Maintenance Technician/Electrician in Hopkinsville, Kentucky at Kitchen Food Company Pty Ltd

About Kitchen Food Company

Kitchen Food Company is a leading manufacturer of high-quality food products, serving customers across the country. We pride ourselves on our commitment to excellence, innovation, and sustainable practices. Join our team and be part of our continued success.

The Maintenance Technician (Electrical & Controls) is a specialized maintenance role responsible for troubleshooting, repairing, maintaining, and improving electrical and automated systems throughout the facility. The position provides hands-on support for production equipment, PLC-controlled machinery, variable frequency drives (VFDs), motors, HVAC systems, and related facility equipment. This technician will also support the installation and start-up of new equipment while continuing to perform broader maintenance duties needed to keep the site operating safely, efficiently, and in compliance with food safety and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Perform scheduled preventive and corrective maintenance on production machinery, electrical systems, HVAC equipment, motors, VFDs, controls, and facility infrastructure.Diagnose and repair electrical faults using schematics, wiring diagrams, technical manuals, meters, and other appropriate test equipment.Troubleshoot PLC-controlled equipment, including input/output devices, sensors, relays, communications, and control circuits; make program-level changes only when trained and authorized.Troubleshoot, configure, and replace VFDs, motor starters, contactors, overloads, motors, and related electrical components.Respond promptly to breakdowns and maintenance requests to restore equipment safely and minimize production downtime.Assist with the installation, wiring, testing, commissioning, calibration, and start-up of new production equipment and automated systems.Develop working knowledge of newly installed equipment and demonstrate the willingness and ability to learn unfamiliar technologies, processes, and control systems.Inspect and maintain electrical panels, disconnects, controls, lighting, and related facility electrical systems in accordance with applicable safety requirements.Support HVAC troubleshooting and maintenance; HVAC certification is preferred but not required.Coordinate effectively with Production, Engineering, FSQA, Safety, contractors, equipment manufacturers, and outside service providers.Collaborate with Production and FSQA to ensure repairs and maintenance activities protect product safety, quality, and GMP compliance.Support sanitation activities, shutdowns, line changeovers, trials, and emergency maintenance needs as assigned.Follow lockout/tagout, electrical safe-work practices, PPE requirements, and all other Company safety procedures.Maintain tools, parts, panels, and maintenance work areas in a clean, organized, and safe condition.Complete maintenance work orders, preventive maintenance records, parts usage, troubleshooting notes, and required daily documentation accurately and on time.Communicate equipment status, repair needs, risks, parts requirements, and expected downtime clearly to internal and external customers.

Occupational Safety, Health and Environment

Champion a culture of safe working.Ensure all company safety, wellness and environmental policies and procedures are adhered to in accordance with OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) requirements.Ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers while they are at work.Ensure consultation with employees on safety and health issues.

Food Safety

Ensure operations are according to our food safety policies and processes including FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and USDA (US Department of Agriculture) compliance plus our HACCP and GMP programs. Ensure control of any food safety risks.

KEY QUALITIES:

Qualifications, Skills & Experience (Essential):

High school diploma or GED required.Demonstrated experience troubleshooting and repairing industrial electrical systems and production equipment. Hands-on PLC troubleshooting experience, including controls, sensors, input/output devices, and automated equipment.Experience troubleshooting and working with VFDs, electric motors, motor controls, starters, relays, and related components.Strong electrical troubleshooting skills and the ability to isolate faults safely and efficiently.Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, technical manuals, blueprints, and equipment documentation.Ability and willingness to learn, operate, troubleshoot, and maintain newly installed or unfamiliar equipment.Good verbal and written communication skills with the ability to work effectively with internal teams, contractors, vendors, and equipment manufacturers.Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and sound judgment in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.Ability to work safely in varying temperatures, around loud equipment, and in physically demanding conditions.Willingness to work flexible hours, including off-shifts, weekends, shutdowns, and emergency call-ins when required.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience (Desirable):

Technical certification, electrical apprenticeship, journeyman-level training, or associate degree in industrial maintenance, electrical technology, controls, or a related field preferred.HVAC certification preferred but not required.Industrial maintenance experience strongly preferred.Experience in a food manufacturing, beverage, pharmaceutical, or other highly regulated manufacturing environment preferred but not required.Experience supporting equipment installation, commissioning, start-up, or controls integration preferred.Familiarity with GMP, HACCP, food safety requirements, and sanitation-sensitive maintenance practices is a plus.

Physical Requirements:

Site-based role within a food manufacturing environment working in production and engineering workshop areas. Ability to walk production floors, stand for extended periods, and access manufacturing areas. May require flexibility to support off-shift operations, weekends, or emergency situations. Able to lift to 50 lbs regularly.Ability to stand, walk, bend, and climb ladders or scaffolding for extended periods.Use of hand and power tools safely and effectively.Ability to work around energized electrical systems and perform electrical tasks only within the employee’s training, qualifications, authorization, and applicable safe-work procedures.