Lubrication Technician

Company Overview

Link Snacks, creators of well-known meat snacks such as Jack Link's®, Lorissa’s Kitchen®, and others, embodies a culture of hardworking, innovative, and passionate individuals. The team works relentlessly to improve and lead in the meat snack industry globally.

Role Summary

The Lubrication Technician at the Perry, GA facility plays a vital role in managing the lubrication program and asset care initiatives to enhance equipment reliability, minimize unexpected downtime, extend machinery lifespan, and decrease maintenance expenses. This position carries out lubrication routes, oil sampling and analysis, contamination control, asset inspections, and preventive maintenance on production, packaging, utility, refrigeration, and facility assets.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform scheduled lubrication rounds according to standards and maintain records in the CMMS system.
• Manage oil sampling programs: collect samples, submit for lab analysis, interpret results, and initiate maintenance as needed.
• Regularly inspect bearings, gearboxes, motors, chains, couplings, pumps, hydraulic and pneumatic systems; report irregular conditions such as leaks, contamination, overheating, vibration, or lubricant degradation.
• Oversee lubricant storage and inventory: ensure proper storage, labeling, identification, and rotate stock; coordinate with vendors.
• Support precision lubrication practices including correct lubricant selection, filtration, contamination prevention, moisture control, breather management, and handling procedures.
• Collaborate with reliability engineering and maintenance teams to analyze lubrication failures, participate in root cause analyses, develop PM standards, and improve equipment uptime and reliability.
• Assist in TPM initiatives by helping develop autonomous maintenance, training operators on asset care, centerlining activities, and focused improvements.
• Ensure strict compliance with food safety, GMP, HACCP, USDA, sanitation, environmental, and lockout/tagout requirements ensuring no contamination risks from lubrication activities.

Assets Supported

• Packaging equipment including thermoformers, conveyors, vacuum pumps, case packers, labeling machines, and robotics.
• Processing machinery such as mixers, grinders, stuffers, pumps, and conveyors.
• Utility systems including air and refrigeration compressors, cooling towers, boilers, and water systems.
• Facility assets like motors, gearboxes, bearings, fans, HVAC, and material handling equipment.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma/GED, Technical School Certification, or Industrial Maintenance training.
• Experience: At least 3 years in industrial maintenance, preferably with lubrication route experience; manufacturing experience required; food manufacturing is advantageous.
• Preferred Certifications: Machinery Lubrication Technician (MLT I or II), ICML, Oil Analysis, CMRT, or Precision Lubrication certifications.
• Technical Skills: Strong knowledge of industrial maintenance, lubrication best practices, mechanical systems, CMMS, basic computing, Microsoft Excel; familiarity with oil analysis interpretation and reliability software like SAP PM, Fiix, Maintenance Connection preferred.

Performance Goals

• Within 90 days: Assess lubrication routes, establish inventory controls, develop lubrication maps for critical equipment, review lubrication asset registry.
• Within 6 months: Achieve over 95% route completion, clear lubrication PM backlog, enforce contamination control standards, and expand oil sampling on key assets.
• Within 12 months: Reduce lubrication-related equipment failures by 25%, enhance bearing lifespan on packaging lines, improve uptime across packaging and utilities, reduce maintenance overtime, and support facility reliability and TPM goals effectively.

Physical and Work Environment

This role requires standing for long durations, use of personal protective equipment (beard/hairnet, ear plugs, frock, boots), and physical activities such as pushing, pulling, reaching, and occasional lifting up to 25 pounds regularly and 50 pounds infrequently. The work environment includes wet or slippery surfaces, exposure to various temperature levels averaging around 40°F in production areas, and close contact with raw or cooked meat products and moving equipment.

Compensation and Benefits

The hourly starting wage ranges from $29 to $34, varying by factors like market rates, experience, and skills. Additional rewards provided include annual incentives, health benefits (medical, dental, vision), life and disability insurance, 401(k) plans, paid holidays, and paid time off.

Equal Opportunity and Compliance

Link Snacks is committed to equal opportunity employment and compliance with all relevant federal regulations such as E-Verify to confirm work authorization. Hiring decisions are made without discrimination based on protected characteristics.