still fuels our work every day. Learn more about our story at drpraegers.com/our-story/our-history/. Role Snapshot In this hybrid position, you’ll bridge production operations and basic maintenance to keep automated lines running smoothly. You will own machine setup, operation, changeovers, and first-line troubleshooting; perform minor mechanical fixes and consumable replacements; and be the go-to contact on the floor to sustain uptime. This role does not perform in-depth repairs or planned maintenance, but it ensures issues are triaged quickly and that production stays on schedule. You’ll mentor new operators and partner with vendors during on-site service visits. A Day in the Life • Start your shift by verifying machine readiness and safety, then set up and operate equipment such as Syntegon TTM’s and Elematics., • Handle rapid changeovers, confirming proper parameters and product specs are met., • Diagnose minor faults on the fly and replace belts, sensors, and other consumables to maintain throughput., • Coordinate with mechanics when issues rise above first-line repairs; escalate promptly to minimize downtime., • Conduct quick visual and functional inspections to catch early signs of wear or malfunction., • Serve as the senior point of contact for line operators, modeling best practices in safety, quality, and efficiency., • Document production and maintenance activities in Redzone; log any quality, safety, or maintenance concerns., • Collaborate with equipment contractors/service techs during installs or troubleshooting. What You’ll Do Machine Operation & Troubleshooting, • Operate, set up, and change over Syntegon TTM’s, Elematics, and similar systems., • Perform minor repairs and part swaps (belts, sensors, other consumables)., • Partner with maintenance on major breakdowns and escalate as needed., • Perform basic inspections on running equipment. Leadership & Communication, • Act as the senior floor contact for operators during production., • Onboard and train new operators; coach safe, high-quality, and efficient operation., • Communicate clearly with supervisors, maintenance, and QA., • Coordinate with vendors or contractors during site visits. Maintenance Support (Basic Only), • Perform minor adjustments, tightening, and sensor replacement., • Prepare machines for planned maintenance handled by mechanics., • Complete routine equipment checks and cleaning. Documentation & Quality, • Accurately complete and review Redzone production/maintenance logs., • Verify setups and operations meet production standards., • Record and report quality, safety, and maintenance issues in Redzone. What You Bring, • 2+ years operating machinery; food manufacturing or packaging preferred., • Mechanical aptitude with hand tools and common machine issue recognition., • Able to read and write in English; bilingual (English/Spanish) required., • Clear communicator and collaborative team player., • Detail oriented with the ability to multitask in a fast-paced setting., • Comfort with basic math and interpreting standard operating procedures., • Experience with production software and reporting tools. Physical Requirements, • Lift and carry at least 50 lbs., • Stand and walk for extended periods; frequent pushing, pulling, bending, and reaching., • Work in cold environments (56–59°ree;F) and handle frozen products (approx. 4°ree;F)., • Good color, depth, and peripheral vision, plus strong manual dexterity. Food Safety & Quality, • Operate equipment to maintain product quality and safety., • Follow SSOPs, GMPs, and all food safety policies., • Keep the work area clean and organized. **Employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodation will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship. *Dr. Praeger's Sensible Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Our management team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities and general treatment during employment.