Industrial Maintenance Reliability Technician
Sonoco · Forest City, NC
- Level
- Technician
- Team
- Reliability
- Degree
- Required
- Industry
- Packaging
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A technician-level reliability role at Sonoco (packaging) in Forest City, NC. From a small family business to a multi-billion dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 — all while keeping the heart of “People Build Businesses” alive.
- They ask for
- degree required
- Tools it names
- 5S, Root cause, PLC, Robotics, Automation, Machining
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–$83k.
Median of the low and high ends of 39 live postings that list pay, out of 1648 maintenance technician openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
North Carolina plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 83 other live reliability postings in North Carolina.
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Similar roles usually ask 3+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Team leadership 46%
- ✓ PLC 45%
- ✓ Welding 32%
- Tooling 24%
- EHS / safety 23%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for 5S, Robotics, Automation, Machining, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with 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 Sonoco
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 SonocoAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
What you will be doing
- ◆Understand and comply with safety policies and procedures. Perform all tasks in a safe manner. Set the standard for safe behavior. Look out for your co-workers’ safety. Be an active owner of the safety improvement process by identifying and reducing safety risks and hazards in behavior, equipment, and processes.
- ◆Proactively maintain, improve, install, and troubleshoot and repair mechanical, electrical, robotic/automation, hydraulic, pneumatic, and steam (location specific) systems/processes/equipment.
- ◆Install/troubleshoot/maintain AC and DC drives/motors.
- ◆Effectively perform troubleshooting activities on PLC programs. As required by location, modify and/or write PLC programs.
- ◆Weld as required by location.
- ◆Fabricate and install various electrical, piping, pneumatic, and mechanical equipment as required by location.
- ◆Perform shop work using machining and shop equipment (lathes, drills, milling machines, etc) as required by location.
- ◆Safely and effectively troubleshoot and situationally assess equipment issues/failures. Implement the most applicable, effective corrective action based on circumstances.
- ◆Conduct thorough root cause analysis and follow up to ensure the optimum corrective action has been taken.
- ◆Ensure corrective actions minimize the risk of repeat failures.
- ◆Assist in the development / modification and implementation of procedures / activities to drive to zero failure.
- ◆Drive the proactive maintenance process in the effort to eliminate unplanned failures.
- ◆Effectively perform Preventive / Predictive Maintenance tasks / procedures.
- ◆Participate in the development / improvement / optimization of Preventive / Predictive Maintenance procedures and tasks.
- ◆Communicate effectively with operations personnel to identify and resolve abnormal or degraded equipment conditions that could negatively impact safety, quality, or productivity.
- ◆Includes helping develop operator skill sets to a level that allow for asset ownership and care at the operator level.
- ◆Effectively document all maintenance activity in the Computerized Maintenance Management System to build an accurate database of asset history.
- ◆Assist in identifying opportunities to improve equipment inspection, lubrication and hard to access areas for new equipment installs and for current equipment.
- ◆Identify and utilize the proper tools for each individual job.
- ◆Meet or exceed housekeeping and 5S standards in all areas where maintenance work is performed, personal ownership areas, and all areas owned by the Maintenance Department.
- ◆The IMRT Senior role will be responsible for serving in a Lead or Maintenance Planner role as required by the location.
Minimum education required
- ✓High school diploma (preferably with a vocational focus)
Preferred Education
- ✓Associate’s degree in Mechatronics, Industrial Ma
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Location: Forest City, NC
Position: Industrial Maintenance Reliability Technician
Rate: $29.59 - 31.77/hr based on education and experience
Shift: Primarily 1st shift, but must be willing to work overtime, including off shifts
Get your $5000 Retention Bonus! - APPLY TODAY!!!!
From a small family business to a multi-billion dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 — all while keeping the heart of “People Build Businesses” alive. Our talented people are at the core of our growth, constantly reinventing the Sonoco wheel with brilliant solutions every year. Today we are a world leader in global packaging solutions with diversified operations in over 34 countries. We're extremely proud of our portfolio of brands, our achievements in sustainability and industrialization and the groundbreaking work accomplished by our people.
Reporting to the Plant Engineer, the Industrial Maintenance Reliability Technician (IMRT) is responsible for supporting the achievement of maximum plant reliability by performing maintenance tasks and activities as an owner of Sonoco’s Maintenance Excellence Process. Maintenance and reliability best practices will be utilized to maintain equipment in optimum condition, maximize availability, and support technological advancement. The IMRT will use advanced multi-craft training and knowledge to perform proactive equipment/process/system maintenance; troubleshoot failures, perform highly effective root cause analysis, and make repairs in a manner that minimizes the potential for repeat failures; and actively participate in Sonoco’s continuous improvement effort.
We'd love to hear from you if
- •Demonstrated competency in the skills laid out in the competency matrix for each of the IMRT classifications (I,II,III, & Sr).
- •Technical skills and knowledge to Proactively maintain, improve, install, and troubleshoot and repair mechanical, electrical, robotic/automation, hydraulic, pneumatic, and steam (location specific) systems/processes/equipment.
- •Ability to read and understand mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical (including PLC program logic) schematics.
- •Working knowledge of and experience in performing electrical work in compliance with NFPA 70E – Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace
- •Welding (Skill level to be determined by specific Sonoco location)
- •Machining / Fabrication (Skill level to be determined by specific Sonoco location)
- •Proficiency with standard computer programs (Microsoft Office Suite)
- •Proficiency in using a CMMS
- •Ability to adapt to and help lead change
- •Ability to master and employ new skills as required by the introduction of new processes, technology, etc and/or as part of the required skill development progression within the maintenance organization and / or advancement opportunities
- •Strong communication skills (written and verbal)
- •Ability to collaborate and work effectively in a team environment
- •Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills
- •Strong proactive maintenance and reliability thought process