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Maintenance Technician

Smithfield Foods · Crete, NE

Level
Technician
Team
Reliability
Degree
Required
Experience asked
1+ years
Industry
Food & beverage
Posted
18 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A technician-level reliability role at Smithfield Foods (food & beverage) in Crete, NE. Follow all company safety protocols, including LOCKOUT/TAGOUT procedures, and adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) to maintain a safe, compliant, and high-performance environment.

They ask for
1+ years · degree required
Tools it names
Welding, SAP

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026

Maintenance Technician roles in the US: typical posted base $58k–$84k.

Median of the low and high ends of 37 live postings that list pay, out of 1786 maintenance technician openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Nebraska plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 26 other live reliability postings in Nebraska.

Experience asked
Less than usual (1+ vs 3+)

Similar roles usually ask 3+ years.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • ✓ Welding 63%
  • PLC 33%
  • Team leadership 33%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

It asks for 1+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

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. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Reliability team at Smithfield Foods

    We found 1 person at this company and state: 1 in this kind of role. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓

  2. 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.

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  3. 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. 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. 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: Smithfield Foods in Crete

4 other open roles at this site · 1 person we found in reliability roles at Smithfield Foods.

Full description from Smithfield FoodsAs posted on their careers site.Show

requirements

In addition, we offer opportunities for career growth, professional development, and tuition assistance.

requirements

listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

  • ✓High school diploma or general education degree (GED) and 1+ years of related experience and/or training in an industrial mechanical maintenance or food manufacturing environment; or 4 years’ direct experience in an industrial mechanical maintenance or food manufacturing maintenance environment.
  • ✓Vocational Diploma, Technical Diploma or associate degree from a technical maintenance or vocational school. (Preferred).
  • ✓Possess the ability to function effectively in a team environment and interact productively with all levels of team personnel and outside contractors.
  • ✓Ability to operate a forklift, genie lift or scissor lift or other powe
Show full description ↓

If you are currently employed at Smithfield, please log into Workday and submit your application through the Jobs Hub.If you are currently employed at Smithfield, please log into Workday and submit your application through the Jobs Hub.

Have a seat at our table. When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact. Apply Now!

Your opportunity

Our team members receive industry-leading wages and are eligible for great benefits packages:

  • •Hourly Maintenance Competitive Starting Pay - $24.30-$32.30/hr
  • •$1.00/hr shift differential for 3rd Shift
  • •Comprehensive Health Insurance, Retirement Benefits and More
  • •Education benefit available to full and part-time Smithfield team members upon meeting eligibility

The value you’ll bring

The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section.

The Maintenance Technician is the go-to for keeping our plant running smoothly, responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing a wide range of electrical and mechanical equipment in our fast-paced food processing environment. You’ll be a jack-of-all-trades, bringing your expertise in electrical controls , fluid power , mechanical systems , welding , and fabrication to solve complex issues and keep production on track.

From troubleshooting to hands-on repairs, you’ll tackle everything from routine maintenance to more challenging system fixes, all while providing critical technical support across the entire operation. The role involves working on systems of varying complexity, requiring your sharp problem-solving skills and ability to think on your feet—ensuring equipment runs smoothly and production never skips a beat. Ready to make an impact with every fix you perform? This role offers both challenge and variety in a dynamic, high-energy environment!

What you’ll do

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned.

  • •Efficient Work Order & Emergency Response - Review work orders to assess the tools, equipment, time, manpower, parts, and supplies needed for each task—ensuring you're always prepared. Use SAP to create work orders. Respond quickly to emergency calls, showing up with the right tools and equipment to get the job done fast and efficiently. Read and interpret technical documents such as blueprints, schematics, wiring diagrams, and manuals to diagnose and repair complex issues.
  • •Hands-On Maintenance & Equipment Repair - Monitor machinery while in operation to spot malfunctions early, ensuring production stays on track. Disassemble and troubleshoot mechanical equipment, pinpoint faulty parts, replace and reassemble with precision, and test to ensure proper functionality. Fabricate replacement parts when necessary, using skills like welding, cutting, and sheet metal work to ensure repairs are done right. Perform regular preventive maintenance on a wide range of mechanical systems, including pumps, packaging, slicing equipment, and more, keeping everything running smoothly.
  • •Installation & System Maintenance - Take charge of installing and maintaining essential systems, from mechanical equipment and piping to electrical controls—ensuring everything meets manufacturer specs and local safety regulations. Install new equipment and utilities, including electrical, water, gas, and drain lines, to keep operations running at full capacity.
  • •Technical Skills & Problem-Solving - Stay sharp with a working knowledge of small hand tools and devices used in general mechanical maintenance—ready to tackle a variety of tasks with ease. Adhere to preventive and predictive maintenance schedules to ensure optimal performance and minimal downtime of all plant systems.
  • •Safety First! You'll follow all company safety protocols, including LOCKOUT/TAGOUT procedures, and adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) to maintain a safe, compliant, and high-performance environment. Your skills and attention to detail will directly contribute to the success of the team and the plant as a whole!
  • •* Employees must be able to pass a fit test to wear SCBA gear, perform rounds on the ammonia refrigeration system and be HazMat trained.

What we’re seeking

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The

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