Reliability Technician

Company Description

At Link Snacks, we show up hungry, roll up our sleeves, plaid or otherwise, and dive straight into the hard work. We don’t hide from challenges; we hunt them down. We push harder, move faster, and take the kinds of big swings that built this business in the North Woods of Wisconsin four decades ago.

We’re everyday people who deliver extraordinary results. Innovation, creativity, and urgency aren’t buzzwords, they’re expectations. And just like the real protein snacks we make across our global house of brands—Jack Link’s®, Lorissa’s Kitchen®, Golden Island®, BiFi®, and Peperami® and KOOEE!® to name a few—there’s nothing artificial about us. What you see is exactly what you get: humble, gritty, passionate people who show up every day ready to not just be a participate in the meat snack industry that the Link Family created, but to move faster, innovate harder and keep raising the bar so high, the rest of the world needs a ladder just to see it.

Dominating this space across the world takes a team. A team that runs together, succeeds together, and celebrates together. A team that’s full of relentless energy and spirit that can only be fueled by one thing: a fist full of our delicious meat snacks.

Real Meat Protein. Real People. Real Results. THAT is Link Snacks.

Job Description

Position Summary

The Predictive Maintenance (PdM) Technician is responsible for executing Perry's condition-based maintenance program to improve equipment reliability, reduce unplanned downtime, extend asset life, and lower maintenance costs. This position performs vibration analysis, thermography, ultrasound inspections, motor testing, and condition monitoring activities across the facility's manufacturing, packaging, utilities, refrigeration, and support systems.

The PdM Technician partners closely with the Reliability Engineer, Maintenance Supervisors, Asset Reliability Planner, Controls Engineering team, and Operations leadership to identify equipment failures before they occur and drive proactive maintenance actions.

The position plays a critical role in supporting Perry's reliability strategy, TPM deployment, and 2027 operational growth objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Predictive Maintenance Program Execution

• Conduct scheduled vibration analysis routes on critical rotating equipment.

• Perform infrared thermography inspections of electrical and mechanical assets.

• Execute airborne and structure-borne ultrasound inspections.

• Collect oil and lubricant samples for analysis.

• Conduct motor circuit testing and electrical condition assessments.

• Monitor equipment condition using predictive maintenance technologies.

• Maintain condition monitoring databases and historical equipment records.

• Equipment Reliability

• Identify developing equipment failures before breakdown occurs.

• Generate work requests based on PdM findings.

• Recommend corrective actions to maintenance and reliability teams.

• Assist with asset criticality reviews.

• Support bad actor equipment analysis.

• Participate in root cause failure investigations.

• Assist in reducing repetitive equipment failures.

• Reporting & Data Analysis

• Review vibration, thermal, oil analysis, and ultrasound results.

• Document findings and communicate risks to the Reliability Engineer.

• Develop equipment condition reports and maintenance recommendations.

• Maintain accurate PdM inspection records.

• Track equipment health indicators and reliability trends.

• Maintenance Planning Support

• Provide condition-based maintenance recommendations.

• Assist Asset Reliability Planner with work prioritization.

• Help define repair scopes based on inspection findings.

• Identify equipment requiring immediate intervention.

• Support planned shutdown activities.

• TPM and Continuous Improvement

• Support TPM implementation initiatives.

• Participate in focused improvement teams.

• Assist in developing operator asset-care programs.

• Support reliability-driven cost reduction projects.

• Recommend improvements to maintenance effectiveness and asset performance.

• Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance

• Follow all food safety, GMP, HACCP, and sanitation requirements.

• Adhere to Lockout/Tagout procedures.

• Comply with all safety, environmental, and facility regulations.

• Maintain equipment access procedures that protect product integrity.

• Primary Assets Supported

• Packaging

• Multivac systems

• Thermoformers

• Packaging conveyors

• Labelers

• Checkweighers

• Metal detectors

• Vacuum systems

• Processing

• Mixers

• Grinders

• Pumps

• Stuffers

• Conveying systems

• Utilities

• Air compressors

• Boilers

• Water systems

• Refrigeration systems

• HVAC systems

• Facility Equipment

• Motors

• Gearboxes

• Bearings

• Fans

• Electrical distribution equipment

• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The PdM Technician will be measured on:

• Reliability

• Reduction in unplanned downtime

• Increase in Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF)

• Reduction in emergency work orders

• Predictive Maintenance

• PdM route completion rate (>95%)

• PdM findings converted to planned work

• Defect identification rate

• Condition-monitoring compliance

• Maintenance Performance

• Reduction in reactive maintenance

• Reduction in maintenance overtime

• Increased planned maintenance percentage

• Reduction in repeat failures

• Financial

• Downtime cost avoidance

• Maintenance cost avoidance

• Reduced contractor spending

• Reduced emergency repair costs

Qualifications

• Education

One of the following:

• Associate degree in Industrial Maintenance Technology, Engineering Technology, or related field; OR

• Technical certification in Predictive Maintenance Technology; OR

• Equivalent industrial experience

• Experience

• Minimum 3 years of industrial maintenance experience.

• Minimum 2 years of condition monitoring experience preferred.

• Manufacturing experience required.

• Food manufacturing experience preferred.

• Preferred Certifications

Preferred certifications include:

• Vibration Analysis Category I or II

• Infrared Thermography Certification

• Ultrasound Inspection Certification

• Machinery Lubrication Technician (MLT)

• Certified Maintenance & Reliability Technician (CMRT)

• Technical Skills

• Required

• Vibration analysis

• Root cause problem solving

• Mechanical troubleshooting

• Industrial maintenance practices

• CMMS systems

• Microsoft Excel

• Preferred

• SKF vibration systems

• Emerson AMS

• Fluke reliability tools

• Infrared cameras

• Motor circuit analysis equipment

• SAP PM

• Maintenance Connection

• Fiix CMMS

• Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in manufacturing environments.

• Ability to climb stairs and ladders.

• Ability to work in refrigerated areas.

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.

• Ability to wear required PPE.

• Success Measures - First 12 Months

The successful PdM Technician will:

• Within 90 Days

• Establish PdM routes for critical assets.

• Complete baseline equipment health assessments.

• Develop asset condition reports.

• Within 6 Months

• Achieve >95% route completion.

• Identify top reliability risks within Perry.

• Support reduction of maintenance emergency work.

• Within 12 Months

• Reduce unplanned downtime on critical packaging assets.

• Contribute to lowering maintenance overtime from 12.9% toward