Maintenance Technician - Blue Buffalo
General Mills · Joplin, MO
- Level
- Technician
- Team
- Reliability
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Food & beverage
- Posted
- 2 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A technician-level reliability role at General Mills (food & beverage) in Joplin, MO. Be responsible for preventative and reactive maintenance of processing and packaging equipment and providing technical support to improve and optimize within the manufacturing operations and processes.
- They ask for
- 3+ years
- Tools it names
- Root cause, PLC
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Maintenance Technician roles in the US: typical posted base $62k–$88k.
Median of the low and high ends of 74 live postings that list pay, out of 2992 maintenance technician openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Missouri plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 80 other live reliability postings in Missouri.
- Experience asked
- Typical (3+ years)
Similar roles usually ask 3+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Team leadership 64%
- ✓ PLC 51%
- Welding 36%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Reliability team at General Mills
We found 2 people at this company and state: 1 in this kind of role, 1 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Jaime → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: General Mills in Joplin
3 other open roles at this site · 2 people we found in reliability roles at General Mills.
- Manufacturing Process and Packaging Engineer - Joplin, MO (Blue Buffalo) · Process
- Maintenance Technician · Reliability · Technician
- Maintenance Technician - Whitebridge Pet · Reliability · Technician
Full description from General MillsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Qualifications
- ✓High school diploma or GED
- ✓Ability to work rotating 12-hour shifts
- ✓Must possess the ability to understand and effectively communicate with co-workers, supervisors, and others in the workplace regarding work matters (our business is generally conducted in English)
- ✓Minimum 3 years of industrial maintenance or related industry experience
- ✓Basic mechanical knowledge and understanding of PLC operation, electrical motors, gearboxes and components along with systems troubleshooting, including use of multimeter and specialized tools
- ✓Basic shop equipment (mill, lathe, grinder, presses, etc.) preferred
- ✓Experience in repairing and troubleshooting AC/DC electrical systems, reading schematics and using electrical testing equipment strongly preferred
- ✓Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
- ✓Ability to stand, walk, climb, bend, push, pull, and twist for extended periods
- ✓Willingness to work in hot, cold, noisy, wet, or dusty conditions
- ✓Ability to climb and/or work at heights while utilizing stairs, ladders, personnel lifts, or platforms
- ✓Ability to follow human and food safety, quality, and grooming standards
- ✓Ability to wear such as protective clothing and equipment (Personal Protective Equipment -PPE) such as safety shoes, safety glasses, hearing protection, hard/bump cap, hair/beard net, gloves, and face masks (when required)
- ✓Ability to work around high-speed machinery and food allergens
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Company overview
We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best — bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one another and grow together. Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what’s next.
Position overview
- •Maintenance Technician
- •Starting Pay: $27.50 per hour
- •$1.00 per hour additional shift differential pay (7pm to 7am)
- •12-hour shifts | 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off schedule
Why Join Our Team
Located in historic Joplin, at our Joplin Pet manufacturing site we produce Blue Buffalo dog food, Sizzlers, Stix, Bits, Blue Bones and Wilderness Wild Bones dog treats. We foster a culture where we want our employees to be excited to come to work. We have a variety of committees at our plant to engage and connect our employees. Our Blue Rah committee hosts events throughout the year, as well as events for employees and their families. We also partner with our local humane society for different events and volunteer work.
What We Have to Offer
- •$27.50 per hour starting pay
- •Maintenance Tech I: $27.50 per hour
- •Maintenance Tech II: $28.50 per hour or higher (internal pay advancement opportunities)
- •Maintenance Tech III: $29.50 per hour or higher (internal pay advancement opportunities)
- •$1.00 per hour additional for hours worked between 7 pm and 7 am
- •Up to 120 hours (10 days) vacation annually
- •11 paid company holidays
- •401(k) with company match
- •Medical, dental, life insurance
- •Career growth and cross-training opportunities
Your Work Schedule and Shift Information
- •12-hour shifts
- •Day Shift: 6:45 am – 7:00 pm
- •Night Shift: 6:45 pm – 7:00 am
- •Currently hiring for Night Shift only
- •12-hour schedule: Work repeating 3 nights on, 2 nights off, 2 nights on, 3 nights off schedule
- •Must be willing to work overtime, weekends, nights, holidays and emergency events
- •Plant operates 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.
As part of our manufacturing team, you will
- •Be responsible for preventative and reactive maintenance of processing and packaging equipment and providing technical support to improve and optimize within the manufacturing operations and processes.
- •Support, create, integrate, troubleshoot and improve a variety of processing/packaging controls systems including Wonderware, ArchestrA Systems, PLC
- •Read and update electrical and control schematics, piping and instrumentation diagrams
- •Provide technical support/skills for equipment troubleshooting and controls/equipment modifications
- •Understand, initiate, and participate in Root Cause Analysis (Why, Why)
- •Participate in Continuous Improvement initiatives to increase platform performance
- •Assist in training new employees
Eligibility
Applicants must meet a minimum 18-year age qualification.
Check out why General Mills Manufacturing is a great place to grow a career: