Maintenance Tech
Prairie Farms · Granite City, IL
- Level
- Technician
- Team
- Reliability
- Degree
- Required
- Industry
- Food & beverage
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A technician-level reliability role at Prairie Farms (food & beverage) in Granite City, IL.
- They ask for
- degree required
- Tools it names
- Welding
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Maintenance Technician roles in Illinois: typical posted base $92k–$107k.
Median of the low and high ends of 4 live postings that list pay, out of 160 maintenance technician openings in Illinois, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Illinois plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 168 other live reliability postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $81k–$107k, from 12 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 4+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Team leadership 51%
- PLC 40%
- ✓ Welding 33%
✓ = 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 Prairie Farms
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find 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.
- 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 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.
Full description from Prairie FarmsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Job Summary
The Dairy Industrial Maintenance Mechanic shall be responsible for, but not limited to, the following:
Repairs and maintains mechanical, air, electrical and hydraulic components of various equipment such as processing, blow-molding, filling, and material handling equipment, following blueprints, wiring diagrams and specifications, and using hand tools, power tools, welders, and precision measuring instruments.
Visually inspects and listens to machines and equipment to locate causes of malfunctions. Dismantles machines and equipment to gain access to problem area, using hand tools and power tools. Inspects and measures parts to detect wear, misalignment, or other problems. Removes and replaces worn or defective parts of drive mechanism or hydraulic system, using hand tools and power tools, and following blueprints, diagram, and service manuals. Re-aligns and adjusts components, such as spindles and clutches, using hand tools and following diagrams. Locates damaged air and hydraulic pipes on machine, and measures, cuts, threads, and installs new pipe. Starts machines and equipment to test operation following repair. Repairs broken parts, using brazing, soldering, and welding equipment and hand tools. May modify computer controlled functions on various equipment. Will be required to work with and understand boilers, refrigeration, hydraulic, air, electrical, and other systems in the plant.
Required Technical Skills
- ✓Mechanical: must be able to troubleshoot and repair mechanical equipment used
for production.
- ✓Welding: must be able to perform welding repairs on production equipment as
needed.
- ✓Electrical: Must be able to troubleshoot electrical systems and controls for single
and three phase services.
- ✓Basic math knowledge.
- ✓Must be able to use a measuring tape.
- ✓Basic knowledge of hand tools.
- ✓Must be able to follow blueprint, wiring diagrams, and service manuals
Required Soft Sk ills
- ✓Must be able to follow both verbal and written instructions.
- ✓Coachable and willing to learn.
- ✓Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- ✓Ability to work without direct supervision.
Physical
Requirements
Must be able to work in both very hot (more than 100 degrees) and very cold (20 degrees
below zero) and in a very wet and humid environment for extended periods of time.
Must be able to bend, crawl, climb, squat, and work at times both above the head and at
ground level during repair and maintenance operations. Must keep work area safe and
clean and work in a safe and efficient manner.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Job Title: Maintenance Technician
Shift: 6:00pm - 6:30am; Rotating: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday / Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday
The following is preferred
- +Experience in Heli-Arc welding.
- +Experience in Programmable Logic Control.
- +Familiarity with ammonia systems used for refrigeration, boilers, and air compressors