Maintenance Mechanic
Smurfit Westrock · Chattanooga Offset, TN
- Level
- Technician
- Team
- Reliability
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Packaging
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A technician-level reliability role at Smurfit Westrock (packaging) in Chattanooga Offset, TN.
- They ask for
- 3+ years
- Tools it names
- Root cause, PLC, Automation, Machining, Welding
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.
Tennessee plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 108 other live reliability postings in Tennessee.
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (3+ vs 5+)
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ PLC 45%
- Team leadership 44%
- ✓ Welding 38%
- EHS / safety 26%
- Tooling 21%
- ✓ Root cause 21%
✓ = 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 Smurfit Westrock
We found 1 person at this company and state: 1 leaders, plus 2 likely hiring managers. 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 Paul → (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 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: Smurfit Westrock in Chattanooga Offset
1 other open role at this site · 1 person we found in reliability roles at Smurfit Westrock.
- Electrical Technician - 7pm to 7am · Reliability · Technician
Maintenance Mechanic at Smurfit Westrock in other locations
Smurfit Westrock lists this title in 6 places. Pick the plant you can get to.
Full description from Smurfit WestrockAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
What you need
to succeed
- ✓High School Diploma or GED required.
- ✓3+ years of industrial maintenance experience preferred.
- ✓Strong troubleshooting skills in:
- ✓Industrial electrical systems
- ✓Motors and motor controls
- ✓PLCs and automation
- ✓Pneumatics and hydraulics
- ✓Mechanical power transmission
- ✓Conveyor systems
- ✓Printing press equipment
- ✓Ability to read schematics, blueprints, and technical manuals.
- ✓Welding, fabrication, and machining experience preferred.
- ✓Proficiency with CMMS/work-order systems preferred.
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Experience in a preprint, corrugated, converting, packaging, or printing environment.
- ✓Experience working on:
- ✓Flexographic presses
- ✓Ink delivery systems
- ✓Web handling equipment
- ✓Slitters and rewinders
- ✓Servo drives and VFDs
- ✓Electrical troubleshooting up to 480V.
- ✓PLC diagnostics (Allen-Bradley preferred).
Physical
Requirements
- ✓Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
- ✓Ability to climb ladders, work at heights, and enter confined spaces as required.
- ✓Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
- ✓Ability to work overtime, weekends, and emergency call-ins when necessary.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
The Opportunity
The Maintenance Technician is responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, repairing, and improving preprint manufacturing equipment to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality production operations. This position supports printing presses, laminators, rewinders, slitters, ink systems, conveyors, and facility equipment while minimizing downtime and maintaining productivity goals. The technician works closely with Operations, Production, and Quality teams to maximize equipment reliability and performance
How you will impact Smurfit Westrock
- •Perform preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance on preprint production equipment.
- •Troubleshoot and repair electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and control system failures.
- •Support flexographic printing presses, unwind/rewind systems, laminators, slitters, and material handling equipment.
- •Diagnose root causes of equipment downtime and implement permanent corrective actions.
- •Perform alignment, bearing replacement, gearbox repair, conveyor maintenance, and drive system adjustments.
- •Troubleshoot PLC-controlled equipment, sensors, VFDs, motor controls, and industrial automation systems.
- •Complete work orders, PM documentation, and maintenance records accurately.
- •Follow Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), machine guarding, and all plant safety procedures.
- •Assist with installation, startup, and commissioning of new equipment.
- •Maintain housekeeping standards and support continuous improvement initiatives.
Key Competencies
- •Safety Leadership
- •Mechanical Aptitude
- •Electrical Troubleshooting
- •Reliability-Focused Maintenance
- •Root Cause Analysis
- •Continuous Improvement
- •Teamwork and Communication
- •Sense of Urgency
What we offer
- •Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability and excellence
- •Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities
- •An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies and potential
- •A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.